Research
The science behind TMS
Transcranial magnetic stimulation was introduced in 1985 by Anthony Barker and colleagues at the University of Sheffield, and has been studied in thousands of scientific publications since. Here is a selection of research on TMS and the mechanisms behind it, plus a free library of papers you can download.
UK clinical guidance
NICE guidance IPG542 (December 2015)
NICE states that the evidence on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for depression shows no major safety concerns, that the evidence on short-term efficacy is adequate although the clinical response is variable, and that it may be used with normal arrangements for clinical governance and audit.
The guidance concerns rTMS as a clinical procedure and does not refer to any specific device.
Research library
Brain Stimulation, volume 16 (2023)
59 papers from the journal Brain Stimulation: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation (33 articles and 26 conference abstracts), grouped by topic. 9 of them (CC BY licence) can be downloaded as PDF; the other 50 open free of charge on the publisher’s website.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS, rTMS, iTBS)14
tDCS, tACS and other transcranial electrical stimulation14
Vagus nerve stimulation6
Focused ultrasound5
Deep brain stimulation and invasive neuromodulation12
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)4
Methods and related research4
Source: Brain Stimulation 16 (2023), Elsevier. The downloadable files are the publisher’s open-access versions, shared unmodified for education; copyright stays with the authors. Papers under a non-commercial licence (CC BY-NC-ND) link to the publisher’s website instead. These papers cover many neuromodulation methods. Including a paper here does not mean that Neuro Q or any Quantum Med service is approved for the conditions studied.
Foundations
Key publications on TMS
- Barker AT, Jalinous R, Freeston IL. Non-invasive magnetic stimulation of human motor cortex. Lancet 1985;1:1106–1107.
- Pascual-Leone A, Houser CM, Reese K, et al. Safety of rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation in normal volunteers. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1993;89:120–130.
- Rossini PM, Barker AT, Berardelli A, et al. Non-invasive electrical and magnetic stimulation of the brain, spinal cord and roots: basic principles and procedures for routine clinical application. Report of an IFCN committee. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1994;91:79–92.
- Hallett M. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and the human brain. Nature 2000;406:147–150.
- Fuchs T. Neurobiology and psychotherapy: an emerging dialogue. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2004;17:479–485.
- Huang YZ, Edwards MJ, Rounis E, Bhatia KP, Rothwell JC. Theta burst stimulation of the human motor cortex. Neuron 2005;45:201–206.
- Thickbroom GW. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and synaptic plasticity: experimental framework and human models. Exp Brain Res 2007;180:583–593.
- Peterchev AV, Wagner TA, Miranda PC, et al. Fundamentals of transcranial electric and magnetic stimulation dose: definition, selection, and reporting practices. Brain Stimul 2012;5:435–453.
- Chervyakov AV, Chernyavsky AY, Sinitsyn DO, Piradov MA. Possible mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation. Front Hum Neurosci 2015;9:303.
- Koch G, Martorana A, Caltagirone C. Transcranial magnetic stimulation: emerging biomarkers and novel therapeutics in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurosci Lett 2020;719:134355.
- Li X, Qi G, Yu C, et al. Cortical plasticity is correlated with cognitive improvement in Alzheimer’s disease patients after rTMS treatment. Brain Stimul 2021;14:503–510.
Links lead to the publishers’ websites. Articles remain the copyright of their authors and publishers.
Questions about TMS or our devices?
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The information on this website is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. Therapy should be carried out by a qualified practitioner after screening for contraindications.