Is there a future for therapeutic use of transcranial magnetic stimulation?
Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has in recent years been used to explore therapeutic opportunities in a bewildering variety of conditions. Although there is good evidence that this technique can modify cortical activity, the rationale for its use in many of the conditions investigated so far is not clear. Here we discuss the effects of rTMS in healthy subjects and how it has been used in a number of neurological conditions. We argue that a better understanding of both the effects of rTMS and the pathological processes underlying the conditions for which it is used will reveal whether rTMS really does offer therapeutic potential and, if so, for which conditions.
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Long lasting neuronal effects of rTMS may be due to synaptic changes such as long-term potentiation (LTP) among cortical neurons.
“Long lasting neuronal effects of rTMS may be due to synaptic changes (e.g., long-term potentiation [LTP] among cortical neurons; Ridding & Rothwell, 2007).”
From Neurocognitive effects of theta burst stimulation for treatment-resistant depression in adults: A systematic review and recommendations for future research (2025) · cites this paper as Ridding & Rothwell, 2007
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References 87 · Cited by 687
- Authors
- Ridding, M. C., & Rothwell, J. C.
- Affiliations
- The University of Adelaide (AU)
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Rothwell, John C.
- Venue
- Nature Reviews Neuroscience
- Published
- 2007-07
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 559-567
- ISSN
- 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
- 1471-0048
- OpenAlex
- W2072079890
- Cited by
- 687
- References
- 87
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 47 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 48 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 46 · 2013: 49 · 2012: 43
- FWCI
- 3.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Health and Medical Research Council
- National Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Neurological disorders and treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Keywords
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, cortical plasticity, neurological disorders, therapeutic potential, healthy volunteers, non-invasive brain stimulation
- MeSH terms
- Brain Diseases, Cerebral Cortex, Clinical Trials as Topic, Electromagnetic Fields, Evoked Potentials, Humans, Neural Pathways, Artifacts, Treatment Outcome, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
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