Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique that delivers repeated magnetic stimulation to selected regions of the brain.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique that delivers repeated magnetic stimulation to selected regions of the brain. The induced magnetic fields can stimulate or inhibit specific neuronal populations, providing a means of modifying brain activity and potentially influencing neuroplasticity. Common research targets include the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, primary motor cortex, and, in emerging applications, the cerebellum.
The literature represented here places rTMS within the broader theme of neuromodulation and neuroplasticity. Investigated outcomes include motor recovery after stroke, post-stroke depression, aphasia, cognitive impairment associated with Parkinson's disease, insomnia, stress-related pain, and autism spectrum disorder. Studies have also examined rTMS alongside intermittent theta-burst stimulation, continuous theta-burst stimulation, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, and peripheral magnetic stimulation. Neuroimaging methods such as fNIRS and measures of corticospinal excitability are used to characterize treatment-related changes, while some experimental work examines mechanisms involving microglia, proinflammatory cytokines, autophagy, and other cellular pathways.
Where the papers sit
9 papers from the last 6 months study repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation directly · updated from PubMed 11 Oct 2026
Study type 6 clinical trials · 1 human data · 2 preclinical
Themes one subject
Those 9 are all about one subject.
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Clinical Neurorehabilitation
Neurological rehabilitation is the common goal across stroke, traumatic brain injury, aphasia, Parkinson disease, cognitive impairment, and pain. rTMS is repeatedly paired with median-nerve, vagus-nerve, or transcranial electrical stimulation, while fNIRS and neurophysiological measures track brain responses. Proposed benefits include improved language, cognition, neural activity, and pain, with microglial activation and brain-derived estrogen suggested as mechanisms. The studies remain clinically diverse, without a clear consensus on the best target or stimulation combination.
Papers
The 9 papers from the last 6 months that study repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation directly, newest first, by theme and by study type. Study types come from PubMed publication types and MeSH headings.
By theme
Clinical Neurorehabilitation (9)
- High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Attenuates Post-Stroke Brain Fibrosis by Increasing Brain-Derived Estrogen Levels: A Dual-Tracer PET/CT Study. Molecular neurobiology · 8 Oct 2026 PMID 42848250
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined With Median Nerve Electrical Stimulation for Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. Brain and behavior · 29 Sept 2026 PMID 42806603
- Clinical efficacy and neurophysiological changes associated with combined transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in chronic insomnia disorder: protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ open · 23 Sept 2026 PMID 42778249
- Neuromodulation effects of HF-rTMS and rPMS on stroke patients: an fNIRS study. Journal of neural engineering · 7 Sept 2026 PMID 42705344
- The application of cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on aphasia after stroke: A randomized controlled trial protocol. PloS one · 10 Aug 2026 PMID 42574431
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the mPFC Ameliorates Stress-Induced Hyperalgesia by Alleviating Microglia Activation in Rats. Brain and behavior · 28 Jul 2026 PMID 42518137
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Cognitive Rehabilitation Approach for Veterans With Parkinson Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Protocol for a Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial. JMIR research protocols · 29 Jun 2026 PMID 42372258
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Yizhi Kaiqiao Formula Combined With Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Neurocognitive and Social Outcomes in Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Developmental neurobiology · 12 Jun 2026 PMID 42281150
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy assessment of the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation on dynamic functional networks in patients with chronic insomnia: randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, controlled clinical trial. BMJ mental health · 29 Apr 2026 PMID 42055949
By study type
Clinical trials (6)
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined With Median Nerve Electrical Stimulation for Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. Brain and behavior · 29 Sept 2026 PMID 42806603
- Clinical efficacy and neurophysiological changes associated with combined transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in chronic insomnia disorder: protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ open · 23 Sept 2026 PMID 42778249
- The application of cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on aphasia after stroke: A randomized controlled trial protocol. PloS one · 10 Aug 2026 PMID 42574431
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Cognitive Rehabilitation Approach for Veterans With Parkinson Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Protocol for a Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial. JMIR research protocols · 29 Jun 2026 PMID 42372258
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Yizhi Kaiqiao Formula Combined With Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Neurocognitive and Social Outcomes in Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Developmental neurobiology · 12 Jun 2026 PMID 42281150
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy assessment of the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation on dynamic functional networks in patients with chronic insomnia: randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, controlled clinical trial. BMJ mental health · 29 Apr 2026 PMID 42055949
Human data, design not indexed (1)
- Neuromodulation effects of HF-rTMS and rPMS on stroke patients: an fNIRS study. Journal of neural engineering · 7 Sept 2026 PMID 42705344
Preclinical: animal, cell and lab studies (2)
- High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Attenuates Post-Stroke Brain Fibrosis by Increasing Brain-Derived Estrogen Levels: A Dual-Tracer PET/CT Study. Molecular neurobiology · 8 Oct 2026 PMID 42848250
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the mPFC Ameliorates Stress-Induced Hyperalgesia by Alleviating Microglia Activation in Rats. Brain and behavior · 28 Jul 2026 PMID 42518137
Written from 9 PubMed abstracts, each one listed by PMID above. Published: 2026-09-25. Drafted by language models from published abstracts; not medical advice.