Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation–Induced Neuroplasticity and the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: State of the Evidence and Future Opportunities

Neuroplasticity, or activity-dependent neuronal change, is a crucial mechanism underlying the mechanisms of effect of many therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders, one of which is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Understanding the neuroplastic effects of rTMS at different biolog...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychiatry (1969) 2024-03, Vol.95 (6), p.592-600
Main Authors: Fitzsimmons, Sophie M.D.D., Oostra, Eva, Postma, Tjardo S., van der Werf, Ysbrand D., van den Heuvel, Odile A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BDNF
Humans
Mental Disorders - therapy
Neuroimaging
Neuronal Plasticity - physiology
Neuroplasticity
Psychiatry
rTMS
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation - methods
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Neuroplasticity, or activity-dependent neuronal change, is a crucial mechanism underlying the mechanisms of effect of many therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders, one of which is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Understanding the neuroplastic effects of rTMS at different biological scales and on different timescales and how the effects at different scales interact with each other can help us understand the effects of rTMS in clinical populations and offers the potential to improve treatment outcomes. Several decades of research in the fields of neuroimaging and blood biomarkers is increasingly showing its clinical relevance, allowing measurement of the synaptic, functional, and structural changes involved in neuroplasticity in humans. In this narrative review, we describe the evidence for rTMS-induced neuroplasticity at multiple levels of the nervous system, with a focus on the treatment of psychiatric disorders. We also describe the relationship between neuroplasticity and clinical effects, discuss methods to optimize neuroplasticity, and identify future research opportunities in this area.
ISSN:0006-3223
1873-2402
DOI:10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.11.016