To review the applications of TMS in evaluating brain functions and treating major mental disorders.
Approach:
Stimulation Patterns and Parameters: The article outlines various TMS stimulation modes, including single pulse TMS, paired-pulse TMS, paired associative stimulation, repetitive TMS, and theta burst stimulation, each with specific clinical applications.
Therapeutic Effects: It summarizes the therapeutic effects of TMS on mental disorders such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder.
Mechanisms of Action: The review synthesizes the cellular and molecular mechanisms of TMS's therapeutic effects, focusing on neurotransmitter expression, neuroinflammation, neurotrophic factors, oxidative stress, and gene expression related to brain plasticity.
Emerging Applications: It discusses the combination of TMS with non-invasive neuroimaging techniques to assess brain function, including neural pathway mapping and cortical excitability measurement.
Key Findings:
TMS is FDA-approved for treating major depressive disorder.
The efficacy of drug therapy based on the monoamine hypothesis is often unsatisfactory.
TMS can non-invasively assess and modulate neural excitability and plasticity.
Different TMS stimulation patterns have unique clinical applications.
Interpretation:
TMS functions as both a therapeutic and evaluative tool for mental health disorders.
Limitations:
The review primarily focuses on preclinical research, which may not fully translate to clinical outcomes.
The effectiveness of TMS can vary among individuals and specific mental disorders.
Conclusion:
TMS represents a promising non-invasive approach for both assessing brain function and treating mental health disorders.
