JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments
Neuroscience
0 views • 3:59 min • August 7th, 2025
Begin with a patient diagnosed with depression wearing a headband with a lateral marker clip to facilitate neuronavigation.
Load the pre-processed magnetic resonance imaging scan into the neuronavigation program to identify the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex for precise targeting.
Turn on the camera.
Position the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation coil over the dmPFC under MRI guidance, ensuring close scalp contact.
Orient the coil laterally and stimulate the left hemisphere.
Re-orient the coil and stimulate the right hemisphere, maintaining the vertex fixed over the dmPFC scalp site.
The coil delivers high-frequency electromagnetic pulses that penetrate the skull and generate electric currents in cortical neurons.
This process increases excitatory neurotransmitter release and enhances cortical excitability.
However, the high-frequency pulses also cause scalp pain.
Gradually increase the stimulation intensity and assess pain tolerance using a verbal analog scale after each stimulation period.
This adaptive titration approach minimizes pain and discomfort during rTMS-based depression treatment.
Use the 120 degree angled fluid cooled coil and parameters described here for stimulation
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