Magnet Strength
rTMS treatment uses magnetic fields comparable in strength to an MRI machine, but targets a very specific area in the brain. The intensity of stimulation is adjusted based on the motor threshold, which varies from person to person. Motor threshold is the minimum intensity of stimulation needed to make a visible muscle movement, such as a finger twitch.
Pulse Frequency
Different frequencies are used in rTMS therapy depending on the therapeutic goal Typically, high-frequency rTMS (5-20 Hz) is used to boost brain activity in the specified region, while low-frequency rTMS (1 Hz) reduces brain activity.
Pulse Patterns
Different pulse patterns are designed to achieve different results. Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS) mimics natural brain wave patterns (theta rhythms) to cause more effective changes in brain activity. In contrast, traditional rTMS provides continuous bursts of magnetic stimulation to inhibit or stimulate neural circuits.
Magnetic Coil Type and Stimulation Target
Regular TMS uses a standard figure-8 pattern coil to target surface-level areas of the brain. While deep TMS (dTMS) uses a figure-H coil to reach deeper areas of the brain.