How Does TMS Change the Brain?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has become one of the most effective treatment choices for patients experiencing depression, especially when traditional medications and/or traditional therapies are not working. But how does TMS work? What does it mean when people say it “rewires” the brain?

In short, TMS operates by employing magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain that are associated with mood. These small but targeted magnetic signals help to restore the brain’s activity patterns and enhance communication between under-utilized areas of the brain that may not be functioning properly in those with depression. Here’s a closer look at what TMS does to the brain and how it can provide lasting relief.

Understanding What TMS Does

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) entails the delivery of short magnetic pulses to targeted areas of the brain, most typically the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is a functional region associated with mood, motivation, and decision-making.

The magnetic pulses generated by TMS are similar in strength to those produced by an MRI machine and create small electric currents in the brain tissue under the coil. This mild form of stimulation activates nerve cells (neurons) in underactive brain regions related to depression. Over time, this stimulation helps to improve the firing and communication capabilities and helps rebalance these mood-regulating brain networks. 

TMS is different from medication in that it is localized and offers direct treatment, offering a solution without causing the widespread side effects that medications often bring.

Activating Areas That Have Gone Quiet

For those with depression, certain areas of the brain are less active, specifically the left prefrontal cortex. This activity reduction makes it harder to feel positive emotions, feel motivated, or respond well to rewarding events.

TMS helps to wake up these areas by increasing neural activity and restoring functionality. As these areas begin to activate again, they start sending stronger signals to other regions of the brain that regulate emotions and concentration. This reactivation is one of the main reasons patients will start noting gradual improvements in mood and energy levels as treatment progresses.

Strengthening Brain Connections

TMS is extremely powerful because of its capacity to promote neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to adapt, create new pathways, and strengthen old pathways. Repeated TMS stimulates the formation of new synaptic connections between neurons, thereby teaching the brain new and better ways of communicating. When these pathways become stronger, the brain is more capable of managing emotions and responding to stress.

This process does not only serve to temporarily raise activity levels, but it also helps to create both structural and functional adaptations that are capable of contributing to mental health long after treatment has ended.

Rebalancing Brain Activity

Depression is often associated with a disrupted equilibrium of brain activity, where some specific areas become overactive (like negative thinking) and certain brain regions become underactive (like areas related to positive emotional experience). 

TMS helps reinstate this equilibrium, as it will improve activity in areas that need stimulation while lowering activity in areas that are overactive. Enhanced balance of brain functioning produces emotional stability, improved concentration, and increased motivation.

The change is often described by the majority as a lifting of the fog, or regaining the ability to interact with life, which is a reflection of the brain getting back to a more balanced and responsive condition. 

Changes That Last Beyond Treatment

Despite the fact that TMS treatment is given over a course of weeks, its results can be extended for several months or even years. This is because the brain continues to reap the benefits from both the strengthened connections and the enhanced communication patterns created during the treatment.

Research has shown that the changes in brain activity after TMS treatments are measurable with imaging studies, such as fMRI, which suggest that the brain is progressing toward a healthier and more stable state. 

Many patients report a continued gradual increase in their mood, focus, and overall functioning even after their initial treatment series has ended. For some patients, maintenance sessions can be effective in sustaining those benefits over time.

Healing the Brain, Not Just Treating Symptoms

One of the biggest differences between TMS and other treatments is that it doesn’t solely ease symptoms but it actually helps the brain recover and heal. TMS directly acts on the neural circuits that underlie depression, helping the brain to recover in the long-term rather than just offering temporary relief. 

This is why TMS is seen as one of the most significant treatment innovations. TMS provides a means of non-invasive, drug-free, and alternative treatment, with the potential to create meaningful and lasting change in a person’s life in situations where other treatments have not fully worked.

If you’d like to learn more about TMS, MDDCare makes it easy. Visit MDDCare.com to find clinics near you that offer TMS and take the first step toward feeling like yourself again.