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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
08:29
Standardized Induction and Assessment of Long-term Potentiation-like Cortical Plasticity Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: November 7, 2025
Transcranial magnetic stimulation and synaptic plasticity: experimental framework and human models.
1Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, M518, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia. gthickbr@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Experimental Brain Research
|June 15, 2007
Summary
Non-invasive brain stimulation, like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), shows therapeutic potential by mimicking experimental protocols to modulate human brain plasticity. This review synthesizes plasticity concepts and TMS interventions for targeted brain modulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- Growing interest in non-invasive brain stimulation for therapeutic applications.
- Advancements in understanding synaptic plasticity mechanisms and experimental protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current concepts of brain plasticity and homeostatic regulation.
- To relate these concepts to available transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) interventions.
- To explore the potential of TMS in targeting human brain plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of experimental studies on activity- and time-dependent plasticity.
- Review of various transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocols.
- Discussion of how TMS protocols emulate experimental plasticity-inducing paradigms.
Main Results:
- Repetitive TMS (rTMS) can emulate activity-dependent plasticity.
- Theta-burst stimulation and paired associative stimulation offer refined network targeting.
- Short-interval paired stimulation and I-wave dynamics may target specific plasticity mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- TMS protocols offer a promising range of interventions to target human brain plasticity.
- Understanding plasticity mechanisms is key to optimizing TMS therapeutic potential.
- Further research can refine TMS applications for neurological disorders.
