The cortex-based alignment approach to TMS coil positioning.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) effectiveness relies on precise coil positioning.
• Individual functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)-guided TMS offers optimal targeting but requires specific data.
• Current alternatives, like Talairach coordinates, lack individual precision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel TMS coil positioning method using individual anatomical data and probabilistic group functional maps.
• To compare the accuracy of this new method against fMRI-guided and Talairach-based targeting.

Main Methods:

• Utilized cortex-based alignment (CBA) to map group functional data (FEF, hMT+/V5) onto individual anatomical scans.
• Back-transformed functional maps to individual brain space, maintaining functional-anatomical correspondence.
• Compared targeting accuracy with individual fMRI hotspots and Talairach coordinates.

Main Results:

• The CBA-based approach significantly improved the localization of functional brain areas compared to Talairach-based targeting.
• This method preserves functional-anatomical correspondence without requiring individual functional imaging.
• Individual fMRI-guided TMS remains the most accurate method.

Conclusions:

• The proposed CBA-based TMS coil positioning is a practical and cost-effective alternative when individual fMRI data are unavailable.
• It offers superior accuracy to Talairach-based targeting for noninvasive brain stimulation.
• This method enhances the feasibility of precise TMS application in research and clinical settings.