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Updated: Apr 11, 2026
TMS: Using the Theta-Burst Protocol to Explore Mechanism of Plasticity in Individuals with Fragile X Syndrome and Autism
Published on: December 28, 2010
Efficacy and Time Course of Theta Burst Stimulation in Healthy Humans
Miles Wischnewski1, Dennis J L G Schutter1
1Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Background:
In the past decade research has shown that continuous (cTBS) and intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) alter neuronal excitability levels in the primary motor cortex.
Objective:
Quantitatively review the magnitude and time course on cortical excitability of cTBS and iTBS.
Methods:
Sixty-four TBS studies published between January 2005 and October 2014 were retrieved from the scientific search engine PubMED and included for analyses. The main inclusion criteria involved stimulation of the primary motor cortex in healthy volunteers with no motor practice prior to intervention and motor evoked potentials as primary outcome measure.
Results:
ITBS applied for 190 s significantly increases cortical excitability up to 60 min with a mean maximum potentiation of 35.54 ± 3.32%. CTBS applied for 40 s decreases cortical excitability up to 50 min with a mean maximum depression of -22.81 ± 2.86%, while cTBS applied for 20 s decreases cortical excitability (mean maximum -27.84 ± 4.15%) for 20 min.
Conclusion:
The present findings offer normative insights into the magnitude and time course of TBS-induced changes in cortical excitability levels.
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