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Published on: September 12, 2012
Safety Considerations for Cerebellar Theta Burst Stimulation
Aura M Hurtado-Puerto1, Kimberly Nestor2, Mark Eldaief3
1Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA; Centro de Estudios Cerebrales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
Cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is generally safe, with most adverse events being mild discomfort. Further research is needed to establish optimal stimulation parameters for cerebellar theta burst stimulation (TBS).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- The cerebellum plays a crucial role in cognitive and behavioral functions.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is increasingly used for cerebellar neuromodulation.
- Theta burst stimulation (TBS) is an efficient TMS protocol with lasting effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review stimulation parameters used for cerebellar TBS.
- To evaluate adverse events associated with cerebellar TBS.
- To explore tolerability limits for cerebellar TBS.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of PubMed.
- Searched studies published between September 2008 and November 2019.
- Extracted stimulation parameters and adverse event data.
Main Results:
- 61 articles reported 3176 cerebellar TBS sessions in 1203 individuals.
- No serious adverse events were reported.
- 4.1% of participants experienced mild adverse events, primarily discomfort from muscle contractions.
Conclusions:
- Cerebellar TBS appears safe, with no serious adverse events reported.
- Optimal stimulation doses and parameters for cerebellar TBS require further investigation.
- Consistent reporting of adverse events is needed for future research.
