Deep TMS modulates neurovascular responses and enhances dual-task computation in healthy adults

Dual-task performance requires coordination between cognitive control and motor systems. This study examined how deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (DTMS) influences cortical responses and computational performance during dual-task processing. In a randomized crossover study, 19 healthy adults underwent DTMS targeting the bilateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex and sham stimulation in separate sessions, with functional near-infrared spectroscopy and dual-task assessments performed before and after each intervention. Compared with sham stimulation, DTMS increased task-related cortical activation in regions involved in cognitive-motor processing and improved computation number without affecting accuracy. Activation changes involving the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, secondary motor cortex, and language-related regions were associated with dual-task performance. These findings suggest that DTMS may modulate distributed cortical dynamics supporting cognitive-motor coordination and inform its potential application in populations with cognitive-motor impairments.