Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2025 Feb;23(1):161-165. 10.9758/cpn.24.1193.

Therapeutic Effects of Theta Burst Stimulation on Cognition Following Brain Injury

• Chen WT
• Yeh YW
• Kuo SC
• Shiao YC
• Huang CC
• Wang YG
• Chen CY

• KMID: 2565670
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.24.1193

Abstract

This case report explores the therapeutic potential of theta burst stimulation (TBS) for cognitive enhancement in individuals with brain injuries. The study presents a 38-year-old male suffering from an organic mental disorder attributed to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), who demonstrated notable cognitive improvements following an intensive TBS protocol targeting the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex. The treatment led to significant enhancements in impulse control, irritability, and verbal comprehension without adverse effects. Neuropsychological assessments and brain imaging post-intervention revealed improvements in short-term memory, abstract reasoning, list-generating fluency, and increased cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that TBS, by promoting neural plasticity and reconfiguring neural networks, offers a promising avenue for cognitive rehabilitation in TBI patients. Further research is warranted to optimize TBS protocols and understand the mechanisms underlying its cognitive benefits.

Keyword

Transcranial magnetic stimulation; Brain injuries; Cognition; Cerebral blood flow