Dr Risto Ilmoniemi | Multi-locus TMS: network stimulation, automation, and versatility

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has become a powerful tool to non-invasively modulate neuronal activity by generating localized electric currents that trigger action potentials, activating brain networks. Precision targeting of cortical areas is critical for applications in neuroscience research, clinical diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions. Navigated TMS (nTMS), integrated with electroencephalography (EEG), enables detailed mapping of cortical reactivity and effective connectivity. Recent breakthroughs, such as multi-locus TMS (mTMS), provide unprecedented automated control over stimulation parameters, including focality, orientation, and location of the electric field, significantly enhancing the speed and accuracy of cortical mapping. Coupled with advanced EEG analysis, these innovations unlock new capabilities for characterizing brain functionality. This presentation highlights the evolution of TMS technology, emphasizing recent advances in image-guided targeting, sequential stimulation, and real-time brain activity monitoring. The synergy of TMS with EEG and other neuroimaging modalities expands its potential across neuroscience, neurology, psychiatry, and related fields, offering transformative tools for understanding and modulating brain networks.