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Enhancement of human cognitive performance using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Publication ,  Journal Article
Luber, B; Lisanby, SH
Published in: Neuroimage
January 15, 2014

Here we review the usefulness of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in modulating cortical networks in ways that might produce performance enhancements in healthy human subjects. To date over sixty studies have reported significant improvements in speed and accuracy in a variety of tasks involving perceptual, motor, and executive processing. Two basic categories of enhancement mechanisms are suggested by this literature: direct modulation of a cortical region or network that leads to more efficient processing, and addition-by-subtraction, which is disruption of processing which competes or distracts from task performance. Potential applications of TMS cognitive enhancement, including research into cortical function, rehabilitation therapy in neurological and psychiatric illness, and accelerated skill acquisition in healthy individuals are discussed, as are methods of optimizing the magnitude and duration of TMS-induced performance enhancement, such as improvement of targeting through further integration of brain imaging with TMS. One technique, combining multiple sessions of TMS with concurrent TMS/task performance to induce Hebbian-like learning, appears to be promising for prolonging enhancement effects. While further refinements in the application of TMS to cognitive enhancement can still be made, and questions remain regarding the mechanisms underlying the observed effects, this appears to be a fruitful area of investigation that may shed light on the basic mechanisms of cognitive function and their therapeutic modulation.

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Published In

Neuroimage

DOI

EISSN

1095-9572

Publication Date

January 15, 2014

Volume

85 Pt 3

Issue

0 3

Start / End Page

961 / 970

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Humans
  • Cognition
  • Brain
  • Biomedical Enhancement
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
 

Citation

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Luber, B., & Lisanby, S. H. (2014). Enhancement of human cognitive performance using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Neuroimage, 85 Pt 3(0 3), 961–970. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.06.007
Luber, Bruce, and Sarah H. Lisanby. “Enhancement of human cognitive performance using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).Neuroimage 85 Pt 3, no. 0 3 (January 15, 2014): 961–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.06.007.
Luber B, Lisanby SH. Enhancement of human cognitive performance using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Neuroimage. 2014 Jan 15;85 Pt 3(0 3):961–70.
Luber, Bruce, and Sarah H. Lisanby. “Enhancement of human cognitive performance using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).Neuroimage, vol. 85 Pt 3, no. 0 3, Jan. 2014, pp. 961–70. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.06.007.
Luber B, Lisanby SH. Enhancement of human cognitive performance using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Neuroimage. 2014 Jan 15;85 Pt 3(0 3):961–970.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neuroimage

DOI

EISSN

1095-9572

Publication Date

January 15, 2014

Volume

85 Pt 3

Issue

0 3

Start / End Page

961 / 970

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Humans
  • Cognition
  • Brain
  • Biomedical Enhancement
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences