How Does Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Work?
- Dylan Golden, MA
- Nov 5
- 8 min read
Updated: Nov 10
What Does TMS Stand For?
T: Transcranial
M: Magnetic
S: Stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an advanced, noninvasive technique that uses magnetic fields to influence brain activity and improve function. Its results match and may even exceed current mental and cognitive health treatments such as psychiatric medications for conditions like treatment-resistant depression (TRD). During a TMS treatment, a magnetic coil is placed on the scalp to deliver gentle magnetic pulses that reach specific regions of the brain. This treatment does not penetrate the body. These safe magnetic pulses stimulate underactive brain areas responsible for healthy function, activating brain cells and enhancing communication between them. By promoting the formation of new neural pathways, TMS helps support overall brain performance and can be especially beneficial for individuals experiencing mental health conditions, cognitive decline, or related symptoms. TMS has the power to change how we approach mental health treatment. So, how come it remains an under-known treatment modality? Let's take a closer look at how it works.
How Does Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Work?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation works by stimulating the underactive brain regions with non-invasive magnetic fields to repair the brain, improve mental wellness, and address
symptoms of various mental health conditions. The treatment feels similar to a vibration or a gentle tapping on the forehead. During a session, TMS stimulates the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex brain region. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for:
Emotional/Mood Regulation
Focus & Attention
Decision-making
Impulse control
Emotional regulation
Organization & Planning,
Working Memory
Brain scans of patients with ADHD, OCD, depression, Major Depressive Disorder, treatment-resistant depression, Binge Eating Disorder, PTSD, and addiction may reveal decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex region.
When activated by TMS, the brain responds positively by creating neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to adapt, learn, and repair). It helps increase neural activity and improves the functionality of this brain region. Similarly, it may also stimulate BDNF or Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor, to help initiate synaptogenesis, improving communication pathways in the brain. Such improvements have been demonstrated in hundreds of scientific studies. It was invented in 1985 by Dr. Anthony Barker and colleagues to provide psychiatric patients a therapeutic treatment with less side effects than modern treatments of the time--and that's exactly what it does.
Benefits of TMS
At Better Brain & Body we handle non-invasive care of brain health and mental wellbeing, and ExoMind TMS assists in that care. It gives patients a safe, effective, and non-pharmacologic treatment that is FDA-approved, and beneficial for their or their family's brain health and symptom improvement. Patients who use TMS may see improvements in:
Decision-Making
Working Memory
Impulse Control
Attention & Focus
Organization & Planning
Emotional / Mood Regulation
With very few side effects and transformative outcome statistics, TMS is penetrating the modern approach of pharmaceutical medication standards of treatment. The dominant footprint of the pharmaceutical industry (and other factors) has decreased awareness about non-invasive modalities like TMS. Leading psychiatrists in the USA now offer TMS in their clinics often as a supplemental or independent therapy.
What is rTMS?
rTMS is the most common type of TMS treatment. Written in full as Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. While there are two other types of TMS, they are not as widely used. Most research data today highlights the use of rTMS. When you read TMS throughout this article or online, it is likely referring to rTMS, unless otherwise specified. Better Brain & Body uses ExoMind rTMS.
Conditions Treated by TMS
ExoMind rTMS is FDA-cleared for Major Depressive Disorder and treatment-resistant depression. Health Canada also approves it for several conditions:
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Treatment-resistant depression
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Major Depression Induced Anxiety
However, due to the nature of TMS' non-invasive low side-effect profile, top doctors, researchers, and psychiatrists have been using and studying off-label TMS applications for years, as it continues to show promising benefits in other mental/brain challenges than the approved conditions mentioned above.
It's no wonder as this is the nature of scientific advancement and patient-care. Today, 1 in 5 drug prescriptions on the market are off-label, meaning you or someone you know may take a medication to treat something not directly approved for the condition your treating for. Physicians may use medications for off-label purposes because it is a legal and widely accepted practice that enables them to apply their professional expertise to provide the most effective care for their patients. Many brain rehabilitation clinics are using TMS off-label for other conditions and symptoms often impacted by under-active or under-functioning prefrontal cortex (PFC) brain regions. Research indicates that various conditions may benefit from prefrontal cortex activation via TMS, not just those as listed above.
ECT vs TMS
This widespread usage comes as no surprise as TMS was originally developed to provide a safer approach to medications like antipsychotics or powerful mood-altering drugs or other treatments like Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT). ECT was and remains an alternative treatment for mental health and is controversial due to its invasive treatment nature; where patients' brains are stimulated with an electrical current which can cause seizures. TMS is much less invasive than ECT.
Other Conditions TMS May Help:
Promising Off-Label TMS Indications:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Symptoms of ADHD
Schizophrenia
Substance-Use Disorders (Addiction)
Bipolar Disorder
Migraines
The Cleveland Clinic notes that research is ongoing and TMS may be a valuable treatment for conditions such as:
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases*
Stroke Complications
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)*
Possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
Other Head Injuries (TBI/Concussion)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)*
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)*
Fibromyalgia
Essential Tremor (ET)
Tinnitus & Auditory Hallucinations
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) & Concussion
NSF-Safe Performance Enhancement for Sports
What To Expect During a TMS Session?
In the past, TMS treatments needed daily sessions for four to six weeks, totaling 30 to 45
daily treatments on average in a small window of time. ExoMind rTMS is a breakthrough in time needed for treatment. It offers 6 treatments, each lasting 24 minutes; 2 sessions per week for 3 weeks. This condensed schedule makes TMS far more accessible for busy patients or those hesitant about long treatment plans with other forms of TMS. Patients often describe the experience as a gentle tapping on their head. Some also report the experience as calming and relaxing. ExoMind uses a magnetic coil to stimulate brain regions without penetrating the body. It does not require anesthesia, surgery, or other invasive methods. Learn more about ExoMind in the video above.
Is TMS Legit?
At Better Brain & Body, we offer a thorough neurological exam for TMS patients and all functional neurology patients. This exam includes qEEG brain scans before any therapeutic regimen and gives our team objective data about brain challenges and dysfunctions. But don't take our word for it. Check out the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and countless of other research bodies and clinics that mention TMS as a promising treatment for mental health. Our diagnostic process allows our team to analyze real-time changes and brain adaptations from rTMS treatments. Clinical studies with ExoMind rTMS show measurable improvements in brain function including:
90% Improvements in Mental Wellness for Patients With/Without Depression
95% of Patients Reporting a Reduction in Binge Eating Symptoms
100% of Patients Reporting Having Reduced Food Cravings
90% of Patients Reporting a Comfortable Treatment
While some skepticism exists around therapies using magnetic fields, it’s important to remember that magnetic technology has long been used safely in medicine. Tools like MRIs and PEMF mats employ magnetic fields at varying strengths and intensities — and NASA even sent PEMF mats to astronauts to help combat arthritis in space. Public perception of treatments like TMS has also been shaped by the overwhelming presence of pharmaceutical marketing in daily life, which can overshadow awareness of other effective, science-backed options like TMS, which is grounded in rigorous research and offers a compelling alternative for those seeking non-medication approaches to brain health.
TMS: Tools In Your Toolbox
The traditional mental health model of treatment was highly influenced by the invention of psychiatric medications in the 1950s. Medications were the first treatments that really seemed to work in many ways. It birthed an influential area of modern medicine as we know it today; there's no doubt about that. Psychiatric medications work by changing brain chemistry, which directly influence and modulate neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, or adrenaline. TMS takes a different approach, by aiming to repair and reactivate the brain region responsible for the symptoms of the condition. TMS and psychiatric medications are just two of the many tools in the toolbox for mental wellness care.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Side Effects
Compared to other mental health medications, TMS has significantly less side effects, if any at all depending on the individual. Depending on how each patient responds, short-term and temporary side-effects may include scalp irritation, tingling or twitching of the face, and headaches. ExoMind TMS is reported a very comfortable experience overall for most patients at Better Brain & Body.
TMS Contraindications
While TMS has little side-effects, there are some contraindications that may qualify one of treatment. We encourage you to talk to your doctor or contact our team regarding any of the below:
Seizure or Epilepsy History: Those on anti-seizure medication or who have a history of seizures should not use this therapy.
Electronic, Metal, or Magnetic Implants:
rTMS therapy cannot be used on patients with implanted stents, defibrillators, pacemakers, cochlear implants, or deep brain implants or vagus nerve stimulator implants.
Patients with metal, electronic, or magnetic implants in the head or neck.
Pregnancy
Bullet Fragments
Implanted Electrical Devices like Pacemakers
TMS & Medication: Combination Therapy
Mental health care isn’t an all-or-nothing choice between medications and other treatments. Conditions like treatment-resistant depression are complex and often benefit from a comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach. While daily habits such as quality sleep, exercise, or nutrition can support recovery, evidence shows that TMS can be used both as a primary and supplemental treatment for depression. Research indicates that combining TMS with antidepressant medications may enhance their effectiveness, particularly for patients who have not responded well to medication alone. TMS targets underactive brain regions, while antidepressants influence brain chemistry—together offering a more complete pathway to healing. Moving away from an all-or-nothing mindset allows patients and clinicians to integrate the best tools available for each individual.
Beyond Medication: The Growing Role of Holistic Therapies & TMS
An increasing number of Americans are seeking more holistic and lifestyle-based approaches to mental wellness. This shift is especially noticeable among younger generations, who may value natural methods and preventive health practices.
Even among those who benefit from medication, many wonder how they might manage their condition differently—without lifelong dependence. Psychiatrists and researchers are also exploring these questions, with many now integrating TMS into their practices as a supplemental or adjunct therapy.
If you're interested in working with ExoMind rTMS to improve brain health, cognitive function, and mental wellness, click the button below or call us at 704-752-8100 to schedule a complimentary phone consultation directly with Dr. Brown, the owner and functional neurologist of Better Brain & Body.
Sources:
Complex mental health conditions | amen clinics amen clinics. (n.d.). Retrieved November 5, 2025, from https://www.amenclinics.com/conditions/complex-conditions/
Mayo Clinic. (2023, April 7). Transcranial magnetic stimulation. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/about/pac-20384625
Noninvasive therapy for cartilage regeneration | t2 portal. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2025, from https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/msc-tops-96
PEMF Device. (n.d.). [Nonprofit / Informational]. Space Foundation. https://www.spacefoundation.org/space_certification_/pemf-device/#:~:text=Pulsed%20Electromagnetic%20Field%20devices%20were,along%20with%20more%20serious%20issues.
TMS (Transcranial magnetic stimulation): What it is. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved November 5, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17827-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-tms
Warstadt, D. G. (2024, November 5). New research indicates that tms is more effective than medications after only two medication trials. Mysite. https://www.sepsychiatric.com/single-post/new-research-indicates-that-tms-is-more-effective-than-medications-after-only-two-medication-trials
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