Neuroenhancement by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on DLPFC in healthy adults.

Abstract

The term "neuroenhancement" describes the enhancement of cognitive function associated with deficiencies resulting from a specific condition. Nevertheless, there is currently no agreed-upon definition for the term "neuroenhancement", and its meaning can change based on the specific research being discussed. As humans, our continual pursuit of expanding our capabilities, encompassing both cognitive and motor skills, has led us to explore various tools. Among these, repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) stands out, yet its potential remains underestimated. Historically, rTMS was predominantly employed in studies focused on rehabilitation objectives. A small amount of research has examined its use on healthy subjects with the goal of improving cognitive abilities like risk-seeking, working memory, attention, cognitive control, learning, computing speed, and decision-making. It appears that the insights gained in this domain largely stem from indirect outcomes of rehabilitation research. This review aims to scrutinize these studies, assessing the effectiveness of rTMS in enhancing cognitive skills in healthy subjects. Given that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has become a popular focus for rTMS in treating psychiatric disorders, corresponding anatomically to Brodmann areas 9 and 46, and considering the documented success of rTMS stimulation on the DLPFC for cognitive improvement, our focus in this review article centers on the DLPFC as the focal point and region of interest. Additionally, recognizing the significance of theta burst magnetic stimulation protocols (TBS) in mimicking the natural firing patterns of the brain to modulate excitability in specific cortical areas with precision, we have incorporated Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS) wave patterns. This inclusion, mirroring brain patterns, is intended to enhance the efficacy of the rTMS method. To ascertain if brain magnetic stimulation consistently improves cognition, a thorough meta-analysis of the existing literature has been conducted. The findings indicate that, after excluding outlier studies, rTMS may improve cognition when compared to appropriate control circumstances. However, there is also a considerable degree of variation among the researches. The navigation strategy used to reach the stimulation site and the stimulation location are important factors that contribute to the variation between studies. The results of this study can provide professional athletes, firefighters, bodyguards, and therapists-among others in high-risk professions-with insightful information that can help them perform better on the job.