Brain being rewired with magnetic waves, symbolizing the effects of rTMS on gene expression and mental health.

Can Brain Stimulation Rewrite Your Mind? Exploring rTMS and its Impact on Mental Health

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Dive into the groundbreaking research on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and its potential to revolutionize the treatment of psychiatric disorders by targeting key brain functions."

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is emerging as a promising, non-invasive therapy for various neurological and psychiatric conditions. Unlike drug-based approaches, rTMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions. It's gaining traction for treating conditions like depression, Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia, where traditional treatments sometimes fall short.

The real mystery lies in understanding exactly how rTMS works on a molecular level to create lasting therapeutic effects. Researchers believe it involves modulating neurotransmitter systems – the complex communication networks in the brain that rely on chemicals like glutamate and GABA. These systems are often disrupted in psychiatric disorders, but the precise mechanisms of rTMS remain unclear.

A recent study investigated how rTMS impacts gene expression in the mouse brain, specifically focusing on genes related to neurotransmitter transport and cellular stress. By analyzing changes in gene activity after rTMS treatment, the researchers aimed to uncover the molecular basis for its therapeutic benefits and potentially optimize its use for targeted regulation of processes involved in psychiatric disease.

Rewiring the Brain: How rTMS Changes Gene Expression

Brain being rewired with magnetic waves, symbolizing the effects of rTMS on gene expression and mental health.

The study revealed that rTMS triggers significant changes in the expression of many genes within the brain. This includes genes responsible for transporting key neurotransmitters like glutamate, GABA, and glycine. Researchers observed an increase in the activity of genes encoding transporters such as EAAT4, GLAST, GLT-1, GAT2, GAT4, GLYT1, and GLYT2.

These changes suggest that rTMS can enhance the brain's ability to regulate neurotransmitter levels at synapses – the junctions where neurons communicate. By increasing the number of transporters, rTMS may help to clear excess neurotransmitters from the synapse, restoring a more balanced neurochemical environment.

Glutamate Transporters: Help remove glutamate from the synapse, preventing overstimulation and excitotoxicity.
GABA Transporters: Regulate GABA levels, promoting inhibitory neurotransmission and reducing anxiety.
Glycine Transporters: Influence synaptic glycine concentrations, affecting NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission.

In addition to neurotransmitter transporters, the study found that rTMS affects genes related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress – a cellular response to misfolded proteins and other stressors. rTMS downregulated genes like IRE1a, IRE1ß, and XBP1, while upregulating ATF6 and GRP78/Bip. These changes suggest that rTMS may help to improve cellular health and resilience by reducing ER stress.

The Future of rTMS: Personalized Brain Rewiring?

These findings open exciting avenues for optimizing rTMS therapy. The sustained changes in gene expression suggest that chronic rTMS can lead to long-term adaptations in brain function, potentially explaining its therapeutic efficacy.

The ability of rTMS to modulate multiple genes associated with psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders highlights its potential as a versatile treatment approach. By understanding how rTMS affects specific molecular pathways, researchers can develop more targeted stimulation protocols to address individual patient needs.

Further research is needed to fully elucidate the region-specific functional changes resulting from rTMS-induced gene regulation. However, the study provides a valuable foundation for developing more effective rTMS protocols with fewer side effects, paving the way for personalized brain rewiring strategies in the future.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2018.10.015, Alternate LINK

Title: Effects Of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation On Er Stress-Related Genes And Glutamate, Γ-Aminobutyric Acid And Glycine Transporter Genes In Mouse Brain

Subject: Biochemistry

Journal: Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Tetsurou Ikeda, Satoru Kobayashi, Chikao Morimoto

Published: 2019-03-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), and how does it work?

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive technique. It utilizes magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain. This method is being explored for treating various conditions, including depression and schizophrenia, offering an alternative to traditional, drug-based approaches. The significance lies in its potential to modulate brain activity without the systemic effects of medication. It directly targets brain regions, potentially leading to more targeted and effective treatments.

How does rTMS impact gene expression in the brain?

The study shows that rTMS alters gene expression, particularly those related to neurotransmitter transport. This includes genes responsible for the transport of glutamate, GABA, and glycine. By modulating the activity of these genes, rTMS can influence the levels of these neurotransmitters at the synapses. These changes suggest that rTMS can restore a more balanced neurochemical environment, which is crucial for treating psychiatric disorders where neurotransmitter imbalances are common. Understanding the impact on gene expression is vital for optimizing rTMS therapy.

How does rTMS affect endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress?

The research indicates that rTMS affects genes associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. This stress is a cellular response to misfolded proteins and other stressors. rTMS can downregulate genes like IRE1a, IRE1ß, and XBP1 while upregulating ATF6 and GRP78/Bip. These changes suggest that rTMS improves cellular health and resilience by reducing ER stress. The modulation of ER stress pathways implies rTMS can help protect neurons from damage and promote their survival, which is relevant in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.

What are the roles of glutamate, GABA, and glycine, and how are they affected by rTMS?

The neurotransmitters glutamate, GABA, and glycine play critical roles in brain function. Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter. GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Glycine is involved in NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission. rTMS's impact on these neurotransmitters and their transporters, as revealed in the study, influences the balance of excitation and inhibition in the brain. Enhancing the transport of these neurotransmitters can help restore a more balanced neurochemical environment. Imbalances in these systems are linked to various psychiatric disorders; thus, rTMS's ability to modulate these systems is crucial for therapeutic effects.

What is the significance of the changes in gene expression induced by rTMS?

The findings suggest that chronic rTMS can induce long-term changes in brain function through sustained alterations in gene expression. This explains the lasting therapeutic effects of rTMS. By understanding how rTMS affects gene expression and neurotransmitter activity, researchers can optimize treatment protocols, personalize therapies, and potentially develop more effective interventions for mental health conditions. This paves the way for treatments that may offer lasting relief and improved quality of life for individuals affected by these conditions.