Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reduced Cigarette Use More Than Sham Treatment In Small Study

Smokers who participated in 15 sessions of daily repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting an area of the brain involved in executive control reduced their number of cigarettes per day more than smokers who received a sham treatment, according to a recent study. Participants receiving active treatment reduced cigarette use by an average of 11.14 cigarettes per day compared to 6.43 fewer cigarettes among those receiving sham treatment. Treatment outcomes varied based on both the targeted brain region and stimulation intensity.

Sessions delivered over three weeks using 10-hertz stimulation targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were . . .