A September 12 multi-site study combined cross-sectional TMS-EEG data from 299 adults with major depressive disorder who had experienced at least one ineffective antidepressant trial. Researchers examined two responses after single-pulse stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
What the study found A more negative local N100 response was associated with greater suicidal-ideation severity after adjustment for age, sex, depression severity and study site (odds ratio 1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 1.98). A broader global mean-field measure was not significantly associated.
Why it matters The finding gives researchers a specific, testable signal to examine across sites and protocols. It is not a clinical screening test, does not predict suicide and does not show that TMS treats suicidal ideation. Cross-sectional association cannot establish causation. The authors call for validation with sham TMS-EEG before any biomarker use is considered.
Source and disclosure Peer-reviewed report in Brain Stimulation; authoritative abstract checked. Funding, conflicts, equipment details and predictive performance were unavailable in the reviewed record. Prepared with AI assistance and source-checked September 15, 2026.