Cognitive state dependent enhancement of cognitive control with transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Engaging cognitive control during stimulation was associated with better subsequent task performance, suggesting a useful way to study treatment consistency.
McInnes AN, Pipia VL, Maynard KL, Kalender G, Widge AS.
Brain stimulation · Publication date: 2026-10-03
Added to site: 2026-10-04
DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2026.103227
Published online October 3, 2026, verified in PubMed. Site addition: October 4, 2026.
- Modalities
- TMS/rTMS, EEG
- Clinical focus
- Cognitive control, State-dependent stimulation
- Population
- Participants whose clinical status is unspecified in the abstract
- Sample
- 23 participants
- Intervention / method
- Prefrontal rTMS during either a demanding cognitive-control task or a low-demand perceptual task; behavioral and EEG assessments
- Comparator
- Low-demand task during stimulation
Clinician summary
Improvement occurred after the demanding-task condition; task-evoked theta subsequently decreased, while TMS-evoked theta during stimulation increased relative to the comparison condition.
How to interpret the findings
Small mechanistic study. Randomization, blinding, sham stimulation, effect sizes, adverse events and durability are not established by the abstract. Task and EEG changes do not demonstrate depression treatment efficacy.
Equipment and disclosures
Hardware and manufacturer unspecified.
PubMed reports AS Widge consulting for Abbott, equity in Resilient Neurotherapeutics and unlicensed neurostimulation patents. Other authors declare no known competing interests. Funding unavailable in checked records.
Related evidence
Compare findings from the same clinical area, including mixed results.
- Foster care intervention protects cognitive control skills in young adults exposed to institutional rearing. · Positive with limitations
- Double-blind, randomized clinical trial targeting theta oscillations with transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for cognitive control in male methamphetamine patients. · Positive with limitations
Summary prepared with AI assistance. Source verification does not imply an independent replication or a clinician's endorsement. Read our review method.