Anyone who has come near an operating TMS device knows they are loud. In this study we tried out a quieter TMS coil we had developed, and asked volunteers to compare it to a standard TMS coil, while also measuring the brain EEG response. The quiet coil design markedly reduced the perceived loudness and auditory activation of the brain while matching the stimulation efficiency (motor threshold) of the commercial coil. For example, the quiet coil at 100% of its motor threshold sounded like the conventional TMS coil at 34% of its motor threshold. Reduction of the TMS noise can in turn mitigate annoyance, auditory evoked brain co-activation, necessity of earplugs, need for sound masking, obstacles to communication with the subjects during TMS procedures, and tolerability in patient populations sensitive to sound. Thus, quiet TMS coils could positively impact a range of research and clinical applications of TMS.
#TMS #EEG
Congratulations Holly! A cool cover indeed. Glad to have had the opportunity to contribute with Laura M. Hack and Amin Zand Vakili