Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32671422›Full record

ReviewExperimental brain research2020

Theta burst stimulation in humans: a need for better understanding effects of brain stimulation in health and disease.

Elisabeth Rounis, Ying-Zu Huang

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Experimental brain research, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
33citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
2.8field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

33 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 72 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  9. Article
  10. Continuous Theta Burst to Supplementary Motor Area Modulates Groove.Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 2026
    Article
  11. Review
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  14. The effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) on resting-state brain entropy (BEN).Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics · 2025
    Article
  15. Article
  16. Review
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  20. Influencing Human Behavior with Noninvasive Brain Stimulation: Direct Human Brain Manipulation Revisited.The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry · 2023
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Elisabeth RounisChelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, West Middlesex University Hospital, Twickenham Road, Isleworth, TW7 6AF, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1375-1001
Ying-Zu HuangMedical School and Healthy Aging Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. yzhuang@cgmh.org.tw.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-4013
Chang Gung University · TWChelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Repetitive transcranial stimulation (rTMS) paradigms have been used to induce lasting changes in brain activity and excitability. Previous methods of stimulation were long, often ineffective and produced short-lived and variable results. A new non-invasive brain stimulation technique was developed in John Rothwell's laboratory in the early 2000s, which was named 'theta burst stimulation' (TBS). This used rTMS applied in burst patterns of newly acquired 50 Hz rTMS machines, which emulated long-term potentiation/depression-like effects in brain slices. This stimulation paradigm created long-lasting changes in brain excitability, using efficient, very rapid stimulation, which would affect behaviour, with the aim to influence neurological diseases in humans. We describe the development of this technique, including findings and limitations identified since then. We discuss how pitfalls facing TBS reflect those involving both older and newer, non-invasive stimulation techniques, with suggestions of how to overcome these, using personalised, 'closed loop' stimulation methods. The challenge in most non-invasive stimulation techniques remains in identifying their exact mechanisms of action in the context of neurological disease models. The development of TBS provides the backdrop for describing John's contribution to the field, inspiring our own scientific endeavour thanks to his unconditional support, and unfailing kindness.

Indexed as

Motor CortexTranscranial Magnetic StimulationEvoked Potentials, MotorHumansLong-Term PotentiationModels, NeurologicalNeuronal PlasticityTheta RhythmNeuroplasticityPrimary motor cortexTheta burst stimulation

Identifiers

PMID32671422
OpenAlexW3043682261

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.