Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41654496›Full record

ArticleTranslational psychiatry2026

Target-Specificity and repeatability in neuro-cardiac-guided TMS for heart-brain coupling.

Zi-Jian Feng, Sandra Martin, Ole Numssen, Konstantin Weise, Ying Jing, Gerasimos Gerardos, Carla Martin, Gesa Hartwigsen, Thomas R Knösche

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Translational psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Zi-Jian Feng *TMS center, The Third People's Hospital of Deqing (Deqing Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University), Deqing, 313200, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7228-3383
Sandra Martin *Research Group Cognition and Plasticity, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6687-5278
Ole NumssenMethods and Development Group Brain Networks, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. numssen@cbs.mpg.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7164-2682
Konstantin WeiseMethods and Development Group Brain Networks, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Ying JingMethods and Development Group Brain Networks, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Gerasimos GerardosResearch Group Cognition and Plasticity, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-1145-6738
Carla MartinMethods and Development Group Brain Networks, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Gesa Hartwigsen *Research Group Cognition and Plasticity, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Thomas R Knösche *Methods and Development Group Brain Networks, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.

Funding

Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) 01GQ2201Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) HA 6314/3-1, HA 6314/4-2, HA 6314/9-1EC | EC Seventh Framework Programm | FP7 Ideas: European Research Council (FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific Programme: "Ideas" Implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007 to 2013)) ERC-2021-COG 101043747Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (Max Planck Society) Lise Meitner Excellence funding
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is a principal target for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in treating major depressive disorder, with therapeutic effects thought to be mediated by its connectivity with the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex. As both regions are involved in autonomic regulation, short-term heart rate changes following DLPFC stimulation may serve as physiological markers to identify stimulation targets. We employed neuro-cardiac guided TMS in a cohort of healthy participants to examine the effects of stimulation intensity and DLPFC target specificity on heart-brain coupling (HBC). We used generalized additive models to assess nonlinear effects of stimulation intensity and target location on HBC, while accounting for pain ratings and other side effects. Intra-subject repeatability across three sessions was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients. We observed a non-linear modulation of HBC depending on stimulation intensity and target location, with greater effects at the F3 lateral and F3 posterior targets compared to sham. By evaluating these effects across sessions within participants, we demonstrate the robustness of our results beyond the influence of pain and other side effects on HBC modulation. Exploratory analyses of the directionality show a consistent decrease in HR only at the F3 lateral target with suprathreshold stimulation. These results demonstrate that HBC is modulated in a target- and intensity-specific manner, with particularly consistent effects at F3 lateral sites within the DLPFC. The findings enhance the understanding of TMS-modulated heart-brain interactions, offering a potential framework for optimizing individualized rTMS treatment protocols for depression.

Indexed as

Dorsolateral Prefrontal CortexHeartHeart RateTranscranial Magnetic StimulationAdultFemaleGyrus CinguliHumansMaleReproducibility of ResultsYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID41654496
PMCPMC12923538

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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.