A Review of the Clinical Application and Effectiveness of High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a representative non-invasive method of stimulating the cerebral cortex. In this study, we sought to investigate the clinical application and effects of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS). To date, various protocols for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have been introduced in clinical practice, including low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) and HF-rTMS are popularly used. HF-rTMS is a method of increasing activity by stimulating the cerebral cortex on the damaged side, while LF-rTMS is applied to the cerebral cortex on the nondamaged side. The two protocols each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and HF-rTMS has been reported to be more effective than LF-rTMS by stimulating the cerebral cortex on the damaged side. However, problems are being raised due to various side effects such as headaches due to stronger stimulation compared to LF-rTMS. Through previous studies, HF-rTMS has reported positive results for various diseases such as major depressive disorder, stroke, dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and Parkinson's disease, and has shown effects on exercise and cognition.