Research hotspots and trends in transcranial magnetic stimulation for cognitive impairment: A bibliometric analysis from 2014 to 2023

BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment, which manifests as a limited deterioration of specific functions associated with a particular disease, can lead to a general deterioration of the patient's standard of living. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, a non-invasive neuromodulation technique, is frequently employed to treat cognitive impairment in neuropsychiatric disorders. AIM To analyzed the state of international research on neuromodulation methods for treating cognitive impairment between 2014 and 2023, with the aim of exploring the state of research worldwide and the most recent developments in this particular area. METHODS Articles and reviews pertaining to neuromodulation methods for cognitive impairment were examined using the web of science database between January 2014 and December 2023. Publications, nations, organizations, writers, journals, citations, and keywords data from the identified studies were systematically analyzed using the CiteSpace 6.3. R1 software. RESULTS A total of 2371 documents with 11750 authors and 9461 institutions, with some co-occurrences, were retrieved. The quantity of yearly publications is showing an increasing trend. The United States and China have emerged as important contributors. Among the institutes, Harvard University had the highest number of publications, while Rossi S an author who is frequently cited. Initially, the primary keywords included human motor cortex, placebo-controlled trials, and serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, the emphasis gradually moved to substance use disorders, supplementary motor areas, neural mechanisms, and exercise. CONCLUSION The use of neuromodulation techniques to treat cognitive impairment has drawn interest from academics all around the world. This study revealed hotspots and new trends in the research of transcranial magnetic stimulation as a cognitive impairment rehabilitation treatment. These findings are hold significant potential to guide further research and thus promote transcranial magnetic stimulation as a treatment method for cognitive impairment.