A study from the Emory University School of Medicine reports on Apr. 3 that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, can calm the brain’s fear center and significantly improve symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The findings were published April 2 in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
The research is important because PTSD has been linked to heightened activity in the amygdala, which is involved in processing fear. Current treatments for PTSD do not always work for everyone, and TMS offers a new approach that could benefit many people with this condition.
In the clinical trial, researchers used MRI scans to guide low-frequency TMS over two weeks to target each participant’s specific brain region associated with threat response. Fifty adults with PTSD participated in the study, most recruited through the Grady Trauma Project at Grady Health System and Emory University School of Medicine. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either active TMS or a placebo treatment without knowing which one they received. MRI scans measured amygdala responses before and after treatment.
The results showed that active TMS reduced right amygdala reactivity to threat, and participants who received it had significant improvement in their PTSD symptoms. Seventy-four percent experienced clinically meaningful symptom reduction lasting at least six months after treatment. “This study shows that we can directly target the brain circuits involved in PTSD and produce measurable changes in both brain function and symptoms,” says principal investigator Sanne van Rooij, PhD, associate professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. “By using MRI to guide stimulation, we are moving toward more precise, individualized treatments that address the biology of the disorder.” Some participants described their experience as “life changing,” saying it “gave me back my life.” Others reported improved management of nightmares.
Unlike traditional talk therapy for PTSD—which requires patients to recount traumatic experiences—TMS does not require this step. This may make care more accessible for some individuals who find discussing trauma difficult.
According to researchers, this is the first study using MRI scans to personalize TMS for treating PTSD by showing direct changes in amygdala activity—a region known for its role in fear processing among those with PTSD. The team suggests these findings advance understanding of recovery neurobiology and point toward new directions for treating PTSD locally and beyond.
