Intracranial Recordings Map Immediate and Distal Neural Responses to Magnetic Stimulation

Managing drug-resistant epilepsy remains a significant clinical challenge, as approximately one-third of patients fail to achieve seizure freedom despite optimized pharmacological therapy [1, 2]. While repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has emerged as a viable adjunctive treatment for reducing seizure frequency and improving cognitive outcomes, its clinical application often relies on standardized protocols rather than individualized circuit dynamics [3, 4]. Current evidence confirms the safety and tolerability of these non-invasive techniques in both adult and pediatric populations, yet the precise mechanisms of action within deep neural networks remain partially obscured [5, 6]. Bridging the gap between surface stimulation and deep-brain response is essential for refining therapeutic efficacy and predicting patient-specific outcomes [7, 8]. To address this knowledge gap, a recent review provides a detailed analysis of how direct intracranial recordings are clarifying the immediate and distal effects of magnetic pulses on brain activity, offering clinicians a clearer physiological map of how surface stimulation alters deep neural networks.