Stimulation Effects Mapping for Standardizing Coil Placement in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a well-established non-invasive technique used to investigate brain function in health and disease. However, conventional methods of coil placement have limitations in accurately estimating the effects of TMS. Numerical modeling has shown promise in optimizing coil placement by providing a means to quantify the relationship between coil placement and region-specific electric field (E-field) effects. In this context, we propose the Stimulation Effects Mapping (SEM) framework to address this issue. The SEM framework aims to quantify It has been validated using diverse samples and neuroimaging data, allowing for standardized individual coil placements and optimal group-level positions. Through the analysis of a large dataset consisting of 5 million E-field modeling results from 212 participants, SEM consistently quantified the relationship between coil placement and region-specific E-field effects. In comparison to conventional methods and recent techniques, SEM-based optimal coil placement offers the same convenience while providing an improved understanding of depression treatment efficacy. By accurately quantifying the relationship between coil placement and E-field effects, SEM enables the identification of optimal coil positions that target specific cortical regions. This advancement in coil placement standardization overcomes limitations and promotes the precise modulation of brain activity based on E-field stimulation effects. The open-source nature of the SEM framework facilitates its adoption and encourages the precise modulation of brain activity through E-field stimulation. By leveraging the SEM framework, transcranial neuromodulation can be advanced, leading to improved outcomes in various applications. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.