Therapeutic Effects of Theta Burst Stimulation on Cognition Following Brain Injury
Wan-Ting Chen 1, Yi-Wei Yeh 1, Shin-Chang Kuo 1, Yi-Chih Shiao 2, 3, 4, Chih-Chung Huang 1, Yi-Guang Wang 1, Chun-Yen Chen 1*
1Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital and School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, 2Division of Family Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital and School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, 3Division of Occupational Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital and School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, 4College of Law, National Chengchi University
Received: March 25, 2024; Revised: August 20, 2024; Accepted: September 5, 2024; Published online: September 5, 2024.
© The Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology. All rights reserved.

Abstract
This case report explores the therapeutic potential of theta burst stimulation (TBS) for cognitive enhancement in individuals with brain injuries. The study presents a 38-year-old male suffering from an organic mental disorder attributed to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), who demonstrated notable cognitive improvements following an intensive TBS protocol targeting the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex. The treatment led to significant enhancements in impulse control, irritability, and verbal comprehension without adverse effects. Neuropsychological assessments and brain imaging post-intervention revealed improvements in short-term memory, abstract reasoning, list-generating fluency, and increased cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that TBS, by promoting neural plasticity and reconfiguring neural networks, offers a promising avenue for cognitive rehabilitation in TBI patients. Further research is warranted to optimize TBS protocols and understand the mechanisms underlying its cognitive benefits.
Keywords: theta burst stimulation, brain injury, cognition, brain perfusion

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