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Review
. 2022 Jan 14;12(1):112.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci12010112.

Revisiting Hemispheric Asymmetry in Mood Regulation: Implications for rTMS for Major Depressive Disorder

Benjamin C Gibson  1   2 , Andrei Vakhtin  2 , Vincent P Clark  1   2 , Christopher C Abbott  3 , Davin K Quinn  3
Affiliations
Review

Revisiting Hemispheric Asymmetry in Mood Regulation: Implications for rTMS for Major Depressive Disorder

Benjamin C Gibson et al. Brain Sci. .

Abstract

Hemispheric differences in emotional processing have been observed for over half a century, leading to multiple theories classifying differing roles for the right and left hemisphere in emotional processing. Conventional acceptance of these theories has had lasting clinical implications for the treatment of mood disorders. The theory that the left hemisphere is broadly associated with positively valenced emotions, while the right hemisphere is broadly associated with negatively valenced emotions, drove the initial application of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Subsequent rTMS research has led to improved response rates while adhering to the same initial paradigm of administering excitatory rTMS to the left prefrontal cortex (PFC) and inhibitory rTMS to the right PFC. However, accumulating evidence points to greater similarities in emotional regulation between the hemispheres than previously theorized, with potential implications for how rTMS for MDD may be delivered and optimized in the near future. This review will catalog the range of measurement modalities that have been used to explore and describe hemispheric differences, and highlight evidence that updates and advances knowledge of TMS targeting and parameter selection. Future directions for research are proposed that may advance precision medicine and improve efficacy of TMS for MDD.

Keywords: MDD; NIBS; hemispheric differences; iTBS; neurostimulation; rTMS; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

VC is a Scientific Consultant for NeuroGeneces, Inc. The authors declare that they have no other conflicts of interest.

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