Status and trends in transcranial magnetic stimulation research: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), as a rapidly advancing non-invasive brain stimulation technique, has demonstrated reliable therapeutic efficacy and significant potential in brain function assessment and research. However, comprehensive bibliometric analyses of the overall TMS field remain limited. Therefore, this study conducts a systematic analysis of TMS-related literature from 2004 to 2023, aiming to facilitate further advancements in TMS research and development.

Methods: We retrieved TMS-related literature from 2004 to 2023 in the Web of Science Core Collection. Using CiteSpace and R language, we constructed network visualizations to illustrate annual publication outputs and journal distributions, demonstrate co-occurrence and collaboration patterns among authors, countries, and institutions, and establish keyword co-occurrence and reference co-citation analyses.

Results: Our analysis incorporated 6,278 TMS-related articles. Despite fluctuations, the publication output demonstrated an overall upward trend over the 20-year period. Daskalakis Z.J. emerged as the most prolific author, while the United States and Harvard University were identified as the leading contributing country and institution, respectively. Brain Stimulation ranked first in publication volume, whereas Clinical Neurophysiology received the highest citation count. The work by Rossi S. achieved the highest co-citation frequency. Current research hotspots include intermittent theta-burst stimulation, cognitive impairment, systematic review, and mild cognitive impairment.

Conclusion: Research related to TMS has been increasing annually and is a developing field. The United States leaded the way, while Harvard University was the most active institution. Daskalakis Z.J. (Canada) was the most prolific author. The most influential journals included Brain Stimulation, Clinical Neurophysiology, and Journal of Affective Disorders. Further deep collaboration among leading countries, institutions, and authors is needed. Current hotspots in TMS research involve integration with imaging techniques, clinical applications, optimization of parameters, and exploration of neurological modulation mechanisms.

Keywords: bibliometric analysis; bibliometrics; repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; transcranial magnetic stimulation; visualization analysis.

Figure 1

Flowchart of the literature search and analysis process.

Figure 2

(A) Annual publication products of relevant TMS articles from 2004 to 2023. TMS, Transcranial magnetic stimulation. (B) The top 20 journals are core journals.

Figure 3

Co-occurrence map of authors. (A) Top 15 authors in citation counts. (B) Top 12 authors in centrality. (C) Top 25 strongest bursts authors. (D) Author clustering map.

Figure 4

Co-occurrence map of institutions. (A) Top 13 institutions in citation counts. (B) Top 16 institutions in centrality. (C) Top 22 strongest bursts institutions. (D) A clustering map of the network of institutions.

Figure 5

(A) Country collaboration map. (B) Cooperation network map of countries. SCP, Single Country Publications; MCP, Multiple Country Publications.

Figure 6

Co-occurrence analysis of countries. (A) Countries ranked by citation counts. (B) Countries ranked by centrality. (C) Top 20 strongest bursts countries.

Figure 7

Co-citation analysis of authors, journals, references. (A) Network map of co-cited authors by citation counts. (B) Network map of co-cited authors by centrality. (C) Clustering map of co-cited authors. (D) Network map of co-cited journals by citation counts. (E) Network map of co-cited journals by centrality. (F) Clustering map of co-cited journals. (G) Network map of co-cited reference by citation counts. (H) Network map of co-cited reference by centrality. (I) Co-citation reference clustering map.

Figure 8

Co-occurrence map of keywords. (A) Keywords ranked by citation counts. (B) Keywords ranked by centrality. (C) Top 22 strongest bursts keywords. (D) A clustering map of the co-citation network of keywords.

Figure 9

(A) Keyword theme map. (B) Trend chart of keyword emergent terminology changes.