The neurobiological synergy of transcranial magnetic stimulation and mindfulness-based interventions in treatment-resistant depression: a narrative review.
Frontiers in Psychiatry January 1, 2026 Sonora Yun, Martijn Figee
Many patients with treatment-resistant depression do not fully respond to repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), possibly because of fluctuations in baseline brain network states. This mini-review proposes that combining rTMS with short-duration mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) could enhance therapeutic outcomes. Both rTMS and mindfulness modulate brain networks involved in emotion, attention, and self-referential processing—specifically the default mode, central executive, and salience networks. The authors argue that concurrent or sequential use may produce additive or synergistic effects on network reorganization. They summarize shared network targets, propose a state-dependent synergy model, and synthesize existing evidence to guide future clinical trial design.