Better Brain Fitness (a Brainjo Production) Hacking the Brain: TMS, Brain-to-Brain Communication, and Predicting Your Cognitive Future (with Dr. Andrea Stocco)
Oct 28, 2025
Dr. Andrea Stocco, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Washington, dives into the fascinating world of brain stimulation. He uncovers the magic of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for enhancing neuroplasticity and its potential in treating memory-related disorders like Alzheimer’s. Stocco discusses the innovative Seattle Graded Memory Assessment (Sigma), which maps memory decline and individual trajectories. He also highlights the complexities of TMS effects, trade-offs in brain function, and encourages further research to refine our understanding of memory dynamics.
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How TMS Works And Its Historical Impact
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) induces electrical currents in the brain using changing magnetic fields without passing electricity through the scalp.
- Andrea Stocco says TMS made motor system testing safer and far more precise than prior direct electrical shocks.
TMS As A Research Tool And Signal Transmitter
- TMS can temporarily disrupt a brain region, showing causality between brain area and function in research.
- Stocco also used TMS as an inverse brain–computer interface to transmit interpretable signals between people.
Plasticity Is The Therapeutic Mechanism
- Repetitive TMS protocols can induce neuroplasticity with lasting synaptic effects beyond stimulation.
- This plasticity underlies clinical uses like depression treatment and experimental uses in Alzheimer's research.
