new review: Accelerating non-invasive brain stimulation:

Taylor JJ, Stagg CJ, Bègue I, Bikson M, Brunoni AR, Caulfield KA, Ng E, Doose J, Sackeim HA, George MS. Accelerating the therapeutic effects of non-invasive brain stimulation: A Neuroscience School of Advanced Studies (NSAS) challenge workshop. Brain Stimul. 2026 May 13;19(4):103120. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2026.103120.

Highlights

• Accelerated protocols deliver ≥2 sessions per day.

• Accelerated ECT dates to the 1960s but remains untested with modern strategies.

• Accelerated TMS has regulatory clearance and clinical reimbursement pathways.

• Data for emerging brain stimulation modalities remain limited.

• Durability and parameter space require systematic study.

Abstract

Background

Noninvasive brain stimulation is typically delivered once daily, but accelerated protocols delivering multiple daily treatments have re-emerged to shorten time to clinical improvement.

Methods

At the Neuroscience School of Advanced Studies Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Challenge Workshop (Crans-Montana, Switzerland, October 21-24, 2025), we reviewed the literature on accelerated protocols across noninvasive brain stimulation modalities such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), transcranial vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS), and transcranial focused ultrasound (tUS). Accelerated protocols were defined as multiple daily treatments (≥2/day).

Results

Accelerated ECT protocols date back to the 1960s, when multiple seizure inductions per day produced more rapid clinical improvement but greater cognitive adverse effects. Accelerated TMS protocols emerged in the mid-2000s and gained popularity in the late 2010s, when protocols delivering more than three treatments per day began to show faster antidepressant effects. Accelerated protocols with other modalities or for indications other than major depressive disorder are in early stages.

Discussion

Accelerated protocols may reduce response latency without diminishing response magnitude. However, the durability of accelerated protocols remains unclear, and systematic exploration of parameter space across modalities is needed.