Magnetic Resonance Imaging‐Guided Neuronavigation for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Mood Disorders: Technical Foundation, Advances, and Emerging Tools
Ilya Demchenko, Huda Al-Shamali, Alice Rueda, Ishaan Tailor, Reinhard Janssen‐Aguilar, Tom A. Schweizer, Katharine Dunlop, Simon J. Graham, Venkat Bhat
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has significantly advanced the treatment of mood disorders by enabling precise targeting of brain circuits implicated in their pathophysiology. The integration of neuronavigation systems, which utilize real-time MRI-based coil positioning, has improved spatial targeting accuracy, individualization, and therapeutic outcomes. Despite these advancements, achieving optimal stimulation efficacy requires careful consideration of MRI techniques, including anatomical imaging, functional MRI (fMRI), and connectivity-based methods. Anatomical MRI provides a reliable structural foundation for neuronavigation but lacks specificity regarding functional neural networks implicated in mood disorders. In contrast, fMRI, through task-based and resting-state paradigms, enhances target selection precision by identifying patient-specific neural activity and functional connectivity patterns, although this approach is vulnerable to variability and imaging artifacts. Connectivity-based MRI neuronavigation represents a promising advancement by explicitly targeting disrupted neural networks. This review critically examines recent technological and methodological progress in MRI-guided neuronavigation for TMS, addressing current challenges such as image acquisition quality, co-registration accuracy, artifact mitigation, and practical constraints in clinical settings. Finally, it discusses emerging opportunities and innovations poised to enhance neuronavigation precision, foster wider clinical adoption, and ultimately improve therapeutic outcomes in interventional psychiatry for mood disorders.