Better Brain Fitness (a Brainjo Production) #87: Hacking the Brain: TMS, Brain-to-Brain Communication, and Predicting Your Cognitive Future (with Dr. Andrea Stocco)
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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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Design Robust TMS Controls
- Use active control conditions: stimulate a nonfunctional site or employ a credible sham coil to control expectancy and sensory effects.
- Beware sham limitations because peripheral sensations can reveal condition assignment.
Surface Stimulation To Reach Deeper Memory Networks
- TMS trials for Alzheimer's aim to modulate surface regions connected to deep memory structures like hippocampus.
- Stocco's lab targets accessible cortical nodes that are functionally connected to deeper memory networks.
Pair Stimulation With Task Practice
- Combine TMS with the intended cognitive task during stimulation to direct plasticity toward desired skills.
- Doing the target activity while stimulating increases the chance of durable, function-specific change.
