Quick answer: EEG-personalized TMS uses a recording of your brain’s electrical activity to set the frequency of your TMS pulses, instead of using one standard frequency for everyone. Neuronavigation uses a tracking camera and a 3D head model to guide the coil to the same treatment target every session. Both are refinements to standard TMS delivery, and Arellano Advanced Psychiatry uses both in El Paso.
Most people researching TMS learn the basics quickly: magnetic pulses, a coil near the scalp, daily sessions over several weeks. What they hear less about is how much the details of delivery can vary between clinics. Where exactly the coil sits, and what frequency the pulses run at are decisions every TMS provider makes for every patient. This post explains two tools that make those decisions more individual.
Why does TMS targeting matter?
For depression, TMS stimulates the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region involved in mood regulation. The DLPFC isn’t marked on the outside of the head, and its location varies from person to person with head size and brain anatomy.
The traditional way to find it is a measurement rule: locate the spot that makes your thumb twitch (the motor cortex), then measure a fixed distance forward. It’s practical and widely used, but it assumes everyone’s anatomy follows the same pattern. Small differences in coil placement mean the pulses reach a slightly different area.
What is neuronavigation?
Neuronavigation is a tracking system, similar in concept to GPS. A camera follows markers on your head and on the TMS coil, and software builds a 3D model of your head (it can also incorporate existing MRI data when available). Your provider sees on screen exactly where the coil sits relative to the target.
The practical benefits:
- Accuracy at the first session. The target is located using your individual head model rather than only a fixed measurement.
- Consistency across sessions. A standard course is 36 sessions. Neuronavigation helps the coil return to the same spot every time, even if you sit slightly differently in the chair.
- Documentation. The exact coordinates are recorded, so if you return for maintenance months later, treatment resumes at the same target.
What is EEG-personalized TMS?
An EEG (electroencephalogram) records the brain’s electrical rhythms using small sensors on the scalp. It’s painless and takes a short visit. One of the rhythms it measures, the alpha rhythm, has a peak frequency that varies between individuals.
Standard TMS for depression delivers pulses at a fixed 10 Hz for every patient. EEG-personalized TMS uses your own EEG recording to set the stimulation frequency to match your brain’s rhythm. The idea is to work with the pattern your brain already shows, rather than a single frequency chosen for everyone. Research into EEG-guided approaches is ongoing, and your provider can walk you through what’s currently known and whether it’s a fit for you.
Is personalized TMS a different treatment from regular TMS?
No. It’s the same treatment, delivered with more individual setup. You still sit in a comfortable chair, the sessions are still about 19 minutes, there’s still no anesthesia, and you can still drive yourself home. The difference is in the planning before and during sessions: where the coil goes and how the pulses are set.
Who offers EEG-personalized TMS in El Paso?
Arellano Advanced Psychiatry uses both neuronavigation and EEG brain mapping, and has delivered more than 100 EEG-personalized TMS treatments. The practice runs four CloudTMS machines across three El Paso clinic locations and offers EEG testing as a standalone service as well.
Frequently asked questions
Does EEG-personalized TMS cost more? Coverage depends on your plan. Our team reviews your benefits and explains any out-of-pocket costs before treatment begins.
Do I need an MRI for neuronavigation? No. Neuronavigation builds a 3D head model without an MRI. If you already have MRI images, they can be incorporated.
Is an EEG painful? No. Sensors rest on the scalp and record activity. Nothing is delivered into the body, and you can resume normal activity right away.
Is personalized TMS FDA-cleared? TMS is FDA-cleared for major depressive disorder and OCD. EEG and neuronavigation are tools used to plan and deliver that treatment; your provider can explain how they’re used in your specific protocol.
Ask about personalized TMS in El Paso
If you’ve been told TMS might be your next step, ask how your treatment will be targeted. TMS El Paso offers TMS at our Montana Avenue, Beech Street, and Joe Battle Boulevard locations. See if you qualify or request an appointment.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for a professional psychiatric evaluation. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or go to your nearest emergency room.