A comparative study of simulated electric fields of transcranial magnetic stimulation targeting different cortical motor regions

Abstract This computational simulation study investigates the strength of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)‐induced electric fields (EF) in primary motor cortex (M1) and secondary motor areas. Our results reveal high interindividual variability in the strength of TMS‐induced EF responses in secondary motor areas, relative to the stimulation threshold in M1. Notably, the activation of the supplementary motor area requires high‐intensity stimulation, which could be attributed to the greater scalp‐to‐cortex distance observed over this area. These findings emphasize the importance of individualized planning using computational simulation for optimizing neuromodulation strategies targeting the cortical motor system.