Athletes of all levels, sports and ages want the competitive edge: faster response times, more strength, better focus and motor skills, and shorter recovery periods.

As neuroscience applications gain more focus and attention in the sports arena, the connections between brain stimulation and performance make sense. Usher in technology developments such as digitized electroencephalograms and targeted transcranial magnetic stimulation protocols opportunities develop for next-step clinical applications.

Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS) for Sports Performance

NIBS including forms of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) understood as a potential treatment for anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and cognitive repair. NIBS is also showing promising studies in connection with the enhancement of sports performance.

The argument can be made that treating any of the aforementioned conditions can result in better sports performance. For example, better rest and a clean mind generally lead to more physical energy and better decision making.

In an excerpt from her article, Performance Enhancement by Brain Stimulation, Parisa Gaserani writes, “In an opinion paper, it was proposed that use of emerging brain stimulation techniques might also enhance physical and mental performance in sports (Davis, 2013). The assumption was based on several reports. For example, some studies have shown that TMS could shorten reaction times to visual, auditory and touch stimuli, reduce tremors, and enhance the acquisition of complex motor skills. Based on the current evidence, a recent review (Colzato et al., 2017) has summarized that overall brain stimulation by some techniques including TMS and tDCS seems to speed up motor learning, and motor skills in sports activities. Considering that performance enhancement can be seen (Colzato et al., 2017), one would ask how much and by which mechanism.”1

Legal and Non-Invasive Sports Performance Alternatives

To learn anything in life, whether physical or intellectual, our brain needs to form new neural pathways. Science calls this neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to create and strengthen connections between neurons. Muscle memory lives in the brain, not in the muscle.

Brain stimulation such as TMS MeRT℠ (Magnetic EEG/EKG-Guided Resonance Therapy, a form fo TMS) and tDCS do just that: promote better and stronger neuro-pathways so the brain can be optimized for performance.

MeRT℠ offers the potential for individualized sports performance optimization. The difference between MeRT℠ and TMS is the application of a variable treatment frequency to precisely target the individual’s current brain wave patterns.

MeRT℠ uses three FDA approved technologies: Quantitivate EEG Analysis, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and the EKG analysis of an individual patient’s heart rate. These technologies are married through the intrinsic harmonic relationship between the primary synchronizer of the brain, the alpha rhythm, and the heart rate.

The resultant frequency and coil location generated by MeRT℠ provides an extremely precise and highly individualized treatment protocol. The importance of the individualized frequency and localization generated by MeRT℠ cannot be overstated.

MeRT℠ is a treatment protocol that is non-invasive, essentially pain-free and with minimal or no side effects and allows you to return immediately to normal everyday activity.

Brain Health Restoration clinic offers Magnetic EEG/EKG-guided Resonance Therapy (MeRT℠), a fully customized treatment protocol with expected benefits of better sleep, better concentration and focus and potential pain relief. To find out more or to see how MeRT℠ might help you please contact us here.


1 Gaserani, Parisa.  “Performance Enhancement by Brain Stimulation.”  8 Aug 2017. Journal of Sports Science and Medicinencbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5592297/