Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that causes interferences in one’s ability to fall or stay asleep, which can result in poor sleep quality and daytime impairments (such as low energy and fatigue, and disruptions in mood). About 10% of adults have long-term/chronic insomnia, which lasts 3 months, and about 1 in 3 adults worldwide have symptoms of insomnia.

Insomnia can cause daytime effects such as:

  • Low energy

  • Delayed reflexes

  • Memory problems

  • Mood disturbances and irritability

  • Slowed thinking and concentration issues

  • Disruptions in work/social routines

Symptoms of insomnia include:

  • Trouble falling asleep

  • Waking up in the middle of the night (and being able to fall back asleep)

  • Waking up too early and being unable to fall back asleep

TMS is a promising treatment option for insomnia. Research has shown that applying low frequency and inhibitory stimulation to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (RDLFPC) has been effective in improving sleep continuity and reducing hyperarousal associated with insomnia¹.

1. Gong, L., Yang, X., He, Y., Li, H., Zhou, W., Liu, D., Zhang, B., & Xi, C. (2025). Precision targeting of right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with neuronavigated rtms alleviates chronic insomnia via functional connectivity reorganization: A randomized neuroimaging trial. NeuroImage: Clinical, 47, 103815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2025.103815