Does TMS Cause Memory Loss? (AMS)

An important question many of our patients ask is, “Does TMS cause memory loss?” This is a common misconception—the truth is that NeuroStar transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) does not contribute to impaired memory.

On this page, we discuss the technology behind TMS therapy and how it impacts your brain on a neurobiological level with minimal side effects. If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact our knowledgeable medical team at AMS Health and Wellness.

NeuroStar TMS Therapy Does Not Cause Memory Loss

Other brain-stimulating treatments, such as electroconvulsive therapy, may cause short-term memory loss, so it makes sense that you may worry about NeuroStar TMS affecting your recall ability. However, TMS, including NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy, does not cause memory loss.

This is possible because NeuroStar TMS therapy is strategically administered to target only the specific brain regions that are directly involved with and impacted by your mental health disorder. In other words, it does not disturb the brain areas that affect your memory processing.

NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy—the regimen we offer at our practice and the #1 physician-recommended TMS treatment—is uniquely customized to your needs. Clinical research demonstrates that it does not impact memory-related areas and comes with a minimal risk of recall-related side effects. In 65 clinical trials of over 150,000 study patients and almost 6 million NeuroStar TMS tests, no memory-related adverse effects were reported.

What Makes NeuroStar TMS Unique?

NeuroStar TMS stands out because it is delivered through a personalized treatment plan developed during your initial consultation. Throughout your therapy, this plan is regularly adjusted based on how you respond to treatment, ensuring that care remains tailored to your specific needs.

Unlike medications that affect the entire brain, NeuroStar TMS therapy uses magnetic pulses to precisely target the brain regions associated with specific mental health conditions—without affecting areas unrelated to the condition, such as those responsible for memory.

• For Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): NeuroStar focuses on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region critical for mood regulation, emotional control, and decision-making. In people with MDD, this area is often underactive.
• For Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Treatment targets the anterior cingulate cortex, a part of the brain involved in emotional regulation and behavioral control, helping reduce compulsive behaviors and intrusive thoughts.
• For Anxious Depression: TMS stimulation is directed at the amygdala, a key region involved in emotional processing and the brain’s fear response—areas commonly disrupted in individuals struggling with anxiety-related depression.

This precise targeting is one of the reasons NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy has such a strong safety profile. By stimulating only the areas involved in your specific condition, the treatment minimizes the risk of unwanted side effects—especially memory issues. At AMS Health and Wellness, we are committed to helping you improve your mental health through focused, evidence-based care that does not compromise cognitive function.

Ask Our Professionals About TMS and Memory Lapses

During your consultation, we can review in more detail how NeuroStar TMS works and could help you manage your mental health symptoms without compromising your memory or cognitive function. Bring your questions about NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy, such as “Does TMS cause memory loss?” to our specialists. We want to ensure that you have all the answers you need to make an informed decision, and we aim to offer you a welcoming, comforting, and soothing experience. Contact us today for a fresh start to your mental health journey.

Adult Indications for Use

The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is indicated for the treatment of depressive episodes and for decreasing anxiety symptoms for those who may exhibit comorbid anxiety symptoms in adult patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and who failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from previous antidepressant medication treatment in the current episode.

The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is intended to be used as an adjunct for the treatment of adult patients suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Adolescent Indications for Use 

NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is indicated as an adjunct for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adolescent patients (15-21).

NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is only available by prescription. A doctor can help decide if NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is right for you. Patients’ results may vary.

Important Safety Information

The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. These events are transient; they occur during the TMS treatment course and do not occur for most patients after the first week of treatment. There is a rare risk of seizure associated with the use of TMS therapy (<0.1% per patient).

NeuroStar Advanced Therapy should not be used with patients who have non-removable conductive metal in or near the head. NeuroStar Advanced Therapy has not been studied in patients who have not received prior antidepressant treatment.