MeRT Science and Research Studies

Studies on EEG Findings:

BM-Science, Composition of brain oscillations in ongoing EEG during major depression disorder, Fingelkurts, et al, 2006.

This study looked at brainwave patterns in people with depression who weren’t taking medication. By comparing their brain activity to healthy individuals while resting with their eyes closed, researchers found unique differences in how their brains functioned. These findings help us better understand how depression affects the brain’s rhythm.

EEG Changes Associated with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Boutros et al, 2015.

People with autism vary widely in their abilities, behaviors, and how the condition appears. Some children seem completely typical at first but then start showing signs of autism as they grow. This study highlights the complexity and variety within autism spectrum disorder.

“EEG Analytics for Early Detection of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Data-driven Approach,” in Scientific Reports, May 2018.

By using advanced methods to analyze brainwaves, scientists found differences in babies as young as 3 months old who later developed autism. This kind of brain testing could help detect autism much earlier than traditional methods.

Electroencephalogram abnormalities in panic disorder patients: a study of symptom characteristics and pathology; Hayashi et al, 2010.

This study explored whether unusual brainwave patterns are linked to the symptoms people experience during panic attacks. The goal was to see if brain activity could help explain or support a diagnosis of panic disorder.

The Quantitative Electroencephalogram and the Low-Resolution Electrical Tomographic Analysis in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Todder et al, 2012

People with PTSD showed different brain activity in specific parts of the front of their brain when compared to people without PTSD, even when just resting. This adds to our understanding of how PTSD affects the brain.

EEG Alpha Rhythm Frequency and Intelligence in Normal Adults, Anokhin & Vogel, 1996.

This research looked at how the speed of certain brainwaves (especially alpha waves) might relate to intelligence. They studied healthy adult men to see if smarter individuals tend to have faster brain rhythms in certain parts of the brain.

Traumatic Brain Injury – An EEG Point of View, lanof and Anghinah, 2017

Using detailed brainwave tests (called quantitative EEG), doctors may be able to better diagnose mild traumatic brain injuries and the lingering problems that sometimes follow a concussion.

Neuromodulation Studies and Reports:

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Affects Behavior by Biasing Endogenous Cortical Ossilations, Hamidi et al, 2009.

Scientists used to think that rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) worked by temporarily “disabling” parts of the brain to study what they do, like creating a “virtual lesion.” But now, new findings show that rTMS can improve behavior in some people, meaning it does more than turn brain areas off. It may be influencing brain activity in more complex and helpful ways.

“Rhythmic TMS Causes Local Entrainment of Natural Oscillatory Signatures,” in Current Biology, Vol 21, No 14, July 2011.

This study examined whether rhythmic TMS (brain stimulation) could sync up with the brain’s natural rhythms. The results showed that in one specific setup (called x-TMS), the brainwaves became more synchronized or “locked in” with the rhythm of the stimulation. That means TMS can tune into and influence the brain’s natural activity patterns very specifically.

“Making Waves in the Brain: What Are Oscillations, and Why Modulating Them Makes Sense for Brain Injury,” in Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, Vol 10, Article 20, April 2017.

Despite years of research, we still don’t have many effective treatments that prevent the chain reaction of damage in the brain after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). That’s why changing or “modulating” brainwaves, like with TMS, is being explored as a promising new approach. It may help the brain recover better by influencing its real-time activity.

MeRT Ongoing Clinical Trials with the Department of Defense for PTSD, Post-Concussive Disorders, and TBI:

Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of MeRT Treatment in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (MRT-OO5-B), Wave Neuroscience (2024)

Researchers are testing how safe and effective MeRT is for people with PTSD. MeRT uses brain scans (like EEGs) to customize treatment to each person’s brain activity. This is a high-quality scientific study where neither the participants nor the researchers know who’s getting real MeRT and who’s getting a placebo (fake) version. This helps make sure the results are accurate and unbiased. About 150–176 people are taking part in the study, and a special review board is making sure everything is done safely and fairly.

To Evaluate the Efficacy of EEG-guided Magnetic Resonant Therapy in War Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Jianzhong Zhang et. al. (2020)

TMS, a form of brain stimulation, has already been proven to help with depression and migraines. MeRT is a personalized version of TMS, and researchers believe it could help military veterans with PTSD — especially since it may work better than existing treatments.

Magnetic Resonance Therapy Improves Clinical Phenotype and EEG Alpha Power in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Alexander Taghva et. al. (2015)

This study found that using gentle, targeted brain stimulation (like MeRT) might help people with PTSD feel better — and may also help correct abnormal brain wave patterns often seen in PTSD.

NO HERO LEFT UNTREATED ACT. H. Rept. (2025, April 29). (This is congressional approval for use of MeRT treatment for TBI, Post-Concussive Disorder, and PTSD)

In 2016, a law was proposed to give veterans access to MeRT treatment for serious conditions like PTSD, brain injuries, chronic pain, and addiction. The idea was to test MeRT at a few VA clinics to see if it could help those who’ve served in the military.

Major Depression:

The relationship between brain oscillatory activity and therapeutic effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of major depressive disorder, Leuchter et al, 2013.

This study suggests that depression treatment using TMS (a type of brain stimulation) might work better if it’s customized to match the brain’s natural rhythms—specifically, each person’s individual alpha frequency—rather than using a one-size-fits-all setting. Matching the stimulation frequency to the patient’s brain waves could improve results.

Composition of Brain Oscillations in Ongoing EEG During Major Depression Disorder, Fingelkurts et al, 2006.

The brains of people with major depression show clear differences in how brain waves (electrical signals) are organized compared to healthy individuals. These changes affect nearly the whole brain, especially the back part (posterior cortex), and often show more activity on the right side. This research helps explain how depression alters brain function across many areas.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for major depression: a multisite, naturalistic, observational study of acute treatment outcomes in clinical practice, Carpenter et al, 2012.

This large, real-world study found that TMS works well for people with depression who haven’t improved with medication. Patients stuck with the treatment, and the success rate was similar to what has been seen in controlled research settings. That means TMS is both practical and effective in everyday clinical use.

PTSD:

“Magnetic Resonance Therapy Improve Clinical Phenotype and EEG Alpha Power in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder,” in Trauma Monthly, November 2015.

This study treated 21 veterans with PTSD using MRT, a non-invasive brain therapy tailored to each person’s brain wave patterns. Of the 16 who completed the treatment, most showed improvement in their PTSD symptoms.

“Magnetic E-Resonant Therapy Alleviates Combat Related Post-traumatic Stress Disorder,” in Aerospace Medical Association, March 2017.

Early results show that MeRT, a personalized brain stimulation therapy, may be a helpful additional treatment for veterans dealing with PTSD.

Individualized Electromagnetic Treatment in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: a Randomized, Double-blind, Sham-controlled Trial, Poster Accepted, Taghva, et al.

Out of 96 PTSD patients, 80 completed this carefully controlled study. Those who received real MeRT (instead of fake/sham treatment) felt better by week two, including better sleep and fewer PTSD symptoms. When sham patients were later given the real treatment, they also improved.

EEG_EKG Guided TMS in veterans with PTSD_Randomized Double_Blinded pilot study_SBMT Poster Accepted

After two weeks of personalized brain stimulation based on each person’s EEG and heart data, 80 veterans saw clear improvements in PTSD symptoms—especially in sleep and avoidance behaviors. Suicidal thoughts also dropped in most patients. Brainwave changes were also seen and linked to feeling better. More research is needed.

Low-frequency, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: a Double-blind, Sham-controlled Study, Nam et al, 2013.

This study found that three weeks of low-frequency brain stimulation on the right side of the brain helped reduce PTSD symptoms more than a fake treatment, even though the study had some design flaws.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in posttraumatic stress disorder: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Cohen et al, 2004.

In this trial, PTSD patients who got 10 days of brain stimulation (10 Hz) on a specific part of the right brain felt better than those who got a fake or slow-frequency treatment.

The Quantitative Electroencephalogram and the Low-Resolution Electrical tomographic analysis in posttraumatic stress disorder, Todder et al, 2012.

This study used a detailed EEG brain scan technique and confirmed previous research showing that PTSD affects brain structure—especially on the right side in areas tied to emotions and memory. The method used may offer a clearer way to understand brain changes in PTSD.

Autism:

“Improved Autism Behaviors After Non-invasive Cerebral Trans-magnetic Stimulation Using Customized Frequency Modulation: Follow-up,” in American Association of Neurological Surgeons

In this study, children with autism were treated using a gentle, non-invasive brain stimulation technique personalized to their brain activity. After about two years, the treatment was still considered safe, with very few side effects (only 0.7% had increased seizure activity). Of the 44 kids who completed the program, over half showed real improvements in their autism symptoms, especially when combined with therapy. More rigorous studies are needed to confirm these promising results.

“The Potential of Magnetic Resonant Therapy in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder,” in Austin Publishing Group, August 2016.

Because kids with autism often show consistent brain wave patterns, the researchers suggest that MRT—a type of brain stimulation guided by those patterns—could be a good treatment option and deserves further study.

“Non-invasive EEG-EKG Guided Trans-magnetic Stimulation at Natural Resonance Frequency in Children with Autism: Randomized Double-blinded Pilot Study” in Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics, Abstract Accepted, Kim et al.

See Also: Secondary Source

This small, carefully designed study treated 28 children with autism using a brain stimulation method tailored to their EEG and EKG readings. After five weeks, parents saw significant improvements in behaviors like imitation, emotional response, body movement, dealing with change, and sensory responses (like touch or taste).

A stable pattern of EEG spectral coherence distinguishes children with autism from neuro- typical controls – a large case control study, Duffy, et al, 2012.

This large study found that children with autism have a unique and stable pattern in how different parts of their brain communicate (measured through EEG). These patterns could potentially help doctors diagnose autism more accurately using brainwave data.

Resting State Cortical Connectivity Reflected in EEG Coherence in Individuals with Autism, Murias, 2007.

Children with autism show both over-connected and under-connected areas in the brain when resting with eyes closed. These connection patterns are seen in different brain regions and times, and they might help explain some of the symptoms of autism.

EEG complexity as a biomarker for autism spectrum disorder risks, Bosl et al, 2011.

This study looked at brain wave complexity in infants, especially those with a family history of autism. It found that babies at higher risk for autism had different patterns of brain activity between 6 and 24 months. These patterns may help detect autism earlier, even before symptoms show, by measuring how complex brain signals are as the child develops.

Anxiety:

Electroencephalogram abnormalities in panic disorder patients: a study of symptom characteristics and pathology, Hayeshi et al, 2010.

Out of 70 patients with panic disorder, about 1 in 4 had unusual brainwave patterns, mostly slow waves. People who had these brainwave changes were more likely to experience physical symptoms like nausea, feeling detached from reality, or tingling sensations during panic attacks. This suggests that panic attacks might be linked to underlying brainwave patterns and bodily responses.

EEG Correlates of Different Types of Anxiety in 14 – to 15-Year-Old Teenagers, Eismont et al, 2008.

This study looked at 14-15-year-old teens and found that those with higher levels of anxiety (whether related to school, self-image, social interactions, or even mystical fears) had different brainwave patterns compared to less anxious teens. Specifically, anxious teens showed weaker and slower alpha brainwaves (the “calm” waves) and other rhythms. Each type of anxiety (like school stress or self-esteem issues) showed its own unique pattern in the brain, even if the teen didn’t feel “generally anxious” overall.

Coma:

Magnetic Resonance Therapy for Non-invasive Neuromodulation of Minimally Conscious State – A Report of 2 Cases, Lui et al.

This study looked at two patients who were in a minimally conscious state (MCS) after traumatic brain injuries. After receiving Magnetic Resonance Therapy (MRT)—a type of non-invasive brain stimulation—both patients showed noticeable improvements in awareness and brain activity. The researchers believe MRT might work by mimicking natural brain signals that help “wake up” the brain, similar to how deeper brain structures normally activate the cortex.

MeRT Science and Research Studies

Studies on EEG Findings:

Neuromodulation Studies and Reports:

MeRT Ongoing Clinical Trials with the Department of Defense for PTSD, Post-Concussive Disorders, and TBI:

Major Depression:

PTSD:

Autism:

Anxiety:

Coma:

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