Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown efficacy and tolerability in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, the underlying mechanisms of its antidepressant effects remain unclear. This open-label study investigated electroencephalography (EEG) functional connectivity markers associated with response and the antidepressant effects of rTMS. Resting-state EEG data were collected from 28 participants with MDD before and after a four-week rTMS course. Source-space functional connectivity between 38 cortical regions was compared using an orthogonalised amplitude approach. Depressive symptoms significantly improved following rTMS, with 43 % of participants classified as responders. While the study's functional connectivity findings did not withstand multiple comparison corrections, exploratory analyses suggest an association between theta band connectivity and rTMS treatment mechanisms. Fronto-parietal theta connectivity increased after treatment but did not correlate with antidepressant response. Notably, low baseline theta connectivity was associated with greater response. However, due to the exploratory nature and small sample size, further replication is needed. The findings provide preliminary evidence that EEG functional connectivity, particularly within the theta band, may reflect the mechanisms by which rTMS exerts its therapeutic effects.

重复经颅磁刺激（rTMS）已显示出对重度抑郁症（MDD）的疗效和耐受性。然而，其抗抑郁作用的潜在机制仍不清楚。这项开放标签研究调查了与 rTMS 反应和抗抑郁作用相关的脑电图 (EEG) 功能连接标记。收集了 28 名 MDD 参与者在为期 4 周的 rTMS 课程前后的静息态脑电图数据。使用正交幅度方法比较 38 个皮质区域之间的源空间功能连接。rTMS 后抑郁症状显着改善，43% 的参与者被归类为缓解者。虽然该研究的功能连接性结果未能经受多重比较校正，但探索性分析表明 θ 带连接性与 rTMS 治疗机制之间存在关联。治疗后额顶叶θ连通性增加，但与抗抑郁反应无关。值得注意的是，低基线 θ 连接性与更大的响应相关。然而，由于探索性和样本量较小，需要进一步复制。这些发现提供了初步证据，表明脑电图功能连接，特别是在 θ 波段内，可能反映了 rTMS 发挥治疗作用的机制。