Oh, what a time to be alive! In the ever-evolving world of depression treatment, we’ve stumbled upon a groundbreaking revelation: zapping the brain with intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) might just do the trick. But wait, there’s more! Not content with merely zapping brains in the dark, scientists have now decided to watch the fireworks show live by combining this brain tickling with fMRI. Because, you know, why not add a bit of real-time brain cinema to the mix?

In a daring move that screams “we’re just getting started,” researchers have embarked on a quest to understand the elusive beast known as target engagement. Armed with a novel TMS-fMRI setup that sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, they’ve decided to peek directly into the brain’s response to a full-on iTBS session. Because, apparently, the best way to see if you’re hitting the target is to literally watch the brain light up like a Christmas tree.

So, they rounded up 18 brave souls (read: healthy participants) and one adventurous patient with bipolar depression, to see if their fancy setup could actually capture the elusive BOLD signal changes. Spoiler alert: it worked! The brain did indeed light up, showing increased activity in areas that are supposed to be involved in making us feel less gloomy. And in the patient with bipolar depression, the lights were a bit dimmer, adding a touch of mystery and intrigue to the findings.

But here’s the kicker: despite the dazzling display of brain activity, the researchers admit we’re still at the starting line when it comes to understanding how iTBS really works its magic. It’s like they’ve just discovered the entrance to a vast, unexplored cave and are standing at the edge, torches in hand, ready to venture into the unknown.

In conclusion, if you’ve ever dreamed of seeing your brain on a big screen while it’s being gently zapped into a better mood, your time has come. The future of depression treatment is here, and it’s looking… well, pretty lit.