MeRT vs Standard TMS

Both use magnetic stimulation.
Only one starts with your brain.

Standard TMS uses the same protocol for every patient. MeRT® begins with a quantitative EEG to map your specific brainwave patterns — then builds a protocol around those findings. Here's exactly what that difference means.

Side-by-side comparison

MeRT vs standard TMS — what actually differs

Feature
Standard TMS
MeRT at BTM
Starting point
✗Fixed protocol — same for every patient
✓Quantitative EEG brain map — unique to you
Frequency
✗Standard frequency (typically 10 Hz)
✓Tuned to your dominant brainwave frequency
Location of stimulation
✗Predetermined location (left DLPFC for depression)
✓Determined by your EEG findings — where your brain needs it
Protocol adjustment
✗Same protocol from start to finish
✓EEG repeated at weeks 2, 4, and 6 — protocol adjusts as brain responds
Physician oversight
Varies by clinic — often technician-run
✓Board-certified physician reviews every EEG and approves every protocol
Functional medicine integration
✗Typically not included
✓Root-cause systemic evaluation alongside neurological treatment
Intake evaluation with our psychiatrist
Varies — may require a separate referral
✓Full intake evaluation with our psychiatrist at intake with Dr. Wood
Results documentation
Symptom self-report
✓Before-and-after EEG data — objective, physician-reviewed
Treatment course
Typically 4–6 weeks, 5 days/week
~6 weeks, 5 days/week — same commitment
FDA clearance
✓FDA-cleared for MDD and OCD
✓Uses FDA-cleared TMS equipment
The EEG difference

Standard TMS never sees your brain. MeRT starts there.

Before any MeRT treatment begins, a comfortable EEG cap records your brainwave activity — creating a quantitative map of how your brain is currently functioning. No needles, no discomfort.

That data tells us three things standard TMS doesn't know: your dominant brainwave frequency, where dysregulation is occurring, and what the brain looks like now as a baseline to measure progress against.

No other neurostimulation approach used in outpatient clinical settings starts with this level of individualization.

Patient undergoing quantitative EEG brain mapping at Brain Treatment Center Michigan

qEEG brain mapping — the starting point for every MeRT treatment. Image courtesy Wave Neuroscience.

Treatment process compared

What a standard TMS course looks like vs. MeRT

Standard TMS
1
Intake evaluation with our psychiatrist (often external)
2
Motor threshold determination
3
Fixed protocol begins — same frequency, same location, every session
4
4–6 weeks of daily sessions
5
Symptom check at end of course
MeRT at BTM
1
Full intake evaluation with our psychiatrist — Dr. Wood, MD
2
qEEG brain mapping — your brainwave data
3
Physician-designed protocol — frequency and location from your EEG
4
~6 weeks of daily sessions
5
EEG repeated at weeks 2, 4, and 6 — protocol adjusts each time
6
Before-and-after EEG comparison at results review with Dr. Wallace

Why three EEG re-evaluations matter

The brain does not respond to treatment in a straight line. Brainwave patterns shift — sometimes significantly — during the first two weeks of stimulation. Repeating the EEG at weeks two, four, and six allows the protocol to be adjusted in response to how your specific brain is changing. Standard TMS never does this. A protocol set on day one is the same on day thirty.

Where MeRT and TMS both apply — and where MeRT goes further

Conditions treated

Both TMS and MeRT

Major Depressive Disorder

FDA-cleared for both. Insurance commonly covers. MeRT's personalized approach may benefit treatment-resistant cases that haven't responded to standard TMS.

Both TMS and MeRT

OCD

FDA-cleared for both. TRICARE and major commercial insurers cover TMS for OCD. MeRT protocol is individualized to each patient's EEG findings.

MeRT approach

PTSD

MeRT uses qEEG to identify specific dysregulation patterns in the neural networks affected by trauma. Standard TMS for PTSD uses less individualized targeting.

MeRT approach

Autism spectrum disorder

Every autism brain has a unique EEG pattern. MeRT's individualized approach is particularly well-suited to ASD — where no two patients present the same way neurologically.

MeRT approach

TBI & concussion

Post-TBI brainwave patterns are highly individual depending on the nature and location of injury. qEEG identifies the specific dysregulation — standard TMS cannot.

MeRT approach

Long COVID neurological

Persistent cognitive symptoms after COVID-19 are often not visible on standard imaging. qEEG frequently reveals measurable dysregulation — and MeRT can target it directly.

Common questions

What people ask about MeRT vs TMS

If I already tried standard TMS and it didn't work, can MeRT still help?

Yes — and this is one of the most common situations we see. Standard TMS uses a population-average protocol that may not align with your specific brainwave patterns. MeRT starts by mapping what's actually happening in your brain, which means it can address patterns that a fixed protocol missed. Many patients who didn't respond to standard TMS have experienced meaningful improvement with MeRT.

Does insurance cover MeRT the same way it covers TMS?

Insurance coverage is based on the equipment used and the diagnosis — not the specific protocol. Because MeRT uses FDA-cleared TMS equipment, coverage follows the same rules as standard TMS for the same indications (MDD, OCD). TRICARE, VA CCN, and many commercial plans cover FDA-cleared TMS. We verify benefits before you begin.

Is MeRT FDA-cleared?

MeRT uses FDA-cleared TMS equipment. The MeRT protocol — the individualized, qEEG-guided approach to using that equipment — is a clinical methodology developed and refined through published research. The distinction is similar to how a licensed physician can use FDA-cleared surgical tools in individualized ways — the tool is cleared, the clinical expertise is what makes it personalized.

How long does MeRT take compared to TMS?

Approximately the same — around six weeks of daily sessions, Monday through Friday, 30–45 minutes each. The difference is what happens within that timeframe: MeRT includes three EEG re-evaluations and protocol adjustments at weeks two, four, and six, which standard TMS does not.

Where is Brain Treatment Center Michigan located?

We have two active locations: Metro Detroit (Sterling Heights, MI) and Grand Rapids (Byron Center, MI). Call (269) 430-7966 to discuss which location is most convenient for you.

MeRT technology as featured in

Wall Street JournalWashington PostThe DoctorsNBC SportsDefense OneUS Air Force

Ready to talk about whether MeRT is right for you?

Our care team will reach out within one business day — no commitment required.

Schedule a no-cost introductory call (269) 430-7966 — ask for our care team

Questions about MeRT vs TMS?

Request Consultation