How TMS and Entrepreneurial Identity Are Connected
A new study has taken an innovative look at how TMS and entrepreneurial identity may be linked in young adult men. Researchers wanted to find out whether those who see themselves as entrepreneurs show different brain responses when stimulated using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)—a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic fields to activate neurons.
This research doesn’t claim that being an entrepreneur changes your brain, but it does suggest that how we see ourselves might show up in our brain’s electrical responses. In particular, this study focused on a type of brain measurement called short intracortical inhibition, or SICI, which reflects the brain’s ability to filter out unnecessary activity.
Study Design: Using TMS to Measure Brain Activity
Researchers worked with 23 right-handed young men aged 18 to 33. They used a TMS device called the MagPro X100 to stimulate the brain’s primary motor cortex, the area involved in movement. They measured the brain’s response by recording motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from a muscle in the hand.
Participants also completed a life satisfaction survey (SWLS) and were divided into groups based on whether they self-identified as entrepreneurs.
The team used two types of TMS:
- Single-pulse (SP) stimulation to measure overall excitability
- Paired-pulse SICI to look at inhibitory control in the motor cortex
Key Findings: The Role of SICI in Differentiating Identity
The results showed no major differences in general brain excitability (measured by SP and rMT values) between those who identified as entrepreneurs and those who didn’t. However, the SICI measurements revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups.
In simple terms, the brains of self-identified entrepreneurs processed inhibitory signals differently, even if their overall excitability and life satisfaction levels were the same as their peers. This suggests that subtle differences in brain activity may be tied to personality or self-perception rather than just external behavior.
Why This Matters for Interventional Psychiatry
This study adds to a growing field of research exploring how TMS can be used not just to treat mental health conditions, but also to explore traits like motivation, identity, and self-concept. The use of TMS and entrepreneurial identity as a lens for investigation may open up new doors in neuropsychological research, including studies on personality, behavior change, or even leadership training.
It also emphasizes the value of SICI and MEPs in identifying subtle neural signatures that traditional psychological surveys might miss.
The Future: Could Brain Stimulation Personalize Mental Health Care?
By linking personality traits and brain physiology, tools like TMS could one day help customize mental health treatments. For example, understanding how someone’s brain filters information or reacts to stimuli might help tailor interventions like neurofeedback, TMS therapy, or cognitive-behavioral strategies.
This research is still in early stages, but it lays important groundwork for integrating neurophysiological metrics into psychological profiles.
References
- Vlasov, A. (2025). Is there a link between the self-identification of entrepreneurship among males and the TMS-evoked neuromuscular activity? Brain Stimulation, 18(5), 1274–1280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2025.05.030
- Hallett, M. (2007). Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Primer. Neuron, 55(2), 187–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2007.06.026