Effects of rTMS on Cigarette Smoking and Cognition in Schizophrenia

Subjects will undergo two testing weeks (active and sham rTMS treatment), washout period ≥ 1 month between the testing weeks. rTMS treatment sessions will take place twice daily on days 1-3 of each test week. Active treatment will be delivered at 90% resting motor threshold intensity. Stimulation will be administered at 20 Hz with 25 stimulation trains of 30 stimuli each with an inter-train interval of 30 sec at equivalent stimulation parameters as those used in our pilot trial. Stimulation Site: Advanced neuronavigation methods will be used to target rTMS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex following a T1 weighted MRI scan.

Subjects will undergo two testing weeks (active and sham rTMS treatment) administered in a randomized order, to which both experimenter and participant will be blind. There will be a washout period of at least one month between the testing weeks to ensure that any changes in cortical function induced by rTMS have returned to baseline. rTMS treatment sessions will take place twice daily on days 1-3 of each test week. Sham Condition: A single-wing tilt rTMS coil position producing somatic sensation (contraction of scalp muscles) with minimal direct brain effects will be used (same stimulation parameters and site as active condition).