Aim To study the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the learning and memory function of rats in the recovery stage of cerebral infarction through insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) pathway. Methods Adult male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, rTMS group and rTMS+ADW742 group. The latter three groups were used to establish cerebral infarction model by thread bolt method. Two weeks later, rTMS group was given rTMS intervention, rTMS+ADW742 group was given rTMS and ADW742 intervention for two weeks. Morris water maze was used to detect learning and memory function. TUNEL was used to detect apoptosis rate of hippocampus, Western blot was used to detect the expression of cytochrome-c (Cyt-C), cleaved Caspase-3, IGF-1, IGF-1R in hippocampus. Results Compared with the control group, the escape latency significantly prolonged, the times of crossing the platform and the expression of IGF-1, IGF-1R in the hippocampus significantly reduced, the apoptosis rate and the expression of Cyt-C, cleaved in the hippocampus significantly increased in model group(P＜0.05); Compared with the model group, the escape latency significantly was shortened; the times of crossing the platform and the expression of IGF-1, IGF-1R in the hippocampus were significantly increased; the apoptosis rate and the expression of Cyt-C, cleaved in the hippocampus were significantly reduced in model group(P＜0.05). Compared with model group, the escape latency was significantly prolonged; the times of crossing the platform and the expression of IGF-1, IGF-1R in the hippocampus were significantly reduced; the apoptosis rate and the expression of Cyt-C, cleaved in the hippocampus were significantly increased in rTMS+ADW742 group(P＜0.05). Conclusion rTMS can improve the learning and memory function of rats in the recovery period of cerebral infarction, and activating IGF-1R pathway and inhibiting apoptosis in hippocampus is the related molecular mechanism.