HD-tACS at 40 Hz Improves Consciousness and Brain Connectivity in Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial.
The 40-Hz protocol produced greater short-term consciousness-score improvements than 4-Hz or sham stimulation, supporting further controlled investigation.
Hu J, Mou C, Jiang X, Zhang L, Ling Y, Zhao J, Meng F, He F, Wang H, Peng F, Ning J, Gao J, Xu C, Xiao J, Zhao S, Yu J, Pan G, Luo B.
NeuroImage · Publication date: 2026-10-03
Added to site: 2026-10-04
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.122274
Published online October 3, 2026, verified in PubMed. Site addition: October 4, 2026.
- Modalities
- tACS, EEG, ERP
- Clinical focus
- Disorders of consciousness, Auditory steady-state response
- Population
- Patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness
- Sample
- 60 total; allocation and follow-up denominators unavailable in abstract
- Intervention / method
- Five days of 40-Hz or 4-Hz high-definition tACS, each with corresponding sham; CRS-R, EEG and six-month GOS-E assessment
- Comparator
- 4-Hz stimulation and corresponding sham conditions
Clinician summary
Visual/arousal scores improved; EEG connectivity changes correlated with behavioral gains. Baseline auditory responses were exploratory predictors. A six-month favorable-outcome difference was reported.
How to interpret the findings
Arm sizes, absolute score changes, confidence intervals, attrition, detailed safety and blinding were unavailable. The reported six-month percentage lacks a clear denominator in the abstract and is not reproduced here. Biomarker correlations do not prove mechanism.
Equipment and disclosures
Hardware, electrode montage and manufacturer unspecified in abstract.
Crossref lists National Natural Science Foundation of China and central-university research funding. PubMed reproduces a no-known-competing-interests declaration; full-text disclosures unchecked.
Related evidence
Compare findings from the same clinical area, including mixed results.
- Comparative Efficacy of Noninvasive Neuromodulation in Patients with Disorders of Consciousness: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials · Positive with limitations
- Clinically unresponsive patients with acute brain injury activate a brain-computer interface · Positive with limitations
- Detecting EEG index of arousal in sleeping patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome · Positive with limitations
Summary prepared with AI assistance. Source verification does not imply an independent replication or a clinician's endorsement. Read our review method.