Alpha-tACS Improves Executive Function and Alpha Power Spectral Density in Patients With Post-Stroke Cognitive...

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of alpha-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation (alpha-tACS) in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and its effects on electroencephalographic activity.

Forty PSCI patients were randomly assigned to receive either active alpha-tACS (10 Hz, 2 mA over bilateral DLPFC) or sham stimulation for 4 weeks, combined with standard therapy. Cognitive function was assessed using MoCA and TMT-A/B, complemented by resting-state EEG. ROC analysis was employed to evaluate alpha power spectral density (PSD).

Following the 4-week intervention, the alpha-tACS group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in MoCA scores and TMT-A completion times compared to the sham group (p < 0.05). Alpha power spectral density (PSD) increases were significantly more pronounced in the alpha-tACS group across all electrodes. Additionally, this group exhibited significantly greater reductions in whole-brain DAR and DTABR values (p_FDR < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations between TMT-A improvements and alpha PSD changes at multiple electrodes (F3, F4, F7, F8, C3, C4, P4, T4, O2, FZ, CZ, PZ; p_FDR < 0.05). Regression analysis identified P3 electrode PSD difference as a significant predictor (p = 0.01), with ROC analysis showing AUC values of 0.685 (T1 comparison) and 0.797 (T1-T0 comparison).

Alpha-tACS effectively enhances alpha oscillations and improves executive functions in PSCI patients, supporting its potential as a promising neuromodulatory intervention for cognitive rehabilitation.