Application and research progress of different frequency tACS in stroke rehabilitation: A systematic review

Abstract

After a stroke, abnormal changes in neural oscillations that are related to the severity and prognosis of the disease can occur. Resetting these abnormal neural oscillations is a potential approach for stroke rehabilitation. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can modulate intrinsic neural oscillations noninvasively and has attracted attention as a possible technique to improve multiple post-stroke symptoms, including deficits in speech, vision, and motor ability and overall neurological recovery. The clinical effect of tACS varies according to the selected frequency. Therefore, choosing an appropriate frequency to optimize outcomes for specific dysfunctions is essential. This review focuses on the current research status and possibilities of tACS with different frequencies in stroke rehabilitation. We also discuss the possible mechanisms of tACS in stroke to provide a theoretical foundation for the method and highlight the controversial aspects that need further exploration. Although tACS has great potential, few clinical studies have applied it in the treatment of stroke, and no consensus has been reached. We analyze limitations in experimental designs and identify potential tACS approaches worthy of exploration in the future.