Effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on arousal and alertness among traumatic brain injury patients with disorders of consciousness or persistent vegetative State: a systematic review.
Nidhi Sharma, Aksh Chahal, Richa Hirendra Rai, Bartosz Maciej Wójcik, Bushra J Alfaifi, Krishna Reddy Vajrala, Mohammad Sidiq, Abhishek Sharma
Acta neurologica Belgica June 1, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1007/s13760-025-02794-z via PubMed
Summary
Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques offer new hope for patients with severe traumatic brain injury who remain in vegetative states. Recent analysis shows these treatments can safely improve awareness and responsiveness in many patients previously thought to have limited recovery potential. The stimulation methods work by carefully activating specific brain regions, helping restore consciousness and alertness in some coma patients.
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to disorders of consciousness (DOC) or persistent vegetative state (PVS), characterized by impaired arousal and awareness. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have shown promise in modulating cortical excitability and potentially enhancing arousal and alertness in these patients. This systematic review aims to synthesize existing literature on the effects of NIBS on arousal and alertness among TBI patients with DOC or PVS. A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases for studies investigating the use of NIBS techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in TBI patients with DOC or PVS. Studies were included if they assessed changes in arousal or alertness following NIBS intervention. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed using predefined criteria. A total of 11 studies with 475 patients (mean age 46.21 ± 12.31 years) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The majority of studies utilized TMS or tDCS as the NIBS modality. Findings suggest that NIBS may lead to improvements in arousal and alertness among TBI patients with DOC or PVS. However, the magnitude and duration of these effects varied across studies. Non-invasive brain stimulation shows promise as a potential intervention for enhancing arousal and alertness in TBI patients with DOC or PVS. Further well-controlled studies are warranted to elucidate optimal stimulation parameters, long-term effects, and potential synergies with other rehabilitation approaches.