Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40646416›Full record

Trial reportNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2025

The impact of transcranial direct current stimulation on brain network connectivity and topology in post-stroke cognitive impairment patients: a resting-state fMRI study.

Jiali Zhong, Xiaoshan Jing, Ying Liang, Pan Hao, Ruchen Peng, Ruiqiang Xin

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jiali ZhongDepartment of Radiology, Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 101149, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-5470-3137
Xiaoshan JingDepartment of Rehabilitation, Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 101149, China.
Ying LiangSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
Pan HaoDepartment of Radiology, Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 101149, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8701-6763
Ruchen PengDepartment of Radiology, Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 101149, China.
Ruiqiang XinDepartment of Radiology, Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 101149, China. rxin@ccmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-8295-0088

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPost-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a common and severe consequence of ischemic stroke (IS) that significantly affects patient outcomes. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has shown promise in enhancing cognitive function in IS patients, but its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study investigates the effects of tDCS on brain functional connectivity and network topology using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

methodsIn this double-blind study, sixty-five IS patients with PSCI were randomly assigned to either the tDCS or control group. Rs-fMRI data were acquired before and after the intervention. We analyzed functional connectivity (FC) and graph theory-based topological properties. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). RESULTS AFTER: treatment, both groups showed improvements in MMSE and MoCA scores, with the tDCS group demonstrating significantly greater improvements (p < 0.05). In the tDCS group, FC significantly increased between four pairs of brain regions (p < 0.05, FDR-corrected). Additionally, Global Efficiency (E

conclusionThese findings suggest that tDCS improves cognitive function in PSCI by altering brain network connectivity and topological organization, providing neuroimaging evidence to support its therapeutic mechanisms.

Indexed as

BrainCognitive DysfunctionIschemic StrokeNerve NetStrokeTranscranial Direct Current StimulationAgedDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedCognitive functionFunctional connectivityGraph theoryPost-stroke cognitive impairmentResting-state fMRITranscranial direct current stimulation

Identifiers

PMID40646416
PMCPMC12488762

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.