Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40370664›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in neuroscience2025

Harnessing theta waves: tACS as a breakthrough in alleviating post-stroke chronic pain.

Ningjing Song, Ling Long, Nianquan Liu, Yujun Luo, Meng Wei, Hai Huang, Wan Liu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in neuroscience, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing 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

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

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Trial
  4. Article
  5. 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

7 authors.

Ningjing SongDepartment of Tuina and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China.
Ling LongDepartment of Tuina and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China.
Nianquan LiuDepartment of Tuina and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China.
Yujun LuoDepartment of Tuina and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China.
Meng WeiDepartment of Tuina and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China.
Hai HuangDepartment of Tuina and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China.
Wan LiuDepartment of Tuina and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Neural oscillations play a critical role in the regulation of brain functions, with theta waves (4-8 Hz) in the sensorimotor cortex significantly influencing pain perception and modulation. These oscillations can modulate pain signal transmission, emotional cognition, and neuroplasticity. Post-stroke chronic pain is a common and complex symptom that imposes significant physiological and psychological burdens on patients. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, can synchronize specific frequency neural activities, reorganize brain networks, and modulate neuroplasticity by adjusting specific frequency neural oscillations. In recent years, tACS has been widely applied in the research and treatment of various neurological and psychiatric disorders. This study aims to systematically summarize the current research progress on the regulation of θ oscillations in sensorimotor cortex by tACS. By reviewing relevant experimental and clinical studies, we explore the specific mechanisms of θ oscillations in pain perception and modulation and analyze the mechanisms and effects of tACS modulation of θ oscillations. Additionally, we examine the central and peripheral neural mechanisms of post-stroke chronic pain, emphasizing the critical role of the sensorimotor cortex in pain processing. In conclusion, tACS shows potential for modulating sensorimotor cortex θ oscillations and alleviating post-stroke chronic pain. This research provides new insights into the neural modulation mechanisms related to pain and offers potential new directions for developing novel therapies. Future clinical studies and technological optimizations are necessary to ensure the effectiveness and feasibility of tACS in clinical practice.

Indexed as

mechanismneural oscillationspost-stroke chronic painsensorimotor cortextACStheta waves

Identifiers

PMID40370664
PMCPMC12075359

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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 Socratic graph.