The therapeutic effect of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training on patients with unilateral neglect after stroke

BACKGROUND: Unilateral neglect (UN) is a frequent cognitive disability following a stroke. Additional research is needed to determine the most effective cognitive rehabilitation techniques. OBJECTIVE: Based on the unilateral neglect neural network, we aim to explore the effect of a new model of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with cognitive training on stroke patients with unilateral neglect. METHODS: Thirty stroke patients with UN after stroke were randomly divided into three groups. All patients received cognitive training for UN and transcranial direct current stimulation with an anode placed on the corresponding part of the right hemisphere for 2 weeks. Treatment group A received multi-site tDCS from the inferior parietal lobule, middle temporal gyrus to prefrontal lobe. Group B received single-site tDCS of the inferior parietal lobule. The improvement of UN symptoms was evaluated by the scores of the Deviation index and Behavioral Inattention Test conventional tests. RESULTS: All groups showed improvements in all tests, and the scores of the treatment groups were statistically significant compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Both single-site tDCS and multi-site tDCS have therapeutic effects on UN after stroke, and the difference in the therapeutic effects of the two modes still needs to be further explored.