Inhibitory Effects of Individualized Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Motor Imagery and Interhemispheric Symmetry: Implications for Stroke Rehabilitation

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) holds potential in stroke rehabilitation, but its effects when delivered at an individual's peak motor imagery (MI) frequency remain unclear. This study investigated the impact of tACS delivered at subject-specific peak MI frequencies on MI performance accuracy, quantified in terms of classification accuracy, and interhemispheric symmetry, measured via the brain symmetry index (BSI). Using a brain-computer-brain closed-loop system, each subject's peak MI performance frequency was first identified during the Pre-stimulation phase, after which tACS was delivered at this determined frequency. Our findings show that active individualized tACS decreased MI performance and increased BSI, suggesting inhibitory effects on motor-related neural processes.Clinical Relevance- The observed inhibitory effects of tACS highlight its potential for targeted neuromodulation in stroke recovery. Future research should explore how inhibitory effects can be harnessed therapeutically and investigate stimulation parameters that could optimize outcomes for functional recovery. The demonstrated ability of tACS to modulate brain activity, evidenced by increased BSI, underscores its promise as a neuromodulatory tool in clinical applications.