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HD-tDCS over the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex reduces PSQI scores and improves sleep onset latency and sleep efficiency in chronic insomnia patients

A 10-day regimen of active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) targeting the bilateral DMPFC significantly decreased Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores compared to sham stimulation in chronic insomnia patients. Exploratory polysomnography findings also showed improvements in sleep onset latency (SOL) and sleep efficiency (SE) after active treatment.

Last updated: Jul 7, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score42/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of chronic insomnia: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

observational

Li J, Li A, Jiao J, Hu K, Jiang Y, Hu X, Wang K, Chen X, Xie C · Scientific reports (2025)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 10 days
Intervention: 10 days of active anode HD-tDCS over the DMPFC (anode at Fz, cathodes at FPz, F3, Cz, F4)
Outcome: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score, sleep onset latency (SOL), sleep efficiency (SE), sleep stage ratio
Effect Size: N/A
Population: 55 patients with chronic insomnia

Result:

PubMed: 40695876DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-09304-4

Mechanism Graph

Anode HD-tDCS applied over DMPFC modulates cortical excitability
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DMPFC stimulation influences sleep-wake regulation circuits
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Improved sleep promotion and daytime sleepiness recovery
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Result: Reduced PSQI scores and improved SOL and SE

Limitations

  • ⚠Small sample size (n=55) limits generalizability
  • ⚠No long-term follow-up data reported
  • ⚠Lack of reported effect sizes or confidence intervals
  • ⚠No safety data beyond the acute intervention period

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HD-tDCS?▼

High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that uses multiple small electrodes to deliver targeted electrical currents to specific brain regions.

How long did the treatment last?▼

The treatment consisted of 10 daily sessions, though the exact duration of each session is not specified in the abstract.

Did HD-tDCS affect sleep stages?▼

No, the study did not observe any effects of tDCS on sleep stage ratio after the intervention.

Is HD-tDCS a replacement for standard insomnia treatments?▼

The authors suggest it may be a promising supplement to medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, but it requires replication and additional safety data before clinical use.

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References

  1. 1.Li J, Li A, Jiao J, Hu K, Jiang Y, Hu X, Wang K, Chen X, Xie C. "Effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of chronic insomnia: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.." Scientific reports, 2025. PMID: 40695876 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-09304-4
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.