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PubMed · 42208813

Reducing state anxiety with alpha-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation.

Rubén Romero-Marín·Simon Fankhauser·Javier Solana-Sánchez·Ruben Perellón-Alfonso·Josep Maria Tormos-Muñoz·Luiz Pessoa·David Bartrés-Faz·Davide Cappon·Álvaro Pascual-Leone·Gabriele Cattaneo
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Anxiety reactivity to acute stress is a transdiagnostic vulnerability factor. We tested whether a single session of alpha-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) targeting the frontoparietal control network reduces stress-evoked state anxiety in healthy adults. METHODS: In a randomized, blinded, sham-controlled study, 42 participants (mean age 58.9 years) completed an acute stress task before and after stimulation. The task was an adapted moving-circles paradigm in which circle collisions triggered a brief aversive event (mild electric shock plus unpleasant noise and a white flash). Active stimulation consisted of 20 min of 10-Hz tACS (2.0 mA/channel; 30-s ramp up/down) delivered via electrodes at F3, P3, Cz, and T7 (0° phase at F3/P3; 180° at Cz/T7). Sham stimulation used the same montage and ramp periods but no sustained current. RESULTS: State anxiety showed a significant Time × Protocol interaction (F(1,35) = 4.22, p = .047): STAI-S decreased after active tACS (Δ = -3.16) but increased slightly after sham (Δ = +1.17). Perceived stress appraisal (SAAS) did not change. Resting-state alpha power at F3/P3 showed no reliable pre-post effects. During the task, left-frontal relative alpha differed by protocol and showed a trend toward larger increases following active tACS. Electrodermal and pupil indices changed across sessions in both groups, with no differential stimulation effects. CONCLUSIONS: A single alpha-tACS session produced a modest, selective reduction in stress-evoked state anxiety, supporting oscillatory neuromodulation as a scalable approach to dampen anxiety reactivity.

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HumansTranscranial Direct Current StimulationAnxietyMiddle AgedFemaleMaleStress, PsychologicalAlpha RhythmAgedFrontal LobeAdultParietal LobeElectroencephalographyEntropyFrequency band powerLegged locomotionMeasurementParticle measurementsRecordingTime series analysisresting state electroencephalography (rsEEG)sample entropywithin-participants variabilityJournal ArticleRandomized Controlled Trial

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Rubén Romero-Marín, Simon Fankhauser, Javier Solana-Sánchez, Ruben Perellón-Alfonso, Josep Maria Tormos-Muñoz, Luiz Pessoa, David Bartrés-Faz, Davide Cappon, Álvaro Pascual-Leone, Gabriele Cattaneo. 2026-05-27. Reducing state anxiety with alpha-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2026.122044

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Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial resourceAdult subjectAged subjectAnxiety subjectElectroencephalography subjectFemale subjectHumans subjectJournal Article subjectMale subjectMiddle Aged subjectParietal Lobe subjectRandomized controlled trials study

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