Zapping the brain with gentle electricity may nudge unconscious patients toward awareness

This trial tests whether high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) — a non-invasive technique that delivers weak electrical pulses to the brain through scalp electrodes — can improve awareness in people who have been in a vegetative or minimally conscious state for over a month after severe brain injury. Researchers will compare real stimulation to a sham (placebo) version over five days, using behavioral scales and brain wave recordings to measure any changes. The goal is to see if specific frequencies (theta and gamma) can help restore consciousness and to better understand the brain rhythms involved.