Effect of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation on Sleep and Sleep Disorders

Abstract

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), including transcranial magnetic and electrical stimulations, has recently been used to modulate sleep and treat sleep disorders. Herein, we reviewed studies that used NIBS to modulate sleep in healthy populations or patients with sleep disorders. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation enhanced sleep slow oscillations and consistently improved subjective symptoms in patients with insomnia and restless legs syndrome. Transcranial electrical stimulation also increased slow-wave sleep in healthy populations and improved subjective sleep symptoms in patients with insomnia. Individualized NIBS and other NIBS techniques may be promising for treating sleep disorders, and future studies are warranted to determine optimal stimulation parameters and evaluate their long-term safety.