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Transcranial direct current stimulation enhances offline consolidation of implicit sequential learning in individuals with insomnia.

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Title: Transcranial direct current stimulation enhances offline consolidation of implicit sequential learning in individuals with insomnia.
Authors: He L; School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China. Electronic address: psyqbbz@163.com., Ma Z; School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China., Wu Z; School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China., Wang D; Faculty of Arts, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China., Ding X; School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China. Electronic address: 258488908@qq.com.
Source: Journal of psychiatric research [J Psychiatr Res] 2026 Oct; Vol. 201, pp. 684-690. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 28.
Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Pergamon Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0376331 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-1379 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00223956 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Psychiatr Res Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Oxford : Pergamon Press
MeSH Terms: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation*/methods , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders*/therapy , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders*/physiopathology , Memory Consolidation*/physiology , Serial Learning*/physiology, Humans ; Female ; Male ; Double-Blind Method ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Cognitive Enhancement ; Sleep Quality ; Young Adult
Abstract: Background: Insomnia not only compromises sleep quality but may also impair learning and memory processes within cognitive function.
Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on offline consolidation of implicit sequence learning and sleep quality in individuals with insomnia.
Methods: We employed a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, assigning individuals with insomnia to either an active stimulation group or a sham stimulation group for consecutive 7-day interventions. Sleep quality (PSQI) and implicit sequence learning performance were assessed before and after the intervention.
Results: Forty-two participants with insomnia were randomly assigned to the active stimulation group (n = 21) or sham stimulation group (n = 21). Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant Group × Time interactions for both sleep quality (PSQI: F(1, 40) = 31.375, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.440) and offline consolidation of implicit sequence learning (F(1, 40) = 7.913, p = 0.008, ηp2 = 0.165). Post hoc analyses showed that, following the 7-day intervention, the active stimulation group exhibited significantly lower PSQI scores and greater offline consolidation effects compared with the sham stimulation group (both p < 0.01), whereas no significant improvements were observed in the sham stimulation group.
Conclusions: The 7-day tDCS intervention not only effectively improved sleep quality in individuals with insomnia but also enhanced offline consolidation effects in implicit sequence learning, providing new evidence for non-pharmacological interventions for insomnia.
(Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No financial interests, no conflicts of interest.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Implicit sequence learning; Individuals with insomnia; Offline consolidation; Transcranial direct current stimulation
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260731 Date Completed: 20260811 Latest Revision: 20260826
Update Code: 20260827
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2026.07.025
PMID: 42537590
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: Transcranial direct current stimulation enhances offline consolidation of implicit sequential learning in individuals with insomnia.
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AU&quot; term=&quot;%22He+L%22&quot;&gt;He L&lt;/searchLink&gt;; School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China. Electronic address: psyqbbz@163.com.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AU&quot; term=&quot;%22Ma+Z%22&quot;&gt;Ma Z&lt;/searchLink&gt;; School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AU&quot; term=&quot;%22Wu+Z%22&quot;&gt;Wu Z&lt;/searchLink&gt;; School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AU&quot; term=&quot;%22Wang+D%22&quot;&gt;Wang D&lt;/searchLink&gt;; Faculty of Arts, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AU&quot; term=&quot;%22Ding+X%22&quot;&gt;Ding X&lt;/searchLink&gt;; School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China. Electronic address: 258488908@qq.com.
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;JN&quot; term=&quot;%220376331%22&quot;&gt;Journal of psychiatric research&lt;/searchLink&gt; [J Psychiatr Res] 2026 Oct; Vol. 201, pp. 684-690. &lt;i&gt;Date of Electronic Publication: &lt;/i&gt;2026 Jul 28.
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  Data: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov&#39;t
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MM&quot; term=&quot;%22Transcranial+Direct+Current+Stimulation%22&quot;&gt;Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation*&lt;/searchLink&gt;/&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MM&quot; term=&quot;%22Transcranial+Direct+Current+Stimulation+methods%22&quot;&gt;methods&lt;/searchLink&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MM&quot; term=&quot;%22Sleep+Initiation+and+Maintenance+Disorders%22&quot;&gt;Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders*&lt;/searchLink&gt;/&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MM&quot; term=&quot;%22Sleep+Initiation+and+Maintenance+Disorders+therapy%22&quot;&gt;therapy&lt;/searchLink&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MM&quot; term=&quot;%22Sleep+Initiation+and+Maintenance+Disorders%22&quot;&gt;Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders*&lt;/searchLink&gt;/&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MM&quot; term=&quot;%22Sleep+Initiation+and+Maintenance+Disorders+physiopathology%22&quot;&gt;physiopathology&lt;/searchLink&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MM&quot; term=&quot;%22Memory+Consolidation%22&quot;&gt;Memory Consolidation*&lt;/searchLink&gt;/&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MM&quot; term=&quot;%22Memory+Consolidation+physiology%22&quot;&gt;physiology&lt;/searchLink&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MM&quot; term=&quot;%22Serial+Learning%22&quot;&gt;Serial Learning*&lt;/searchLink&gt;/&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MM&quot; term=&quot;%22Serial+Learning+physiology%22&quot;&gt;physiology&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MH&quot; term=&quot;%22Humans%22&quot;&gt;Humans&lt;/searchLink&gt; ; &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MH&quot; term=&quot;%22Female%22&quot;&gt;Female&lt;/searchLink&gt; ; &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MH&quot; term=&quot;%22Male%22&quot;&gt;Male&lt;/searchLink&gt; ; &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MH&quot; term=&quot;%22Double-Blind+Method%22&quot;&gt;Double-Blind Method&lt;/searchLink&gt; ; &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MH&quot; term=&quot;%22Adult%22&quot;&gt;Adult&lt;/searchLink&gt; ; &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MH&quot; term=&quot;%22Middle+Aged%22&quot;&gt;Middle Aged&lt;/searchLink&gt; ; &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MH&quot; term=&quot;%22Cognitive+Enhancement%22&quot;&gt;Cognitive Enhancement&lt;/searchLink&gt; ; &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MH&quot; term=&quot;%22Sleep+Quality%22&quot;&gt;Sleep Quality&lt;/searchLink&gt; ; &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;MH&quot; term=&quot;%22Young+Adult%22&quot;&gt;Young Adult&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Insomnia not only compromises sleep quality but may also impair learning and memory processes within cognitive function.&lt;br /&gt;Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on offline consolidation of implicit sequence learning and sleep quality in individuals with insomnia.&lt;br /&gt;Methods: We employed a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, assigning individuals with insomnia to either an active stimulation group or a sham stimulation group for consecutive 7-day interventions. Sleep quality (PSQI) and implicit sequence learning performance were assessed before and after the intervention.&lt;br /&gt;Results: Forty-two participants with insomnia were randomly assigned to the active stimulation group (n = 21) or sham stimulation group (n = 21). Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant Group &#215; Time interactions for both sleep quality (PSQI: F(1, 40) = 31.375, p &amp;lt; 0.001, η&lt;subscript&gt;p&lt;/subscript&gt;&lt;superscript&gt;2&lt;/superscript&gt; = 0.440) and offline consolidation of implicit sequence learning (F(1, 40) = 7.913, p = 0.008, η&lt;subscript&gt;p&lt;/subscript&gt;&lt;superscript&gt;2&lt;/superscript&gt; = 0.165). Post hoc analyses showed that, following the 7-day intervention, the active stimulation group exhibited significantly lower PSQI scores and greater offline consolidation effects compared with the sham stimulation group (both p &amp;lt; 0.01), whereas no significant improvements were observed in the sham stimulation group.&lt;br /&gt;Conclusions: The 7-day tDCS intervention not only effectively improved sleep quality in individuals with insomnia but also enhanced offline consolidation effects in implicit sequence learning, providing new evidence for non-pharmacological interventions for insomnia.&lt;br /&gt; (Copyright &#169; 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
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  Data: Declaration of competing interest No financial interests, no conflicts of interest.
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  Data: &lt;i&gt;Keywords: &lt;/i&gt;Implicit sequence learning; Individuals with insomnia; Offline consolidation; Transcranial direct current stimulation
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  Data: &lt;i&gt;Date Created: &lt;/i&gt;20260731 &lt;i&gt;Date Completed: &lt;/i&gt;20260811 &lt;i&gt;Latest Revision: &lt;/i&gt;20260826
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        Value: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2026.07.025
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        Text: English
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        StartPage: 684
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      – SubjectFull: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation methods
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      – SubjectFull: Memory Consolidation physiology
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      – SubjectFull: Serial Learning physiology
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      – TitleFull: Transcranial direct current stimulation enhances offline consolidation of implicit sequential learning in individuals with insomnia.
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            NameFull: He L
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              Text: 2026 Oct
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