Transcranial direct current stimulation + tai chi
Transcranial direct current stimulation + tai chi has been studied in 4 papers since 2023: 2 trials in people, 1 review; 2 in the past year. The newest paper, Apr 6, 2026: “Effects of non-invasive brain stimulation combined with Tai Chi on the physical, cognitive, emotional, sleep, and quality-of-life outcomes in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis”.
4 papers study it5 findingsUpdated
See all 4 papers on transcranial direct current stimulation + tai chi
At a glance
The findings reach people, from one lab or study. 1 lab in 1 country.
“The Tai Chi combined with tDCS group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in WOMAC Pain subscores compared to the Health Education Control group (P < 0.001)”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 1 lab in 1 country
- Funders: Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and 3 more
- Human trial2
Studies in people
2 studies gave transcranial direct current stimulation + tai chi to people and measured what changed.
| What changed | Design | People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
down: Decreases painmean difference, − 6.42 [95% CI, − 8.65 to − 4.19] down: Decreases resting-state functional connectivity | Randomized trial12-week | 152 peopleaged 50 to 80 yearsIndividuals with KOA | BMC medicine, Mar 17, 2026 |
up: Improves cognitive function up: Improves memory function | Randomized trial12 weeks | 180 peopleBothaged between 50 and 75 yearsParticipants with MCI from the community | Frontiers in public health, Aug 7, 2023 |
What did studies of transcranial direct current stimulation + tai chi find?
4Studies of transcranial direct current stimulation + tai chi measured 4 outcomes; the most studied are pain (1 study), resting-state functional connectivity (1) and memory function (1).
Pain
downin humans1
1 study
Pain
downin humans1
Transcranial direct current stimulation + tai chi decreases pain in humans (mean difference, − 6.42 [95% CI, − 8.65 to − 4.19]).
“WOMAC Pain subscores were significantly lower in the Tai Chi combined with tDCS group (mean difference, − 6.42 [95% CI, − 8.65 to − 4.19]; P < 0.001”
Human trial12-weekn = 152
BMC medicine
Transcranial direct current stimulation + tai chi decreases pain in humans (knee osteoarthritis) (P < 0.001).
“The Tai Chi combined with tDCS group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in WOMAC Pain subscores compared to the Health Education Control group (P < 0.001)”
Human trialknee osteoarthritis12-weekn = 152
BMC medicine
Resting-state functional connectivity
downin humans1
1 study
Resting-state functional connectivity
downin humans1
Transcranial direct current stimulation + tai chi decreases resting-state functional connectivity in humans.
“when compared to Health Education Control group, Tai Chi combined with tDCS group, Tai Chi group and tDCS group significantly decreased rsFC on DLPFC_R-PCC_L, DLPFC_R-Thalamus_L, DLPFC_R-Thalamus_R, DLPFC_R-Precunues_L, and DLPFC_R-SFG_L, respectively”
Human trial12-weekn = 121
BMC medicine
Memory function
upin humans1
1 study
Memory function
upin humans1
Transcranial direct current stimulation + tai chi improves memory function in humans.
“The results showed a statistically significant difference among the four groups (P = 0.015, F (3,173) = 3.584), and post-hoc analysis showed that TCT was more effective than TCS, WAT, and WAS (P = 0.022, P = 0.024, and P = 0.002, respectively).”
Human trial12 weeksn = 180
Frontiers in public health
Cognitive function
upin humans1
1 study
Cognitive function
upin humans1
Transcranial direct current stimulation + tai chi improves cognitive function in humans.
“post-hoc analysis showed that TCT was more effective compared with TCS, WAT, and WAS (P = 0.012, P = 0.032 and P < 0.001, respectively”
Human trial12 weeksn = 180
Frontiers in public health