Trends in transcranial direct current stimulation research for stroke were analyzed via bibliometric methods

Abstract Background Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability globally., and clinical treatment options are limited. Further research is needed to explore potential treatments, including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). This novel, non-invasive technology has garnered increasing attention for its potential to improve stroke prognosis. Methods We studied "tDCS in stroke" research via bibliometric analysis, using data from Web of Science Core Collection. VOSviewer and Citespace were used for statistical and visualization analyses. Results Between 1999 and 2024, 1223 publications related to the topic were retrieved, with annual output growing from 1 in 1999 to 129 in 2023. The USA had the largest number of publications and made the greatest contribution to the field. (n = 352, 28.78%). The keywords of 2024 lasting represent hot topics with occurrence burst. These include "virtual reality", "systematic review", "ischemic stroke", "safety", "repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation" and "guidelines". They are likely to be frequently cited over the coming years. Conclusions Future research on tDCS, VR, and stroke can establish more standardized guidelines to enhance therapeutic and clinical applications efficacy. Researchers will continue to explore the topic of "the application of tDCS in stroke," achieving exciting results and delving deeply into current treatment bottlenecks.