Short-duration intermittent transcranial electrical stimulation protocol improves sleep quality

Background Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is a promising noninvasive neuromodulation technique for home-based sleep intervention, yet traditional long-duration, high-current protocols cause discomfort and low compliance.Methods This study explored the regulatory effects and optimization potential of intermittent short-duration tES on sleep quality. Twenty-two healthy adults participated in three nocturnal sessions design: Sham, low-current stimulation (Lc-Stim), and high-current stimulation (Hc-Stim) conditions. Data were collected via polysomnography (PSG), and sleep stages were scored according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) criteria.Results The results show that intermittent short-duration tES did not significantly increase total sleep time or sleep efficiency (SE) but did significantly reduce sleep onset latency (SOL) in both the Lc-Stim and Hc-Stim groups. Moreover, the intervention facilitated the N2–N3 transition and attenuated sleep fragmentation. At the micro structure level, SO-spindle coupling density was higher in the Hc-Stim group than in Sham. Compared with conventional long-duration and Hc-Stim, scalp discomfort was significantly reduced in both stimulation groups. Additionally, stimulation effects exhibited interindividual variability, with Hc-Stim demonstrating an intensity-dependent threshold effect on micro structure characteristics.Conclusion The short-duration intermittent tES improves sleep quality safely and acceptably by reducing SOL, increasing deep sleep proportion, and enhancing sleep continuity.