Evolution of temporal interference stimulation: from technical principles to clinical applications

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.1673-9248.2025.05.001

Abstract

Abstract:

Temporal interference (TI) stimulation is a novel non-invasive neuromodulation technology. It generates low-frequency envelopes through the interference effect of two high-frequency alternating currents, enabling precise targeting of deep brain regions. This approach overcomes a major limitation of conventional non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, which are often ineffective in stimulating deeper brain structures. In recent years, research on TI stimulation has progressed rapidly and has become a hotspot in the field of neuromodulation. It demonstrates promising clinical potential for treating neurological disorders and may offer a non-invasive alternative for conditions involving dysfunction in deep brain circuits. This paper systematically reviews the research progress related to TI stimulation in recent years. Beginning with the principles of TI stimulation technology, it elaborates on its progress in simulation optimization and hardware development, and deeply explores its potential for the treatment of neurological diseases by incorporating clinical application cases, providing a reference for the further research and application of this technology.

Key words: Temporal interference stimulation, Non-invasive neuroregulation, Simulation optimization, Clinical application

Liang Huang, Binxiang Xu, Kai Wang, Long Li, Lin He, Qiang Gao, Jun Zhao, Tian Liu. Evolution of temporal interference stimulation: from technical principles to clinical applications[J]. Chinese Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases(Electronic Edition), 2025, 19(05): 353-363.

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