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This study investigated the effects of tVNS and tSCS and compared their efficacy in improving cognitive function and upper limb motor function after stroke. In this randomized controlled trial, 90 people with chronic stroke (mean\u2009\u00b1\u2009standard deviation: 65.12\u2009\u00b1\u20095.85\u00a0years of age) were randomly assigned to receive 18 sessions of either tVNS, tSCS, or sham stimulation, each delivered concurrently with upper limb exercises for 45\u00a0min, three times per week, for 6\u00a0weeks. The primary outcomes were the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMAUE). Outcomes were measured at baseline, after 9 and 18 sessions, and at 1\u00a0month after the intervention. The tVNS and tSCS groups demonstrated significantly greater improvements than did the sham group in MoCA (mean differences, 2.37 and 1.77, respectively;\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009&lt;\u20090.001) and FMAUE scores (mean differences, 3.37 and 2.10, respectively;\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009&lt;\u20090.001 and\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u20090.007, respectively) after the intervention. Improvements in cognition persisted for 1\u00a0month in both groups, as indicated by non-significant within-group changes from post-intervention to follow-up assessments, whereas motor improvements were sustained only in the tVNS group. Both tVNS and tSCS may be potential interventions to combine with exercise for improving cognitive and upper limb function after stroke. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05615610.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s11357-026-02351-3","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,13]],"date-time":"2026-06-13T08:39:20Z","timestamp":1781339960000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on cognitive function and upper limb motor function in people with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.1007","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8466-8125","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nga Huen","family":"Chan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1660-0548","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shamay S. 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