Fig. 1: Study procedure overview.

a Summary of study flow. 45 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) were verified and entered the comprehensive evaluation of their treatments. Of them, 11 patients with DRE signed the informed content and experienced the tACS procedure, then received the corresponding interventions and followed up. b Structure of the tACS protocol. Each patient was presented with a set of alternating currents, beginning at 1 mA and stepwise increasing by 2 mA until reaching 15 mA. 15 mA persisted for 60 min. c Stimulating placements. An electrode was put on the forehead, and two electrodes were placed on the mastoid region of each side. d Sample of 9 mA stimulating waveform. Each stimulating waveform is composed of ramp-up (Tu), stable period (Ts), and ramp down (Td). e Details on ramp-up (Tu), stable period (Ts), and ramp down (Td) of various stimulating currents. f Sample of 9 mA stimulating model. The stimulation was a 1 s duration and 5 s stop. g Sample of 9 mA stimulating pulses. Each circle of the stimulating pulse was 12.9 ms with a square wave. SEEG stereoelectroencephalography, tACS transcranial alternating current stimulation.