From August 2 to August 3, the provincial continuing medical education program titled “Application of Noninvasive Neuromodulation Techniques in the Recovery of Consciousness Following Brain Injury” (Project No.: 20250011600008) was successfully held at Nanjing Zijin Hospital. The course brought together numerous experts from both inside and outside the hospital, who, through a variety of formats—including thematic lectures, case discussions, and hands-on demonstrations—shared in-depth insights into the technologies, research findings, and clinical experience related to neuromodulation in the field of consciousness recovery after brain injury.

Gao Zhiqiang, Executive Vice President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital, delivered a speech on behalf of the hospital’s president, Ge Jiangping, at the opening ceremony. President Gao began by extending a warm welcome to all attendees, then provided a detailed overview of Nanjing Zijin Hospital’s development and its sustained efforts in the field of consciousness recovery following brain injury.

Dean Gao stated that, with the growing acceptance of rehabilitation principles and the advancement of evidence-based medicine, the application of noninvasive neuromodulation techniques in the recovery of consciousness following brain injury holds promise for offering new hope in the arousal‑promoting treatment of patients with disorders of consciousness.

Wang Yifang, vice president of Nanjing Zijin Hospital, began by delivering a lecture on “Invasive Neuromodulation for Promoting Wakefulness in Patients with Disorders of Consciousness.” He provided a detailed exposition of the technical aspects of deep brain stimulation (DBS), spinal cord stimulation (SCS), and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), including their indications, clinical efficacy, and underlying mechanisms, while exploring the application of neuromodulation techniques in the treatment of disorders of consciousness.

In her special report, “Applications of Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Techniques in Chronic Disorders of Consciousness,” Su Min, Director of the Department of Rehabilitation at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, provided an in-depth overview of non-invasive neuromodulation methods, including cortical and deep-brain modulation as well as peripheral nerve stimulation. She also presented an introduction to and discussed the applications of emerging neuromodulation technologies, such as transcranial focused ultrasound.

Pan Xingming, Director of the Jiangning Awakening Center at Nanjing Zijin Hospital, presented a report on “Neuroelectrophysiological Assessment of Disorders of Consciousness.” Neuroelectrophysiological testing offers the advantages of being non‑invasive, non‑damaging, and readily accessible at the bedside, playing a crucial role in the differential diagnosis of patients with disorders of consciousness, in the assessment of brain function, and in prognostic evaluation.

In her special report, “Clinical Applications and Research Advances of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation for Chronic Disorders of Consciousness,” Teacher Wang Fang from the Nanjing Wogao Medical Center analyzed the efficacy of transcranial electrical stimulation and high‑precision transcranial electrical stimulation in clinical practice, drawing on a range of literature and case studies.

In his special report, “Clinical Applications of Noninvasive Neuromodulation in Disorders of Consciousness,” Gao Hongliang, Director of the Rehabilitation Center at Nanjing Zijin Hospital, provided a detailed overview of the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of disorders of consciousness. Drawing on various expert consensus statements and specific clinical cases, he offered an in-depth analysis of different noninvasive neuromodulation techniques.

Consciousness is the human perception of the surrounding world and one’s own internal state. In his special report, “The Conceptual Neuroanatomy and Physiology of Consciousness and Disorders of Consciousness,” Gao Zhiqiang, Executive Vice President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital, provided a detailed exposition of the concepts of consciousness and disorders of consciousness, as well as their neuroanatomical underpinnings.

Dean Gao stated that the Chinese Nanking Coma Recovery Scale (CNCRS), a neurobehavioral scale independently developed in China to assess the entire process of consciousness recovery, has evolved through years of research. In future clinical practice, the CNCRS is expected to play an even more significant role, providing more precise and effective assessment and treatment for patients with disorders of consciousness.

In his presentation, “Application of ‘Xingnao Kaiqiao’ Acupuncture in Chronic Disorders of Consciousness,” Dr. Jing Peng, attending physician in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Nanjing Zijin Hospital, provided a detailed analysis of prescription formulas and procedural nuances for various acupoints, tailored to the distinct symptoms observed in chronic disorders of consciousness. He offered a standardized, dosed, and scientifically grounded interpretation of the “Xingnao Kaiqiao” acupuncture technique.

In her presentation, “Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Chronic Disorders of Consciousness,” Wu Shanshan, head therapist at the Jiangning Branch of Nanjing Zijin Hospital, provided a detailed explanation of procedural nuances, including treatment risks and assessment, common methods for localizing target brain regions, and standardized procedures for measuring motor thresholds. She also integrated theoretical knowledge with practical application through interactive Q&A sessions.

In their presentation, “Practical Demonstration of Clinical Applications of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation,” Wang Chao, Head Therapist at the Qinhuai Campus of Nanjing Zijin Hospital, and Xing Wei, Team Leader of the Wake‑Up Center at the Jiangning Campus of Nanjing Zijin Hospital, systematically explained procedures such as determining the motor threshold and measuring the CMCT, while also inviting participants to come onstage and perform these techniques themselves.

With the conclusion of the hands-on demonstration session, this training course came to a successful close amid applause.

The organization of this training course on “Applications of Noninvasive Neuromodulation in the Recovery of Consciousness Following Brain Injury” not only enriched participants’ knowledge and broadened their perspectives but also contributed to the standardized implementation of noninvasive neuromodulation in the field of disorders of consciousness within Jiangsu Province, thereby enhancing the quality of clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Looking ahead, Nanjing Zijin Hospital will continue to uphold its guiding principle of “Excellence in Integrity, Compassion with Vision,” constantly enhancing its clinical expertise and service quality to deliver even higher‑quality medical care to patients with disorders of consciousness.