Fig. 5

Changes in CRS-R scores and prognosis of VS patients with or without sleep cycles before and after treatments. Comparison of CRS-R scores before and after treatment in the sham group, including VS patients with sleep cycles (A) and VS patients without sleep cycles (B). Percentages of MCS patients who transformed from VS patients with sleep cycles in sham group (C) and tDCS group (D) after 6-month follow up. Percentages of MCS patients who transformed from VS patients without sleep cycles in the sham group (E) and tDCS group (F) after 6-month follow-up. G Heatmap of Pearson correlation analysis between altered TST, N2 stage and altered CRS-R scores, EEG power and functional connectivity. red means positive correlation, and blue means negative. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001, P values were determined using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and age was included as a covariate; Coh: coherence; TST: total sleep time; N2: nonrapid eye movement sleep 2 stage; CRS-R: Coma Recovery Scale-Revised scores; Coh: coherence; PLV: phase locking value; tDCS: transcranial direct current stimulation; MCS: minimally conscious state; VS: vegetative state