Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has been gaining increased popularity in human neuroscience research during the last years. Among the emerging NIBS tools is transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), whose main modalities are transcranial direct, and alternating current stimulation (tDCS, tACS). In tES, a small current (usually less than 3 mA) is delivered through the scalp. Depending on its shape, density, and duration, the applied current induces acute or long-lasting effects on excitability and activity of cerebral regions, and brain networks. tES is increasingly applied in different domains to (a) explore human brain physiology with regard to plasticity, and brain oscillations, (b) explore the impact of brain physiology on cognitive processes, and (c) treat clinical symptoms in neurological and psychiatric diseases. In this review, we give a broad overview of the main mechanisms and applications of these brain stimulation tools.

在过去的几年中，非侵入性脑刺激（NIBS）在人类神经科学研究中越来越受欢迎。在新兴的NIBS工具中有经颅电刺激（tES），其主要方式为经颅直接刺激和交流电刺激（tDCS，tACS）。在tES中，小电流（通常小于3 mA）通过头皮传递。取决于其形状，密度和持续时间，所施加的电流会对大脑区域和大脑网络的兴奋性和活动性产生急性或长期影响。tES越来越多地应用于不同领域，以（a）探索可塑性和大脑振荡方面的人脑生理学，（b）探索脑生理学对认知过程的影响，以及（c）治疗神经病和精神病学的临床症状。在这篇评论中，