About this trial
The purpose of this study is to assess changes in language abilities of participants with chronic, post-stroke aphasia following an 8-week therapy period combined with brain stimulation. The investigators use a stimulation method called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The investigators cover two electrodes in damp sponges, place them on the scalp, and pass a weak electrical current between them. Some of this current passes through the brain and can change brain activity. One electrode is placed over language areas a bit above and in front of the left ear. The other is placed on the forehead above the right eye. Stimulation is provided twice a week for 8 weeks during aphasia therapy. The investigators believe that this stimulation may increase the effectiveness of therapy.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Right handed (pre-stroke for participants with aphasia)
High school education or equivalent
Native English fluency without early 2nd language exposure (before age 10)
Ability to perform the required discourse and MRI tasks (determined via in-person screening)
Disqualifiers
Failed vision or hearing screening
MRI contraindications (including pacemaker)
Pregnancy
History of seizure or change in seizure medication in past 12 months
Trial design
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation
Device2 milliamps (mA) of stimulation is induced between two 5 cm x 7 cm saline soaked sponges where one sponge (anode) is placed on the scalp over the targeted cortical region and the other (cathode) is placed on the right side of the forehead. Ramping up of the current to 2 milliamps (mA) occurs over 30 seconds to allow participants to habituate to the tingling sensation. In the active tDCS condition, stimulation continues for the first 20 minutes of the 60-minute treatment session, and then ramps back down to 0 milliamps (mA).
Sham transcranial direct current stimulation
Device2 milliamps (mA) of stimulation is induced between two 5 cm x 7 cm saline soaked sponges where one sponge (anode) is placed on the scalp over the targeted cortical region and the other (cathode) is placed on the right side of the forehead. Ramping up of the current to 2 milliamps (mA) occurs over 30 seconds to allow participants to habituate to the tingling sensation. In the sham tDCS condition, the current is only on for 30 seconds before it is ramped back down to 0 milliamps (mA), although the electrodes are still worn for 20 minutes.
Speech-Language Therapy (SLT)
BehavioralTherapy provided is Verb Network Strengthening Treatment (VNeST). Therapy sessions last for 60 minutes and are provided twice weekly for 8 weeks. Active or sham tDCS is delivered during the first 20 minutes of therapy. The therapist is blinded to stimulation condition (active or sham).
Treatment groups
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
Production of Correct Information Units (CIUs) on Discourse Tasks
Change in CIU production over treatment interval. Words are counted as CIUs if they are novel, intelligible, informative, and appropriate in context (Nicholas \& Brookshire, 1993).
Secondary outcomes
Western Aphasia Battery-Revised
Aphasia quotient calculated from this comprehensive aphasia battery. Range is 0 to 100, where 100 represents a perfect score and scores above 93.8 indicate that aphasia is not present.
Boston Naming Test
Number correct of the 60 items on this naming test
Sponsors and contacts
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