RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT04142866

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) With Verb Network Strengthening Treatment (VNeST) in Chronic Aphasia

Sponsor

City University of New York

Enrollment

30 participants

Start Date

Jan 3, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Stroke Aphasia

Summary

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

Min Age: 21 YearsMax Age: 80 Years

Inclusion Criteria9

This study recruits individuals with post-stroke aphasia as well as a group of healthy volunteers matched for age, sex, and education.
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)
Single-event left hemisphere stroke > 6 months prior to enrollment
Aphasia diagnosis per Western Aphasia Battery-Revised
Not receiving any other speech therapy for the entire study period (20 weeks)
Ability to perform the required therapy tasks (determined via in-person screening)

Exclusion Criteria7

Failed vision or hearing screening
MRI contraindications (including pacemaker)
Pregnancy
History of seizure or change in seizure medication in past 12 months
History of speech/language, psychiatric, or neurological disorder, or current serious medical condition (except chronic stroke comorbidities for participants with aphasia)
Unmodifiable hair style precluding scalp contact by electrodes
Sensitive scalp by self-report

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Interventions

DEVICEAnodal transcranial direct current stimulation

2 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).

DEVICESham transcranial direct current stimulation

2 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.

BEHAVIORALSpeech-Language Therapy (SLT)

Therapy 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).