tACS for Aphasia
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania
Disqualifiers: Neurological disorders, Psychiatric disorders, Alcohol/drug abuse, others
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The goal of this study is to see if transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can be used to enhance language abilities in people with post-stroke aphasia. Participants will receive real and sham tACS in conjunction with various language tests. Researchers will compare the post-stroke aphasia group with aged matched controls to see if brain response to tACS differs between groups.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you have a history of significant or poorly controlled psychiatric disorders or current abuse of alcohol or drugs, you may not be eligible to participate.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment tACS for aphasia?
Research on a similar treatment, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), suggests it can help improve language skills in people with aphasia (a language disorder) after a stroke. This is because tDCS can increase brain activity in areas important for language, potentially enhancing the effects of speech therapy.
12345Is tACS safe for humans?
The research articles provided focus on tDCS, a similar non-invasive brain stimulation technique, which is generally considered safe for humans. However, specific safety data for tACS is not mentioned in these articles.
56789How is the treatment tACS for aphasia different from other treatments?
Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) is unique because it uses alternating electrical currents to stimulate the brain, which may help improve language abilities in people with aphasia. Unlike other treatments like tDCS, which uses direct current, tACS may offer a different way to enhance brain plasticity and support language recovery.
2581011Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for right-handed individuals who have had a stroke in the left hemisphere of their brain at least 6 months ago and are now experiencing aphasia, which affects language abilities. They must understand the study and agree to participate.Inclusion Criteria
Must be able to understand the nature of the study, and give informed consent
My stroke happened more than 6 months ago.
I have difficulty with speaking or understanding language.
+2 more
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Treatment
Participants receive real and sham transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in conjunction with language tests
1 session
1 visit (in-person)
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for language performance improvement and brain response to tACS
5-10 minutes after treatment
Participant Groups
Researchers are testing if active transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can improve language skills in people with post-stroke aphasia. Participants will undergo real and sham tACS while performing language tests to measure effectiveness.
2Treatment groups
Active Control
Placebo Group
Group I: real-tACSActive Control1 Intervention
The active stimulation will consist of an alternating current delivered in the alpha frequency band with a peak-to-peak intensity of 4 milliamps (mA) for 20 minutes. Participants will complete sentence completion and verb generation task during stimulation.
Group II: sham-tACSPlacebo Group1 Intervention
Sham stimulation involves the delivery of 60 seconds of the actual stimulation waveform ("ramp up") which is then gradually reduced to 0 milliamps (mA) ("ramp down"). Participants will complete sentence completion and verb generation task during stimulation.
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA
Loading ...
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of PennsylvaniaLead Sponsor
References
The Factors Associated with Good Responses to Speech Therapy Combined with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Post-stroke Aphasic Patients. [2021]To determine factors associated with good responses to speech therapy combined with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in aphasic patients after stroke.
Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation in Subacute Aphasia: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [2023]Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising adjunct to therapy for chronic aphasia.
No effects of anodal transcranial direct stimulation on language abilities in early rehabilitation of post-stroke aphasic patients. [2019]Recent research suggests that an increased level of stroke-affected left hemisphere cortical (especially frontal) excitability is associated with better language improvement in aphasic patients. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS), increasing cortical activity, may facilitate perilesional left hemisphere recruitment to subserve language processing and enhance effects of behavioural therapy. The aim of the study (randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled) was to evaluate the effectiveness of repeated A-tDCS over Broca area as a strategy to enhance aphasia recovery during early post-stroke rehabilitation.
Effects of dual transcranial direct current stimulation for aphasia in chronic stroke patients. [2021]To investigate any additional effect of dual transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) compared with single tDCS in chronic stroke patients with aphasia.
Translational treatment of aphasia combining neuromodulation and behavioral intervention for lexical retrieval: implications from a single case study. [2020]Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive method of brain stimulation, is an adjunctive research-therapy for aphasia. The concept supporting translational application of tDCS is that brain plasticity, facilitated by language intervention, can be enhanced by non-invasive brain stimulation. This study combined tDCS with an ecologically focused behavioral approach that involved training nouns and verbs in sentences.
Clinical Feasibility of Combining Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation with Standard Aphasia Therapy. [2022]Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe, portable, and inexpensive form of noninvasive brain stimulation that appears to augment the effects of concurrent therapy. However, several methodological issues in existing studies distance tDCS from current clinical practice. In this study, we offered (and administered) tDCS to individuals seeking typical behavioral aphasia therapy on an outpatient basis.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for improving aphasia after stroke: a systematic review with network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. [2020]Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is an emerging approach for improving aphasia after stroke. However, it remains unclear what type of tDCS stimulation is most effective. Our aim was to give an overview of the evidence network regarding the efficacy and safety of tDCS and to estimate the effectiveness of the different stimulation types.
Effect of Anodal tDCS on Articulatory Accuracy, Word Production, and Syllable Repetition in Subjects with Aphasia: A Crossover, Double-Blinded, Sham-Controlled Trial. [2021]Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) has been used to modulate and induce changes in brain function and excitability. tDCS is a promising tool for the treatment of aphasia.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for improving aphasia in patients after stroke. [2022]Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Aphasia among stroke survivors is common. Current speech and language therapy (SLT) strategies have only limited effectiveness in improving aphasia. A possible adjunct to SLT for improving SLT outcomes might be non-invasive brain stimulation by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to modulate cortical excitability and hence to improve aphasia.
Effect of Anodic Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Speech Language Therapy on Nonfluent Poststroke Aphasia. [2022]Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) facilitates or inhibits spontaneous neuronal activity by low-intensity current. In this study, we evaluated the effects of tDCS and sham stimulation combined with speech language therapy (SLT) on nonfluent poststroke aphasia (PSA) patients.
Bihemispheric stimulation over left and right inferior frontal region enhances recovery from apraxia of speech in chronic aphasia. [2013]Several studies have already shown that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a useful tool for enhancing recovery in aphasia. However, all tDCS studies have previously investigated the effects using unihemisperic stimulation. No reports to date have examined the role of bihemispheric tDCS on aphasia recovery. Here, eight aphasic persons with apraxia of speech underwent intensive language therapy in two different conditions: real bihemispheric anodic ipsilesional stimulation over the left Broca's area and cathodic contralesional stimulation over the right homologue of Broca's area, and a sham condition. In both conditions, patients underwent concurrent language therapy for their apraxia of speech. The language treatment lasted 10 days (Monday to Friday, then weekend off, then Monday to Friday). There was a 14-day intersession interval between the real and the sham conditions. In all patients, language measures were collected before (T0), at the end of (T10) and 1 week after the end of (F/U) treatment. Results showed that after simultaneous excitatory stimulation to the left frontal hemisphere and inhibitory stimulation to the right frontal hemisphere regions, patients exhibited a significant recovery not only in terms of better accuracy and speed in articulating the treated stimuli but also in other language tasks (picture description, noun and verb naming, word repetition, word reading) which persisted in the follow-up session. Taken together, these data suggest that bihemispheric anodic ipsilesional and cathodic contralesional stimulation in chronic aphasia patients may affect the treated function, resulting in a positive influence on different language tasks.