Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Aphasia

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Syracuse University

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?Language and communication are essential for almost every aspect of human life, but for people who have aphasia, a language processing disorder that can occur after stroke or brain injury, even simple conversations can become a formidable challenge. Speech and language therapy can help people recover their language ability, but often requires months or even years of therapy before a person is able to overcome these challenges. This research will investigate non-invasive brain stimulation as a way to enhance the effects of speech and language therapy, which may ultimately lead to better and faster recovery from stroke and aphasia. The investigators hypothesize that participants with aphasia who receive speech and language therapy paired with active electrical brain stimulation will improve significantly more on a language comprehension task than those who receive speech and language therapy paired with sham stimulation.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 18 with mild to moderate aphasia from a left hemisphere stroke, at least 6 months post-stroke. Participants must not be undergoing specific speech therapy during the study, have no metal head implants, seizures in the past 6 months, severe psychiatric disorders or unhealed skull fractures. They should be able to hear and see well enough (with aids if needed) for testing.

Inclusion Criteria

I had a stroke more than 6 months ago.

I do not have any unhealed skull fractures.

I haven't had a seizure in the last 6 months.

+12 more

Exclusion Criteria

My brain injury affects the front part of my left brain.

I am under 18 years old.

No aphasia or severe aphasia

+12 more

Participant Groups

The study tests if brain stimulation paired with language therapy helps people with aphasia recover better than just language therapy alone. Some will get real electrical brain stimulation (active tDCS), while others get fake stimulation (sham tDCS), along with their language treatment.

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Placebo Group

Group I: Active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with speech-language therapyExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

Active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) will be delivered using a Soterix mini-CT device. Participants receiving this treatment will be administered 2 milliamperes (mA) of current for 20 minutes/session with the anode electrode placed over F3 and the cathode electrode placed over Fp2 (according to the 1020 system). The tDCS will be paired with 60 minutes of speech-language therapy focusing simultaneously improving auditory comprehension and behavioral attention. All study participants will receive 10 sessions of this combination treatment with no more than one session per day 2-3 times per week.

Group II: Sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with speech-language therapyPlacebo Group2 Interventions

Sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) will be delivered using a Soterix mini-CT device. Participants receiving this treatment will be administered 2 milliamperes (mA) of current for 1 minute to simulate the experience of tDCS, after which the current will be ramped down to zero for the remaining 19 minutes of the session with the anode electrode placed over F3 and the cathode electrode placed over Fp2 (according to the 1020 system). The tDCS will be paired with 60 minutes of speech-language therapy focusing simultaneously improving auditory comprehension and behavioral attention. All study participants will receive 10 sessions of this combination treatment with no more than one session per day 2-3 times per week.