tDCS Effects on Brain Plasticity in Aphasia Treatment
- Conditions
- StrokeAphasia
- Interventions
- Device: Real tDCSDevice: Sham tDCS
- Registration Number
- NCT05483556
- Lead Sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Brief Summary
The efficacy of conventional speech therapy alone for aphasia recovery is inconclusive. The prospective study will monitor the effects of combined language therapy and tDCS through structural and functional MRI.
- Detailed Description
The efficacy of conventional speech therapy alone for aphasia recovery is inconclusive. The prospective study will monitor the effects of combined language therapy and tDCS through structural and functional MRI.
This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded pilot study will recruit ten chronic stroke patients with Broca's Aphasia randomly assigned either to sham or an anodal tDCS groups. Following speech and language assessment, all the participants will receive 20 minutes of individualized language therapy daily for ten days in two consecutive weeks. Simultaneously, the treatment group will receive 20 minutes of 2mA anodal HD-tDCS over the left IFG, while the sham group will receive the 30s of 2mA anodal HD-tDCS. Structural, resting state and task activated functional MRI will be performed. Data acquisition will be performed before, immediately after and two months after the treatment.
Repeated measure ANOVA for changes in picture-naming accuracy and response time will be performed as a within-subject factor between sham and anodal tDCS. Pearson's correlation coefficient of left IFG and its homolog in the right hemisphere through Independent component analysis (ICA) of low-frequency fluctuations in resting-state and task activated state will be compared for functional connectivity analysis for IFG and other major languages hubs for oral language production between groups.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 10
- History of a single unilateral left-hemispheric stroke,
- Right handedness
- Demonstrated features of Broca's Aphasia
- Cantonese speaker
- Comprehension sufficient to carry out tasks
- No history of other neurological diseases
- Aphasia due to reasons other than Stroke, Traumatic brain injury
- Bilateral or multiple brain lesions
- Wernicke's aphasia and other speech disorders, degenerative, psychiatric or metabolic disorders
- Deaf, blind, pregnant/ or preparing for pregnancy, cognitive issues, tattoos
- Have cochlear implants, pacemaker, surgical nails for bone fracture, artificial joints, dental braces, dentures
- Taking anti-depressant medications
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Real tDCS Real tDCS Five post-stroke patients will be allocated by the flip the coin method to the experimental group. Participants will receive anodal tDCS stimulation for 20 minutes Sham tDCS Sham tDCS Five participants will be allocated by the flip coin method to the sham comparator group. Participants will receive the tDCS stimulation for the 30s
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Picture naming Change before, immediately after and two months after the treatment Picture-naming accuracy and response time for each stimuli will be determined perceptual and calculated using praat software
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Imaging analysis Change before, immediately after and two months after the treatment. Mapping changes in functional connections of language networks, inter-hemispheric and intra-hemispheric regions of the brain.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
🇭🇰Kowloon, Hong Kong