Enhance of Language Learning with Neurostimulation

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Stroke; Aging; Aphasia
• Interventions: Device: transcranial direct current stimulation

• Registration Number: NCT00854893
• Lead Sponsor: Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to test the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation over the motor cortex of the language dominant hemisphere on language learning in healthy subjects and stroke patients with aphasia. We hypothesize that anodal stimulation enhances the learning of action words compared to sham and cathodal stimulation.

Detailed Description

The motor cortex is involved at different levels of language processing. It has been demonstrated that the perception of action words activates motor representations in the language-dominant hemisphere. However, it is not known whether modulation of excitability has an effect on learning new action words. Thus, we hypothesize that transcranial direct current stimulation over the motor cortex of the language-dominant hemiphere modulates the acquisition of new action words. The results bear the potential to design new rehabilitative strategies in stroke patients with aphasia. The motor cortex might offer an access to the language network that can be used for interventional approaches such as neurostimulation.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2009-03-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-03-02
• Study First Posted: 2009-03-03
• Study Start: 2009-10
• Primary Completion: 2010-01-01
• Study Completion: 2010-07-01
• Status Verified: 2022-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-12-05
• Last Update Posted: 2024-12-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 70

Inclusion Criteria

• age >18 and < 86 years
• contractual capability
• ischemic stroke excluding motor cortex (stroke patients)
• minimum time since stroke 9 months
• aphasia (stroke patients)
• severe aphasia that impedes understanding of instructions (stroke patients)

Exclusion Criteria

• sever head trauma in the past
• seizures
• pace maker
• metal implants in the head/neck region
• severe comorbidity, especially neurologic and psychiatric diseases
• intake of illegal drugs
• Mini Mental State examination score < 27
• neuroactive substances, e.g. antidepressants
• pregnancy

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
anodal	transcranial direct current stimulation	anodal stimulation: 20 min during language learning, intensity: 1 mV, anodal electrode over primary motor cortex of language-dominant hemisphere, reference electrode over contralateral supraorbital area
cathodal	transcranial direct current stimulation	anodal stimulation: 20 min during language learning, intensity: 1 mV, cathodal electrode over primary motor cortex of language-dominant hemisphere, reference electrode over contralateral supraorbital area
sham (placebo)	transcranial direct current stimulation	sham stimulation (placebo condition): 30 seconds during language learning, intensity: 1 mV, anodal electrode over primary motor cortex of language-dominant hemisphere, reference electrode over contralateral supraorbital area

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
word learning	immediately after intervention and after 1 week	learning of new action words measured as learned words/all words in %

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Neurology; 🇩🇪 Hamburg, HH, Germany