Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on patients with apraxia of speech: a combined tDCS-fMRI study

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on patients with apraxia of speech: a combined tDCS-fMRI study - SPRAX-tDCS

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Phase 4

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00011116

Enrollment

Registered

2017-08-31

Start date

2017-08-04

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-04-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

R47.1 R47.0

Interventions

Group 1: Patients will receive actual transcranial direct current stimulation, with the cathode placed over F7-F5 right and the anode placed over F7-F5 left, employing 20 minutes of 2mA, in addition t

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 80 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Etiology of aphasia: first-ever ischemic stroke of the left cerebral hemisphere; chronic phase of the disease: >6 months post-onset; presence of apraxia of speech as diagnosed by speech and language therapist as well as neurologist; right-handed; German as native language

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Severe aphasia with language comprehension <25 in the relevant subtest of the AAT; left-handedness; contraindications for tDCS (e.g., epilepsy); contraindications for MRI; no/reduced compliance; participation in clinical trial in the last 3 months.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Improvements in language abilities in the VERUM-cohort as opposed to the SHAM-cohort. Improvements will be measured using the Hierarchical Word Lists in the week prior the first week of therapy and the week following the last therapeutic session (week 3).	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1) Improvements in other linguistic domains in the VERUM-cohort as opposed to the sham-cohort. These endpoints will be assessed using the AAT ((Aachener Aphasie Test), a novel test measuring apraxia of speech (AoS) and a formal test of diadochokinesis. Test points will be the week prior and the week after therapy (week 3). 2) Quality of life; the ALQUI will be applied in the week prior to therapy and 20 weeks after therapy. 3) Neuronal marker correlating with linguistic improvements. Structural (T1, DTI) and functional MRI (task based: spontaneous speech, diadochokinesis; resting state fMRI) will be employed prior to therapy and in the week after therapy (week 3).	—

Measure

Time frame

1) Improvements in other linguistic domains in the VERUM-cohort as opposed to the sham-cohort. These endpoints will be assessed using the AAT ((Aachener Aphasie Test), a novel test measuring apraxia of speech (AoS) and a formal test of diadochokinesis. Test points will be the week prior and the week after therapy (week 3). 2) Quality of life; the ALQUI will be applied in the week prior to therapy and 20 weeks after therapy. 3) Neuronal marker correlating with linguistic improvements. Structural (T1, DTI) and functional MRI (task based: spontaneous speech, diadochokinesis; resting state fMRI) will be employed prior to therapy and in the week after therapy (week 3).

—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactCornelius J. Werner

Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Klinik für Neurologie

cwerner@ukaachen.de0241-8089600

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026