Aphasia, Stroke
Conditions
Keywords
tDCS, MRI, Aphasia, Stroke, Speech therapy
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.
Interventions
DEVICEReal tDCS
An anodal high-definition tDCS of 2 mA lasting for 20 minutes will be delivered to the left inferior frontal gyrus during speech therapy.
DEVICESham tDCS
An anodal high-definition tDCS of 2 mA lasting for 30 seconds will be delivered to the left inferior frontal gyrus during speech therapy.
Sponsors
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Double (participant, outcome accessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. History of a single unilateral left-hemispheric stroke, 2. Right handedness 3. Demonstrated features of Broca's Aphasia 4. Cantonese speaker 5. Comprehension sufficient to carry out tasks 6. No history of other neurological diseases
Exclusion criteria
1. Aphasia due to reasons other than Stroke, Traumatic brain injury 2. Bilateral or multiple brain lesions 3. Wernicke's aphasia and other speech disorders, degenerative, psychiatric or metabolic disorders 4. Deaf, blind, pregnant/ or preparing for pregnancy, cognitive issues, tattoos 5. Have cochlear implants, pacemaker, surgical nails for bone fracture, artificial joints, dental braces, dentures 6. Taking anti-depressant medications
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 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
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Countries
Hong Kong
Contacts
Primary ContactMin Ney WONG, PhD
Backup ContactFaisal N Baig, PhD
Outcome results
None listed