Transcranial direct current stimulation improves naming reaction time in fluent aphasia: a double-blind, sham-controlled study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Previous evidence suggests that anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) applied to the left hemisphere can improve aphasic participants' ability to name common objects. The current study further examined this issue in a more tightly controlled experiment in participants with fluent aphasia.

METHODS:

We examined the effect of A-tDCS on reaction time during overt picture naming in 8 chronic stroke participants. Anode electrode placement targeted perilesional brain regions that showed the greatest activation on a pretreatment functional MRI scan administered during overt picture naming with the reference cathode electrode placed on the contralateral forehead. A-tDCS (1 mA; 20-minute) was compared with sham tDCS (S-tDCS) in a crossover design. Participants received 10 sessions of computerized anomia treatment; 5 sessions included A-tDCS and 5 included S-tDCS.

RESULTS:

Coupling A-tDCS with behavioral language treatment reduced reaction time during naming of trained items immediately posttreatment (Z=1.96, P=0.025) and at subsequent testing 3 weeks later (Z=2.52, P=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS:

A-tDCS administered during language treatment decreased processing time during picture naming by fluent aphasic participants. Additional studies combining A-tDCS, an inexpensive method with no reported serious side effects, with behavioral language therapy are recommended.

• Authors: Julius Fridriksson, Jessica D Richardson, Julie M Baker, Chris Rorden
• Journal: Stroke (Stroke) Vol. 42 Issue 3 Pg. 819-21 (Mar 2011) ISSN: 1524-4628 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21233468 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Topics

• Aged
• Aphasia, Wernicke (etiology, physiopathology, therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Electric Stimulation Therapy (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Language Tests
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Reaction Time (physiology)
• Stroke (complications, physiopathology, therapy)