Neurostimulation for the Treatment of Post-Stroke Aphasia

Individuals with aphasia (assessed using the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination) who perform the Naming Task in the range of 10%-60% accuracy will be included in the study. The overall baseline score in the Naming Task will be estimated from the two baseline measurements.

Inclusion Criteria

• diagnosis of aphasia: Broca's or mixed (based on the assessment of a Speech Language Pathologist).
• presence of a focus of injury in the left hemisphere (within one hemisphere only) as a result of the first ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke (based on CT/MRI examination);
• chronic stage of the disease - time since the stroke occurred over 6 months.
• ability to achieve an accuracy in the Naming Task of 10-60%.
• 18-80 years
• right-handedness before the stroke.
• ability to give informed written consent.
• fluency in English.

Exclusion Criteria

• severe cognitive, auditory or visual impairment that would preclude cognitive and language testing - inability to follow a two-step command.
• presence of metal implants in the skull.
• presence of major untreated or unstable psychiatric disease.
• history of epilepsy or seizures.
• ongoing medication that increases the risk of epileptic seizures.
• presence in the body of cardiac stimulator, pacemaker or vagus nerve stimulator (implanted).
• history of speech, language, hearing, or intellectual disability during childhood.
• pregnancy (based on declarations)

Exclusion criteria during the trial

• high intolerance to stimulation.
• occurrence of an epileptic seizure.
• other previously absent neurological or mental symptoms

Withdrawal criteria

• high intolerance to stimulation (participants experience severe discomfort during stimulation);
• occurrence of an epileptic seizure;
• other previously absent neurological, physical or mental symptoms.