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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) With Verb Network Strengthening Treatment (VNeST) in Chronic Aphasia

City University of New York · NCT04142866

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 21–80 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
30
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
January 3, 2025
Record last updated
January 7, 2025

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The purpose of this study is to assess changes in language abilities of participants with chronic, post-stroke aphasia following an 8-week therapy period combined with brain stimulation. The investigators use a stimulation method called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The investigators cover two electrodes in damp sponges, place them on the scalp, and pass a weak electrical current between them. Some of this current passes through the brain and can change brain activity. One electrode is placed over language areas a bit above and in front of the left ear. The other is placed on the forehead above the right eye. Stimulation is provided twice a week for 8 weeks during aphasia therapy. The investigators believe that this stimulation may increase the effectiveness of therapy.

Being studied: Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation; Sham transcranial direct current stimulation; Speech-Language Therapy (SLT)

Conditions: Aphasia; Stroke

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

This study recruits individuals with post-stroke aphasia as well as a group of healthy volunteers matched for age, sex, and education.

INCLUSION Criteria

  • Right handed (pre-stroke for participants with aphasia)
  • High school education or equivalent
  • Native English fluency without early 2nd language exposure (before age 10)
  • Ability to perform the required discourse and MRI tasks (determined via in-person screening)

Additional INCLUSION Criteria for participants with APHASIA:

  • Single-event left hemisphere stroke > 6 months prior to enrollment
  • Aphasia diagnosis per Western Aphasia Battery-Revised
  • Not receiving any other speech therapy for the entire study period (20 weeks)
  • Ability to perform the required therapy tasks (determined via in-person screening)

EXCLUSION Criteria

  • Failed vision or hearing screening
  • MRI contraindications (including pacemaker)
  • Pregnancy
  • History of seizure or change in seizure medication in past 12 months
  • History of speech/language, psychiatric, or neurological disorder, or current serious medical condition (except chronic stroke comorbidities for participants with aphasia)

Additional EXCLUSION criteria for participants with APHASIA are:

  • Unmodifiable hair style precluding scalp contact by electrodes
  • Sensitive scalp by self-report

Recruiting US locations

  • City University of New York

    New York, NY 10016

    Site contact: E. Susan Duncan, PhD, CCC-SLP · 212-817-8804 · esduncan@gc.cuny.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • E. Susan Duncan, PhD, CCC-SLP · 212 817 8804 · esduncan@gc.cuny.edu
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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) With Verb Network… (NCT04142866) | Bored Studies