Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) in Aphasia

Launched by MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · May 1, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a treatment called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to see how it might help people recover their language skills after having a stroke. The researchers want to understand if this technique can improve language abilities in stroke patients who have aphasia, a condition that affects a person's ability to communicate. The study is also looking at how tACS affects healthy individuals’ language functions to compare the results.

To participate in this study, stroke patients need to be at least 18 years old, fluent in English, and right-handed, with a diagnosis of aphasia confirmed by a doctor at least one month after their stroke. Healthy volunteers are also welcome, provided they are 18 or older and have no history of neurological issues. Participants will undergo language and cognitive testing, and they may receive tACS treatment. It's important to note that certain medical conditions, such as severe cognitive impairments or metal implants in the skull, may exclude someone from the trial. This study is currently recruiting participants, and your involvement could contribute to valuable research on language recovery after a stroke.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Healthy Controls
• • 18 years of age or older
• • Fluent in English
• • No history of neurological or psychiatric disorders
• • Stroke Patients
• • Diagnosed with post-stroke aphasia by referring physician/neuropsychologist
• • Consent date \>=1 months after stroke onset
• • Right-handed
• • Fluent in English
• • 18 years of age or older
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Severe cognitive, auditory or visual impairments that would preclude cognitive and language testing
• • Presence of major untreated or unstable psychiatric disease
• • A chronic medical condition that is not treated or is unstable
• • The presence of cardiac stimulators or pacemakers
• • Any metal implants in the skull
• • Contraindications to MRI or tACS
• • History of seizures
• • History of dyslexia or other developmental learning disabilities