tACS to Enhance Language Abilities

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · Oct 17, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a treatment called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to see if it can help improve language skills in people who have had a stroke and are experiencing aphasia, which is a condition that affects communication. Participants in the study will receive either the active tACS treatment or a placebo (a fake treatment that doesn’t have any real effects) while taking part in various language tests. Researchers will compare the results of those with post-stroke aphasia to healthy individuals of similar ages to understand how their brains respond differently to this treatment.

To be eligible for the trial, participants with aphasia must have experienced a single stroke in the left side of their brain at least six months ago. Healthy volunteers must be right-handed and able to understand the study. Participants can expect to undergo some tests to assess their language abilities, and they will receive either the real or sham tACS during the sessions. It's important to know that individuals with certain medical conditions or those who cannot fully understand the study may not be able to participate. If you or a loved one are interested in this trial, it could provide valuable information on new ways to support language recovery after a stroke.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria for Persons with Aphasia:
• • 1. Presence of aphasia
• • 2. Suffered a single, left hemisphere stroke
• • 3. Stroke ≥6 months old (chronic) at the time of enrollment
• Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Controls:
• • 1. Right-handedness
• • 2. Must be able to understand the nature of the study, and give informed consent
• Exclusion criteria for Persons with Aphasia:
• • 1. Inability to understand the nature of the study
• • 2. Marked naming impairment
• • 3. Impaired non-verbal, conceptual processing
• • 4. History of significant medical or neurological disorder (other than stroke)
• • 5. History of significant or poorly controlled psychiatric disorders
• • 6. Current abuse of alcohol or drugs, prescription or otherwise
• • 7. Nursing a child, pregnancy, or intent to become pregnant during the study
• • 8. Clinically significant hearing loss
• • 9. Contraindications to tACS
• • 10. Contraindications to MRI
• • Exclusion Criteria for Healthy Controls
• • 1. Diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease or clinically significant cognitive complaint
• • 2. Any unrelated neurologic or physical condition that impairs communication ability
• • 3. History of unrelated neurological conditions including but not limited to traumatic brain injury, stroke, or small vessel disease that has resulted in a neurologic deficit
• • 4. Any additional neurological condition that would likely reduce the safety of study participation, including central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis, intracranial tumor, intracranial aneurysm, multiple sclerosis or arteriovenous malformations
• • 5. A medically unstable cardiopulmonary or metabolic disorder
• • 6. Terminal illness associated with survival \<12 months
• • 7. Major active psychiatric illness that may interfere with required study procedures or treatments as determined by the enrolling physician
• • 8. Current abuse of alcohol or drugs, prescription or otherwise
• • 9. Contraindications to tACS
• • 10. Contraindications to MRI