Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) With Verb Network Strengthening Treatment (VNeST) in Chronic Aphasia
Who can join
Ages 21 to 80 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome
Full eligibility 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
About the study
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.
What is being tested
- Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (device)
- Sham transcranial direct current stimulation (device)
- Speech-Language Therapy (SLT) (behavioral)
Sponsor: City University of New York · Participants: 30 · Started: Jan 3, 2025
Contact the study team
- E. Susan Duncan, PhD, CCC-SLP · Phone: 212 817 8804
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT04142866
Locations in the U.S.
| New York | City University of New York, New York |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.