Combined anodal transcranial direct current stimulation and behavioural naming treatment improves language performance in patients with post-stroke aphasia

ABSTRACT

Primary objective

During the last decade, studies using anodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (atDCS) have yielded promising results in patients with aphasia. The main aim of the present pilot study was to assess the effects of combined atDCS over the left posterior perisylvian region and behavioral naming training on the behavioral outcomes of language comprehension and production of patients with post-stroke aphasia.

Research design

A 2 × 2 quasi-experimental design was conducted, optimal to compare changes after treatment in experimental versus control group.

Methods and Procedures

Ten patients with post-stroke aphasia were enrolled in this study: half received atDCS on the left posterior perisylvian region while they underwent a 2-week behavioral naming training. The other half received sham stimulation. The outcomes were measured using the abbreviated form of the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination and analyzed using ANOVAs.

Main outcomes and Results

Both groups improved their performance in Oral comprehension, Narrative writing and Language Competence Index, but only those that received anodal tDCS presented better results in the Naming category after the treatment.

Conclusions

AtDCS on the left posterior perisylvian area seems to be a promising tool for boosting the outcomes of behavioral naming therapy in patients with post-stroke aphasia.

KEYWORDS:

• Stroke
• aphasia
• anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS)
• left posterior perisylvian area
• behavioral naming treatment
• pilot study

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad [PSI2013-43594-R]; Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia [ED431C-2021/04, from the EDRF/FEDER]; and by a post-doctoral fellowship from Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia [ED481B2016/078-0]. The funding sources were not involved in any aspect of the research or the submission of this study.