Role of tDCS in potentiating poststroke computerized cognitive rehabilitation: Lessons learned from a case study

ABSTRACT

Cognitive impairment after stroke is quite common and can cause important disability with a relevant impact on quality of life. Cognitive rehabilitation (CR) and related assistive technology may improve functional outcomes. A 30-year-old woman came to our research institute for an intensive CR cycle following a right parieto-temporal stroke. Because the patient was in the chronic phase, we decided to use 3 different rehabilitative protocols: (a) traditional cognitive training (TCT), (b) computerized cognitive training (CCT), and (c) CCT combined with transcranial direct stimulation (CCT plus) with a 2-week interval separating each session. Cognitive and language deficits were investigated using an ad-hoc psychometric battery at baseline (T0), post-TCT (T1), post-CCT (T2), and post–CCT plus (T3). Our patient showed the best neuropsychological improvement, with regard to attention processes and language domain, after T3. Our data showed that CCT plus should be considered a promising tool in the treatment of poststroke neuropsychological deficits.

KEYWORDS:

• Computerized cognitive training (CCT)
• transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
• young stroke