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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry doi:10.1136/jnnp.2007.135277

Improved Naming After Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Aphasia

  1. Alessia Monti
  1. Neurostimulation Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Os, Italy
    1. Filippo Cogiamanian
    1. Neurostimulation Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Os, Italy
      1. Sara Marceglia
      1. Neurostimulation Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Os, Italy
        1. Roberta Ferrucci
        1. Neurostimulation Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Os, Italy
          1. Francesca Mameli
          1. Neurostimulation Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Os, Italy
            1. Simona Mrakic-Sposta
            1. Neurostimulation Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Os, Italy
              1. Maurizio Vergari
              1. Neurostimulation Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Os, Italy
                1. Stefano Zago
                1. Neurostimulation Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Os, Italy
                  1. Alberto Priori (alberto.priori{at}unimi.it)
                  1. Neurostimulation Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Os, Italy
                    • Published Online First 20 December 2007

                    Abstract

                    Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proposed as an adjuvant technique to improve functional recovery after ischemic stroke. In this study we evaluated the effect of tDCS over left fronto-temporal (F-T) areas in chronic non-fluent post-stroke aphasic patients.

                    Methods: Eight patients with chronic non-fluent aphasia were studied before and immediately after tDCS (2mA, 10 minutes) over the damaged left fronto-temporal areas. The naming function was measured by a computer-controlled task.

                    Results: Whereas anodal tDCS and sham tDCS failed to induce any changes, cathodal tDCS significantly improved the accuracy of the picture naming task by 33.6±13.8% ([mean±SEM]).

                    Conclusions: Cathodal tDCS over the damaged left fronto-temporal areas in patients with chronic non-fluent aphasia improves naming. Because tDCS is simple, safe and inexpensive, this technique could be complementary to speech rehabilitation in the management of aphasic patients.

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