Abstract
Background and Purpose: Evidence for the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) induced neuroplasticity for the recovery of anomic aphasia is not thoroughly investigated. The prospective study aims to monitor the effects of combined language therapy and tDCS through structural and functional MRI.
Methods: This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded pilot study has recruited one patient with stroke-induced anomic aphasia and continues to recruit nine more patients with a similar profile and shall be randomly assigned to sham or anodal tDCS groups. Following speech and language assessment, the recruited participant received concurrent 20 minutes of individualized language therapy and 20 minutes of 2mA anodal HD-tDCS over the left IFG daily for ten days in two consecutive weeks. If in the sham group, the subject will receive 30s of 2mA anodal HD-tDCS. Structural, Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), resting state and task-activated functional MRI (picture naming task) were also performed. Data acquisition is conducted before, immediately after and two months after the treatment.
Statistical Analysis: Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM version 12) software was used with MATLAB to perform image preprocessing (realignment & reslicing, slice timing, coregistration, normalization, smoothing and segmentation) of task-activated fMRI data using a first-level analysis and general linear model (GLM). CONN (a toolbox for MATLAB) was employed to analyze resting-state data and performed "denoising" and ROI to ROI and Voxel to Voxel analysis and GLM.
Initial Outcomes: Results of baseline data acquisition obtained from resting-state analysis using language networks, Default Mode Network, and Medial prefrontal cortex (seed) indicated high signal activation in the prefrontal cortex, frontal and posterior para cingulate gyrus and angular gyrus bilaterally. The baseline task-activated fMRI scan shows few signal clusters over the central gyrus. The Posttreatment analysis following two weeks of speech therapy and anodal HD tDCS for fMRI resting state analysis showed higher signal activation in the right and left inferior frontal gyrus and precentral gyrus. Whilst fMRI task-activated analysis showed increased signal density over both cerebral involving the precentral and central gyrus and left middle and inferior frontal gyrus. Also, high signal density can be observed over the occipital lobe bilaterally.
Conclusion: Results showed increased signal density in language areas. However, these results can't be generalized as compiled based on one subject only. The participant recruitment and data collection are still ongoing.
Methods: This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded pilot study has recruited one patient with stroke-induced anomic aphasia and continues to recruit nine more patients with a similar profile and shall be randomly assigned to sham or anodal tDCS groups. Following speech and language assessment, the recruited participant received concurrent 20 minutes of individualized language therapy and 20 minutes of 2mA anodal HD-tDCS over the left IFG daily for ten days in two consecutive weeks. If in the sham group, the subject will receive 30s of 2mA anodal HD-tDCS. Structural, Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), resting state and task-activated functional MRI (picture naming task) were also performed. Data acquisition is conducted before, immediately after and two months after the treatment.
Statistical Analysis: Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM version 12) software was used with MATLAB to perform image preprocessing (realignment & reslicing, slice timing, coregistration, normalization, smoothing and segmentation) of task-activated fMRI data using a first-level analysis and general linear model (GLM). CONN (a toolbox for MATLAB) was employed to analyze resting-state data and performed "denoising" and ROI to ROI and Voxel to Voxel analysis and GLM.
Initial Outcomes: Results of baseline data acquisition obtained from resting-state analysis using language networks, Default Mode Network, and Medial prefrontal cortex (seed) indicated high signal activation in the prefrontal cortex, frontal and posterior para cingulate gyrus and angular gyrus bilaterally. The baseline task-activated fMRI scan shows few signal clusters over the central gyrus. The Posttreatment analysis following two weeks of speech therapy and anodal HD tDCS for fMRI resting state analysis showed higher signal activation in the right and left inferior frontal gyrus and precentral gyrus. Whilst fMRI task-activated analysis showed increased signal density over both cerebral involving the precentral and central gyrus and left middle and inferior frontal gyrus. Also, high signal density can be observed over the occipital lobe bilaterally.
Conclusion: Results showed increased signal density in language areas. However, these results can't be generalized as compiled based on one subject only. The participant recruitment and data collection are still ongoing.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Not published / presented only - 10 May 2023 |
| Event | PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) Conference 2023 - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hung Hom, Hong Kong Duration: 8 May 2023 → 11 May 2023 https://www.polyu.edu.hk/pairconference2023/ |
Conference
| Conference | PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) Conference 2023 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Hong Kong |
| City | Hung Hom |
| Period | 8/05/23 → 11/05/23 |
| Internet address |