Enhance of Language Learning With Neurostimulation

Stroke Clinical Trial

Official title: Enhance of Language Learning With Neurostimulation (Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation)

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to test the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation over the motor cortex of the language dominant hemisphere on language learning in healthy subjects and stroke patients with aphasia. We hypothesize that anodal stimulation enhances the learning of action words compared to sham and cathodal stimulation.

Clinical Trial Description

The motor cortex is involved at different levels of language processing. It has been demonstrated that the perception of action words activates motor representations in the language-dominant hemisphere. However, it is not known whether modulation of excitability has an effect on learning new action words. Thus, we hypothesize that transcranial direct current stimulation over the motor cortex of the language-dominant hemiphere modulates the acquisition of new action words. The results bear the potential to design new rehabilitative strategies in stroke patients with aphasia. The motor cortex might offer an access to the language network that can be used for interventional approaches such as neurostimulation. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Aging
• Aphasia
• Stroke

• NCT number: NCT00854893
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 2009
• Completion date: July 1, 2010