Actively Recruiting
Pre-Frontal tDCS to Reduce Post-Stroke Fatigue and Improve Language and Attention in Aphasia
Led by Syracuse University · Updated on 2025-09-03
60
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
8 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
S
Syracuse University
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating whether electrical brain stimulation called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the front parts of the brain can help people who have had a stroke improve their fatigue, language, and attention. The study aims to compare active tDCS with sham stimulation to see if active treatment better reduces post-stroke fatigue and aphasia. It also explores which participant characteristics are linked to greater improvements in these symptoms. Participants will receive 10 sessions of either active or sham tDCS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during behavioral therapy. The behavioral treatments include attention-focused sentence comprehension therapy or sentence picture matching therapy, each lasting 10 sessions. Active tDCS involves applying 2mA current for 20 minutes, while sham tDCS mimics this briefly without lasting stimulation. Four groups combine these device and therapy variations. During the study, participants complete fatigue, language, and cognitive tests before treatment, within one week after completing the sessions, and again at 3 months. Researchers will use tools such as the Fatigue Interference and Severity Scale for Aphasia, Continuous Performance Test, Attention Network Test, and sentence comprehension tasks to assess outcomes. The study includes safety monitoring and audio-recording of sessions over several months of follow-up.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Brain Stimulation Effects on Post-Stroke Fatigue and Aphasia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- 18 years or older.
- No neurological disorders other than stroke.
- No psychiatric disorders except managed anxiety or depression.
- No seizures within the past 6 months.
- Not pregnant.
- No cardiac pacemaker.
- At least 6 months post-stroke (chronic phase).
- Not currently undergoing speech and language therapy targeting auditory comprehension or attention.
- No metal implants in the scalp or pre-frontal bone area.
- No unhealed skull fractures.
- Aphasia onset from single, left hemisphere, ischemic stroke.
- Damaged brain tissue does not overlap left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
- Mild to moderate aphasia.
- Self-reported post-stroke fatigue.
- No significant vision or hearing challenges with aids if needed.
- Willing to allow audio-recording of study sessions.
You will not qualify if you...
- Younger than 18 years old.
- Neurological disorder other than stroke.
- Psychiatric disorder not managed by medication or behavioral intervention.
- Seizure within past 6 months.
- Pregnant.
- Has cardiac pacemaker.
- Less than 6 months post-stroke (can be re-evaluated at 6 months).
- Currently in speech and language therapy targeting auditory comprehension or attention.
- Metal implants in scalp or pre-frontal bone.
- Unhealed skull fracture.
- Aphasia from cause other than left hemisphere ischemic stroke.
- Damaged brain tissue overlaps left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
- No aphasia or severe aphasia.
- Does not report post-stroke fatigue.
- Significant vision or hearing challenges even with aids.
- Unwilling to allow audio-recording of sessions.
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 10 sessions over several weeks
Participants receive 10 sessions of behavioral speech-language therapy combined with either active or sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The therapy focuses on improving auditory comprehension and attention.
Approximately 10 visits (in-person)
Duration - 3 months post-treatment
Participants are assessed after treatment completion and again at 3 months to evaluate fatigue severity, attention, and language comprehension.
2 visits (in-person) within 3 months
Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109
Not Yet Recruiting
2
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York, United States, 13244
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
E
Ellyn Riley
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
FACTORIAL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
4
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