Research with transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of aphasia.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been used to improve language behavior, including naming, in stroke patients with chronic, nonfluent aphasia. Part 1 of this article reviews functional imaging studies related to language recovery in aphasia. Part 2 reviews the rationale for using rTMS to treat nonfluent aphasia (based on functional imaging) and presents our current rTMS protocol. We present language results from our rTMS studies as well as imaging results from overt naming functional MRI scans obtained before and after a series of rTMS treatments. Part 3 presents results from a pilot study in which rTMS treatments were followed immediately by constraint-induced language therapy. Part 4 reviews our diffusion tensor imaging study examining the possible connectivity of the arcuate fasciculus to different parts of Broca's area (pars triangularis, pars opercularis) and to the ventral premotor cortex. The potential role of mirror neurons in the right pars opercularis and ventral premotor cortex in aphasia recovery is discussed.
Martin
Paula I
PI
Aphasia Research Center 12-A, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA. paulak@bu.edu
Naeser
Margaret A
MA
Ho
Michael
M
Treglia
Ethan
E
Kaplan
Elina
E
Baker
Errol H
EH
Pascual-Leone
Alvaro
A
D000818:Animals; D001037:Aphasia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*