title: Short-term anomia training and electrical brain stimulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Language training success in chronic aphasia remains only moderate. Electric brain stimulation may be a viable way to enhance treatment efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover trial, we assessed if anodal transcranial direct current stimulation compared to cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation and sham stimulation over the right temporo-parietal cortex would improve the success of short-term high-frequency anomia training. Twelve chronic poststroke aphasia patients were studied. Naming outcome was assessed after training and 2 weeks later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All training conditions led to a significant increase in naming ability, which was retained for at least 2 weeks after the end of the training. Application of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation significantly enhanced the overall training effect compared to sham stimulation. Baseline naming ability significantly predicted anodal transcranial direct current stimulation effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the nonlanguage dominant hemisphere can enhance language training outcome in chronic aphasia. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier: NCT00822068.
authors.affiliation: Charité Universitätsmedizin, Department of Neurology, Center for Stroke Research Berlin & Cluster of Excellence NeuroCure, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. agnes.floeel@charite.de
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flöel
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meinzer
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirstein
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nijhof
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deppe
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knecht
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Breitenstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000849:Anomia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001037:Aphasia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007808:Language Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome