title: Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation in early rehabilitation of patients with post-stroke non-fluent aphasia: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent research in patients with chronic aphasia shows an association between excitatory anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) of the stroke-affected left hemisphere coupled with speech and language therapy (SLT) and better language performance. The present study aimed to investigate this association during the early post-stroke rehabilitation period, when adaptive changes are most possible on neurophysiological and behavioral levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomized 24 patients with non-fluent aphasia to receive 15 consecutive sessions (5 days/week for 3 weeks) of A-tDCS (1 mA, 10 min; n = 14) or sham tDCS (S-tDCS: 1 mA, 25 sec; n = 10) over Broca's area followed by 45-min SLT. Naming ability was assessed before the rehabilitation, after its completion, and three months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups significantly improved after the therapy. There were no statistically significant between-group differences in the short-term or long-term tDCS effects on naming accuracy and naming time. The A-tDCS group obtained higher effect sizes in naming time, both post-treatment and at the 3-month follow-up, suggesting potential benefits of the stimulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings provide only weak evidence for A-tDCS-related language gains during early neurorehabilitation of post-stroke aphasia. Further research is needed to explore the effectiveness of this kind of neuromodulation.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna Ewa
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Polanowska
authors.forename: Marcin Maciej
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Leśniak
authors.forename: Joanna Barbara
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Seniów
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Czepiel
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Członkowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000849:Anomia / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D007808:Language Therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013070:Speech Therapy; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
keywords: aphasia; neuromodulation; stroke; transcranial direct current stimulation