Role of tDCS in potentiating poststroke computerized cognitive rehabilitation: Lessons learned from a case study.
Cognitive impairment after stroke is quite common and can cause important disability with a relevant impact on quality of life. Cognitive rehabilitation (CR) and related assistive technology may improve functional outcomes. A 30-year-old woman came to our research institute for an intensive CR cycle following a right parieto-temporal stroke. Because the patient was in the chronic phase, we decided to use 3 different rehabilitative protocols: (a) traditional cognitive training (TCT), (b) computerized cognitive training (CCT), and (c) CCT combined with transcranial direct stimulation (CCT plus) with a 2-week interval separating each session. Cognitive and language deficits were investigated using an ad-hoc psychometric battery at baseline (T0), post-TCT (T1), post-CCT (T2), and post-CCT plus (T3). Our patient showed the best neuropsychological improvement, with regard to attention processes and language domain, after T3. Our data showed that CCT plus should be considered a promising tool in the treatment of poststroke neuropsychological deficits.
a Robotic and Behavioral Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo," , Messina , Italy.
Antonino
A
Leo
a Robotic and Behavioral Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo," , Messina , Italy.
Rosario
R
De Luca
a Robotic and Behavioral Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo," , Messina , Italy.
Margherita
M
Russo
a Robotic and Behavioral Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo," , Messina , Italy.
Antonino
A
Naro
a Robotic and Behavioral Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo," , Messina , Italy.
Placido
P
Bramanti
a Robotic and Behavioral Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo," , Messina , Italy.
Rocco S
RS
Calabrò
D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000379:methods*
Computerized cognitive training (CCT); transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS); young stroke