Enhance of Language Learning with Neurostimulation

NCT ID: NCT00854893

Last Updated: 2024-12-11

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 70 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2009-10-31
• Study Completion Date: 2010-07-01

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to test the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation over the motor cortex of the language dominant hemisphere on language learning in healthy subjects and stroke patients with aphasia. We hypothesize that anodal stimulation enhances the learning of action words compared to sham and cathodal stimulation.

Detailed Description

The motor cortex is involved at different levels of language processing. It has been demonstrated that the perception of action words activates motor representations in the language-dominant hemisphere. However, it is not known whether modulation of excitability has an effect on learning new action words. Thus, we hypothesize that transcranial direct current stimulation over the motor cortex of the language-dominant hemiphere modulates the acquisition of new action words. The results bear the potential to design new rehabilitative strategies in stroke patients with aphasia. The motor cortex might offer an access to the language network that can be used for interventional approaches such as neurostimulation.

Conditions

Stroke; Aphasia; Aging

Keywords

stroke; aphasia; aging; language learning

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

cathodal

anodal stimulation: 20 min during language learning, intensity: 1 mV, cathodal electrode over primary motor cortex of language-dominant hemisphere, reference electrode over contralateral supraorbital area

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

transcranial direct current stimulation

Intervention Type: DEVICE

1 mV for 20 min (verum conditions: anodal and cathodal)or 30 seconds (placebo condition: sham) during language learning , active electrode over primary motor cortex of language dominant hemisphere, reference electrode over contralateral supraorbital area

sham (placebo)

sham stimulation (placebo condition): 30 seconds during language learning, intensity: 1 mV, anodal electrode over primary motor cortex of language-dominant hemisphere, reference electrode over contralateral supraorbital area

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

transcranial direct current stimulation

Intervention Type: DEVICE

1 mV for 20 min (verum conditions: anodal and cathodal)or 30 seconds (placebo condition: sham) during language learning , active electrode over primary motor cortex of language dominant hemisphere, reference electrode over contralateral supraorbital area

anodal

anodal stimulation: 20 min during language learning, intensity: 1 mV, anodal electrode over primary motor cortex of language-dominant hemisphere, reference electrode over contralateral supraorbital area

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

transcranial direct current stimulation

Intervention Type: DEVICE

1 mV for 20 min (verum conditions: anodal and cathodal)or 30 seconds (placebo condition: sham) during language learning , active electrode over primary motor cortex of language dominant hemisphere, reference electrode over contralateral supraorbital area

Interventions

transcranial direct current stimulation

1 mV for 20 min (verum conditions: anodal and cathodal)or 30 seconds (placebo condition: sham) during language learning , active electrode over primary motor cortex of language dominant hemisphere, reference electrode over contralateral supraorbital area

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

DC Stimulator; Manufacturer:eldith -Electro-Diagnostic & Therapeutic Systems GmbH, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Straße 5, D-98693 Ilmenau; Serial number: 0006

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• age >18 and < 86 years
• contractual capability
• ischemic stroke excluding motor cortex (stroke patients)
• minimum time since stroke 9 months
• aphasia (stroke patients)
• severe aphasia that impedes understanding of instructions (stroke patients)

Exclusion Criteria

• sever head trauma in the past
• seizures
• pace maker
• metal implants in the head/neck region
• severe comorbidity, especially neurologic and psychiatric diseases
• intake of illegal drugs
• Mini Mental State examination score < 27
• neuroactive substances, e.g. antidepressants
• pregnancy

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 86 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

German Research Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Gianpiero Liuzzi, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Universitätskrankenhaus Hamburg-Eppendorf

Locations

University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Neurology

Hamburg, City state of Hamburg, Germany

Countries

Germany

References

Branscheidt M, Hoppe J, Freundlieb N, Zwitserlood P, Liuzzi G. tDCS Over the Motor Cortex Shows Differential Effects on Action and Object Words in Associative Word Learning in Healthy Aging. Front Aging Neurosci. 2017 May 15;9:137. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00137. eCollection 2017.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 28555104 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

LI 1892/1-1

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

PV3128

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id