Effectiveness of TDCS Over Broca's Area in Verb Naming: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Study

NCT ID: NCT06776978

Last Updated: 2025-01-15

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

32 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-12-04

Study Completion Date

2024-12-13

Brief Summary

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This clinical trial investigated whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over Broca's area (F5) could improve verb naming abilities in adults with aphasia. Additionally, the study evaluated the stability of the treatment response to tDCS over time.

The main questions this study sought to answer were:

* Does tDCS improve verb naming abilities compared to inactive (sham) stimulation?
* Are the observed effects stable over time?

Participants received 10 daily sessions of tDCS over two consecutive weeks (5 days per week). The study included two treatment conditions, separated by one-month washout period:

* Active tDCS: Stimulation over Broca's area at 2 mA;
* Sham tDCS: Stimulation mimicking the active condition without delivering electrical current.

During the treatment, participants were asked to name aloud videos of actions displayed on a computer screen. One month after each treatment condition, follow-up testing was conducted to evaluate the stability of the treatment response.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Aphasia Non Fluent Stroke

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Active tDCS

Participants receive anodic tDCS over Broca's area at 2 mA for 20 minutes per session, 5 days per week for 2 consecutive weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Active treatment

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants receive anodic tDCS using a battery-driven Eldith (neuroConn GmbH) Programmable Direct Current Stimulator with surface-soaked sponge electrodes (5×7 cm). A constant current of 2 mA is applied for 20 minutes per session. The stimulation targets the left frontal region (F5 of the extended International 10-20 EEG system), corresponding to Broca's area, while the reference electrode is placed over the contralateral frontopolar cortex. tDCS is performed for 10 daily sessions over two consecutive weeks (5 days per week).

Sham tDCS

Participants receive sham tDCS for 20 minutes per session, 5 days per week for 2 consecutive weeks.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham Stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants receive sham tDCS using a battery-driven Eldith (neuroConn GmbH) Programmable Direct Current Stimulator with surface-soaked sponge electrodes (5×7 cm). No therapeutic current is applied during the 20-minute session. The electrode placement mimics the active condition, targeting the left frontal region (F5 of the extended International 10-20 EEG system), corresponding to Broca's area, while the reference electrode is placed over the contralateral frontopolar cortex. Sham tDCS is performed for 10 daily sessions over two consecutive weeks (5 days per week).

Interventions

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Active treatment

Participants receive anodic tDCS using a battery-driven Eldith (neuroConn GmbH) Programmable Direct Current Stimulator with surface-soaked sponge electrodes (5×7 cm). A constant current of 2 mA is applied for 20 minutes per session. The stimulation targets the left frontal region (F5 of the extended International 10-20 EEG system), corresponding to Broca's area, while the reference electrode is placed over the contralateral frontopolar cortex. tDCS is performed for 10 daily sessions over two consecutive weeks (5 days per week).

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham Stimulation

Participants receive sham tDCS using a battery-driven Eldith (neuroConn GmbH) Programmable Direct Current Stimulator with surface-soaked sponge electrodes (5×7 cm). No therapeutic current is applied during the 20-minute session. The electrode placement mimics the active condition, targeting the left frontal region (F5 of the extended International 10-20 EEG system), corresponding to Broca's area, while the reference electrode is placed over the contralateral frontopolar cortex. Sham tDCS is performed for 10 daily sessions over two consecutive weeks (5 days per week).

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* native Italian proficiency;
* pre-morbid right-handedness;
* a single left hemispheric stroke at least 6 months before the investigation.

Exclusion Criteria

* acute or chronic neurological symptoms requiring medication;
* attention and/or memory deficits.
Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Carlo Caltagirone, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Roma, Italy

Locations

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I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia

Roma, Italy, Italy

Site Status

Countries

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Italy

References

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Syka J, Melichar I. The effect of loop diuretics upon summating potentials in the guinea pig. Hear Res. 1985;20(3):267-73. doi: 10.1016/0378-5955(85)90031-0.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3003019 (View on PubMed)

Nishitani N, Schurmann M, Amunts K, Hari R. Broca's region: from action to language. Physiology (Bethesda). 2005 Feb;20:60-9. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00043.2004.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15653841 (View on PubMed)

Marangolo P, Fiori V, Di Paola M, Cipollari S, Razzano C, Oliveri M, Caltagirone C. Differential involvement of the left frontal and temporal regions in verb naming: a tDCS treatment study. Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2013;31(1):63-72. doi: 10.3233/RNN-120268.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23142815 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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CE/prog.733

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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