Zapping the brain to find lost words: new hope for stroke survivors?
NCT ID NCT04166513
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a gentle electrical current applied to the scalp (tDCS) during speech therapy could help people with chronic aphasia—a language disorder after stroke—recover their ability to name objects and read words. Twenty-five adults with long-term aphasia received both real and sham stimulation while doing picture-naming and reading tasks. The goal was to see if the brain stimulation boosted the effects of speech therapy and changed brain activity patterns.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
targeted transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a non-invasive way to boost speech therapy for people with long-term aphasia after stroke.
What could go wrong
This is a small, completed study with only 25 participants and no control group for the stimulation alone. Results may not apply to all types of aphasia or stroke survivors.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, United States