Zapping the brain to help stroke survivors speak again
NCT ID NCT04963803
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a gentle, non-invasive brain stimulation called tDCS could make speech therapy work better for people with aphasia (trouble speaking or understanding language) after a stroke. 23 adults who were at least 6 months past their stroke received speech therapy along with either real or fake tDCS. The goal was to see if the real stimulation improved language comprehension more than the fake one.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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23 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2021
- Finished
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Dec 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. 18 years or older. 2. No diagnosis of neurological disorder (other than stroke). 3. No diagnosis of psychiatric disorder. 4. No seizure within the past 6 months. 5. Not pregnant. 6. In chronic phase of recovery, defined as at least 6 months post-stroke. 7. Not undergoing speech and language therapy targeting auditory comprehension or attention for the duration of the study. 8. No metal implants in the head. 9. No unhealed skull fractures. 10. Onset of aphasia related to left hemisphere stroke. 11. Damaged brain tissue from stroke does not overlap with left hemisphere dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. 12. Mild to moderate aphasia. 13. Cognitive ability minimally within functional limits. 14. Able to pass vision and hearing screening (with use of corrective aids if needed; eyeglasses, hearing aids). 15. Willing to allow audio-recording of study sessions. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Younger than 18 years old. 2. Diagnosis or history of neurological disorder other than stroke. 3. Diagnosis or history of psychiatric disorder. 4. History of seizures within the past 6 months. 5. Pregnant. 6. \<6 months post-stroke (however, if this is only exclusionary criterion met, participant can be re-evaluated at the 6-month mark if still interested in the study) 7. Currently undergoing speech and language therapy targeting auditory comprehension or attention. 8. Metal implants in the head. 9. Currently has a skull fracture. 10. Onset of aphasia related to etiology other than left hemisphere stroke. 11. Damaged brain tissue includes left hemisphere dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. 12. No aphasia or severe aphasia. 13. Cognitive ability below functional limits. 14. Unable to pass vision and/or hearing screening with use of corrective aids. 15. Unwilling to allow audio-recording of study sessions.
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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
Locations
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Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York, 13244, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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