Clinical Research
Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on the picture naming and phonemic fluency of aphasics
Yang Xi, Liu Jin, Xu Liang, Chen Wenli, Cai Qian, Sun Yue, Wang Hongxing
Published 2022-11-25
Cite as Chin J Phys Med Rehabil, 2022, 44(11): 973-977. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-1424.2022.11.003
Abstract
ObjectiveTo observe any effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the speed and accuracy of picture naming and on the phonological fluency of aphasic stroke survivors.
MethodsTwenty-four stroke survivors with aphasia were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each of 12. In addition to language training and picture naming training, the observation group received 20 minutes of tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) daily, 5 days a week for 2 weeks. The control group was given sham stimulation. Before and after the 2 weeks of treatment, both groups were tested for picture naming and phonological fluency.
ResultsSignificant improvement in the number of accurately pronounced high-frequency words and in reaction time was observed in both groups, but the observation group′s average reaction time for high-frequency words was significantly shorter than the control group′s average. The observation group′s average reaction time for low-frequency words had also improved significantly. After the 2 weeks of treatment, the phonological fluency of the observation group was significantly better than before the treatment and better than that of the control group.
ConclusionstDCS applied over the left DLPFC of stroke survivors with aphasia can promote lexical retrieval and strengthen their executive and control functioning.
Key words:
Aphasia; Transcranial electrical stimulation; Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; Phonemic fluency
Contributor Information
Yang Xi
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
Liu Jin
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
Xu Liang
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
Chen Wenli
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
Cai Qian
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
Sun Yue
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
Wang Hongxing
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
