Efficacy and Neural Mechanisms of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Targeting the Supplementary Motor Area for the Treatment of Subacute Post-stroke Aphasia

NCT07700537 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: AHMU-tDCS-PSA
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in patients with post-stroke aphasia (PSA) and to explore its potential neural mechanisms. The study will recruit PSA patients and provide them with 14 tDCS sessions over 7 days, along with speech therapy. Language Behavior Scale scores and resting-state functional MRI scans will be collected before and after the intervention. In addition, a retrospective comparison will be conducted of language function and resting-state fMRI changes in a group of PSA patients who received only speech therapy; these patients did not undergo any physical intervention but received only speech therapy. Changes in Language Behavior Scale scores and functional connectivity (FC) before and after treatment in the speech therapy-only group will be analyzed and compared with those in the tDCS intervention group.

Conditions

Post-stroke Aphasia

Keywords

post-stroke aphasia; supplementary motor area; transcranial direct current stimulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Aphasia quotient (AQ)

  The Aphasia Battery of Chinese (ABC) is a standardized Chinese adaptation of the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB). The Aphasia Quotient (AQ) is a composite score that reflects the overall severity of language impairment. The AQ score ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 100. Higher scores indicate better language function (i.e., less severe impairment).

  Baseline, immediately after all interventions have ended

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• rs-fMRI

  Baseline, immediately after all interventions have ended

Study Arms (2)

tDCS group

EXPERIMENTAL

PSA patients enrolled in the tDCS group received tDCS treatment twice daily for 7 consecutive days, along with 7 days of speech-language therapy. The current intensity was 2 mA, and each treatment session lasted 20 minutes.

Other: transcranial direct current stimulation

The speech-language therapy group

NO INTERVENTION

The speech-language therapy group received only 7 days of speech-language therapy.

Interventions

transcranial direct current stimulation OTHER

As a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, tDCS offers advantages such as convenience, safety, and low cost. Its mechanism of action involves regulating neuronal activity in the brain by applying a weak direct current to the scalp.

tDCS group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients must be between 18 and 80 years of age
• First stroke in the left hemisphere
• Stroke onset within the past 12 weeks
• Native Chinese speakers who were able to communicate normally prior to onset
• Diagnosed with aphasia using the ABC scale
• Right-handed
• Informed consent obtained from the patient and family members

You may not qualify if:

• Time since stroke onset exceeds 12 weeks
• History of psychiatric or neurological disorders
• History of surgery for severe head trauma, brain tumors, or brain abscesses
• Severe articulation disorders
• Claustrophobia or implants incompatible with MRI
• Inability to cooperate with language scale testing or fMRI scanning
• History of previous stroke

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University: lead

Study Sites (1)

transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Hefei, Anhui, China

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Electric Stimulation Therapy; Therapeutics; Convulsive Therapy; Psychiatric Somatic Therapies; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Electroshock; Psychological Techniques

Central Study Contacts

Jian Guan

CONTACT

+86-19810696998; 1003935828@qq.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Head of Neurology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 8, 2026
• First Posted: July 14, 2026
• Study Start: July 30, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 31, 2027
• Last Updated: July 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)