Transcranial magnetic stimulation and aphasia rehabilitation

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012 Jan;93(1 Suppl):S26-34. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2011.04.026.

Abstract

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been reported to improve naming in chronic stroke patients with nonfluent aphasia since 2005. In part 1, we review the rationale for applying slow, 1-Hz, rTMS to the undamaged right hemisphere in chronic nonfluent aphasia patients after a left hemisphere stroke; and we present a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocol used with these patients that is associated with long-term, improved naming post-TMS. In part 2, we present results from a case study with chronic nonfluent aphasia where TMS treatments were followed immediately by speech therapy (constraint-induced language therapy). In part 3, some possible mechanisms associated with improvement after a series of TMS treatments in stroke patients with aphasia are discussed.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00608582.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aphasia / etiology
  • Aphasia / rehabilitation*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Humans
  • Speech
  • Stroke / complications*
  • Stroke / physiopathology
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods*

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00608582