Improving language recovery in stroke survivors with aphasia
Official title: Precision Neuromodulation in Post-Stroke Aphasia
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11114762 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help stroke survivors with aphasia improve their language skills by using a special therapy combined with brain stimulation, and it's designed for people looking to regain their communication abilities after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $429,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC022716-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11114762 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults who have experienced a stroke and are currently facing challenges with language and communication due to aphasia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had a stroke or those whose aphasia is not related to a stroke may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new approach to enhance language recovery in stroke survivors who experience aphasia, a condition that severely impacts communication. The study combines a specific therapy called semantic feature analysis (SFA) with a technique known as theta burst stimulation (TBS), which uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain activity. By applying TBS before therapy, the researchers aim to increase the brain's responsiveness, potentially leading to better outcomes in language skills. Participants will undergo assessments to identify the most effective brain stimulation sites to maximize the benefits of the therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve language recovery and quality of life for stroke survivors with aphasia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results using similar neuromodulation techniques to enhance rehabilitation outcomes, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shah-Basak, Priyanka — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Shah-Basak, Priyanka
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Neural signals linked to recovery from aphasia after stroke
This grant follows people who recently had a stroke and aphasia to understand why some recover language abilities better than others.
-
Computational modeling of language in bilingual adults after stroke and with neurodegenerative conditions
A computer-based study will model how bilingual Spanish-English speakers experience language changes after stroke and with neurodegenerative disorders, to inform better care for affected patients.
-
Restoring speech with a brain implant for stroke-related aphasia
A study at UC Davis aims to help people who have language trouble after a stroke by using a tiny brain implant to turn brain signals into spoken words.
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Predicting language recovery after stroke using AI
A new AI-based project uses brain scans and personal data to forecast how aphasia may progress after a stroke, with the goal of guiding personalized treatment.
-
Neural signals of getting speech back after stroke
This grant studies how the brain changes as people recover speech after a stroke, to help predict and improve language recovery.
-
How the brain recovers language after a stroke
This research follows people with aphasia after stroke to find brain and behavior signs that predict who will regain speech and language.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.