Prefrontal brain stimulation to ease post-stroke fatigue and help language and attention in aphasia
Official title: Pre-Frontal tDCS as a novel intervention to reduce effects of post-stroke fatigue while improving language and attention in aphasia
Funded at Syracuse University · NIH-11231739 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses gentle electrical stimulation to the front of the brain to help people with aphasia after stroke feel less tired and improve attention and language.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Syracuse University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Syracuse, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $718,345 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC021677-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11231739 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have had a stroke that caused aphasia and who are experiencing persistent post-stroke fatigue and attention or language difficulties would be the best candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without stroke-related aphasia, whose fatigue comes from non-stroke causes, or who cannot undergo brain stimulation for medical reasons may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you had a stroke and have aphasia with ongoing fatigue, researchers will deliver low‑level transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex while monitoring language and attention. The team will compare changes in tiredness, attention tasks, and language comprehension before and after treatment. Sessions are done in person and use established neuromodulation methods alongside language tasks to encourage brain recovery. The work aims to boost the brain’s ability to relearn language by reducing fatigue and improving cognition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce post-stroke fatigue and make speech and attention therapies more effective for people with aphasia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous tDCS studies have improved language and attention after stroke, but using prefrontal tDCS specifically to reduce post-stroke fatigue while improving both attention and language is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
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Syracuse University
Syracuse, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Riley, Ellyn — Syracuse University
- Study coordinator: Riley, Ellyn
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using brain stimulation to help reduce fatigue and improve language skills after a stroke
This study is looking at how a gentle brain stimulation technique can help people who have had a stroke feel less tired and improve their language and attention skills, making it easier for them to recover and enjoy life more.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.