Understanding brain connections related to recovery from post-stroke language difficulties

Functional Connectivity Correlates of Subacute to Early Chronic Post-Stroke Aphasia Recovery

NIH-funded research Northeastern University · NIH-10838460

This study is looking at how the connections in your brain can help you recover your language skills after a stroke, and it's for people who are about two weeks to six months into their recovery from aphasia.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNortheastern University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-10838460 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how brain connectivity affects recovery from aphasia, a language disorder that can occur after a stroke. It focuses on patients in the subacute phase of recovery, approximately 2 weeks to 6 months post-stroke, and aims to identify brain network functions that correlate with language recovery. Participants will undergo language testing and brain imaging techniques, including functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and MRI, to track changes in brain activity and connectivity over time. By comparing individuals with aphasia to neurotypical controls, the study seeks to improve predictions of recovery outcomes based on brain function.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 21 and older who are in the subacute phase of recovery from a stroke and are experiencing aphasia.

Not a fit: Patients who are not experiencing aphasia or are beyond the early chronic phase of recovery may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better predictions of language recovery in stroke patients, ultimately improving rehabilitation strategies.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using brain connectivity to predict recovery is gaining interest, this specific investigation into functional connectivity correlates in post-stroke aphasia is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.