Using brain stimulation and therapy to improve language after mild strokes
Official title: Personalized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Constraint Induced Language Therapy to Treat Mild Post-Stroke Aphasia
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11058156 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to help people with mild post-stroke aphasia improve their language skills by using a special brain stimulation technique along with a tailored speech therapy, and it's designed for those looking to regain their communication abilities after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $457,935 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC021833-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11058156 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced a mild stroke and are diagnosed with mild post-stroke aphasia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with severe aphasia or those who have not had a stroke may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new approach to treat mild post-stroke aphasia, a condition that affects language abilities. It combines a technique called continuous Theta Burst Stimulation (cTBS), which uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain activity, with a modified speech therapy known as Constraint Induced Language Therapy (mCILT). Over a treatment period of 10 days, participants will receive personalized stimulation based on their individual brain responses, followed by evaluations to assess improvements in language function. The study aims to determine if this combined treatment can enhance communication abilities in individuals with mild aphasia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel treatment option that significantly improves language skills for patients with mild post-stroke aphasia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation combined with speech therapy can improve language function in more severe cases of aphasia, suggesting potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
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University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coslett, H Branch — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Coslett, H Branch
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Computational modeling of language in bilingual adults after stroke and with neurodegenerative conditions
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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.
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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.