tDCS over the supplementary motor area for subacute post-stroke aphasia
Official title: Study on the Efficacy and Neural Mechanisms of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Targeting the Supplementary Motor Area for the Treatment of Subacute Post-stroke Aphasia
Run by The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University · NCT07700537 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether 14 sessions of tDCS combined with speech therapy help people with post-stroke aphasia regain language skills.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hefei, Anhui) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 30, 2025 |
| Main results expected | January 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | January 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 17, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07700537 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults 18–80 with left-hemisphere stroke within the past 12 weeks, native Chinese speakers with aphasia diagnosed by the ABC scale, and able to participate in MRI and testing.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are outside the 12-week window, have non-left-hemisphere strokes, or have MRI contraindications or severe articulation issues may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The trial investigates the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation targeting the supplementary motor area in adults with subacute post-stroke aphasia. Participants receive 14 tDCS sessions over 7 days plus speech therapy, with language outcomes and resting-state fMRI measured before and after treatment. A retrospective comparison with a speech-therapy-only group will examine differences in language function and brain connectivity. Resting-state functional connectivity and Language Behavior Scale scores are the primary data of interest.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve language recovery and reveal neural changes associated with tDCS in PSA.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research in neuromodulation for aphasia has shown mixed but promising results with noninvasive brain stimulation.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must be between 18 and 80 years of age * First stroke in the left hemisphere * Stroke onset within the past 12 weeks * Native Chinese speakers who were able to communicate normally prior to onset * Diagnosed with aphasia using the ABC scale * Right-handed * Informed consent obtained from the patient and family members Exclusion Criteria: * Time since stroke onset exceeds 12 weeks * History of psychiatric or neurological disorders * History of surgery for severe head trauma, brain tumors, or brain abscesses * Severe articulation disorders * Claustrophobia or implants incompatible with MRI * Inability to cooperate with language scale testing or fMRI scanning * History of previous stroke
Where it's running
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transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
Hefei, Anhui, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jian Guan
- Email: 1003935828@qq.com
- Phone: +86-19810696998
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.