Improvement in naming with tDCS and alteration of functional connectivity in post-stroke aphasia: a randomized controlled trial
In brief
Brain stimulation improved naming and comprehension in subacute post-stroke aphasia
In a randomized, sham-controlled trial of 60 patients, four weeks of transcranial direct current stimulation alongside speech-language therapy improved picture naming and auditory word-picture identification more than therapy with sham stimulation. Brain connectivity also increased in several regions, but the study does not establish how long the language gains last or whether they extend beyond subacute aphasia.
- Journal
- Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation (Q1)
- Published
- 3 August 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Jiayi Zhao, Jin Guo, Yuanyuan Li, Xu Zhang, Ying Yuan, Yinan Cheng, et al.
- PMID
- 42958378
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12984-026-02112-5
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Rehabilitation (paper of the day, 31 October 2026): Sham-controlled tDCS trial for post-stroke aphasia
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) over the left Sylvian parietal temporal region (SPT) on picture naming and auditory comprehension, as well as changes in brain functional connectivity in post-stroke aphasic patients. METHODS: This is a double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized controlled study. Sixty aphasic patients were randomly assigned to receive either active or sham tDCS over the SPT as well as speech-language therapy for four weeks. Standardized aphasia assessments and electroencephalogram (EEG) examinations were conducted before and after the treatment. The EEG nonlinear index of cross approximate entropy (C-ApEn) was used to assess brain functional connectivity. RESULTS: The tDCS group demonstrated significantly greater improvements than the control group in both picture naming and auditory word-picture identification scores (p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that the group (tDCS/control) was the primary factor associated with improving picture naming. The functional connectivity of F3-P3, F7-P3, T3-T5, T5-P3, T5-C3, T4-T6, T3-T4, and T5-T6 significantly increased following tDCS. CONCLUSIONS: Anodal tDCS over the left SPT can improve picture naming and auditory comprehension in subacute post-stroke aphasia. Potential mechanisms include enhanced connectivity within the left-hemisphere dorsal/ventral streams, the executive control network, and between the bilateral temporal lobes. These functional connectivity changes provide neural evidence for the effect of tDCS on naming improvement. Clinical trial registry number ChiCTR-TRC-14005072.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.