StrokeNCT02901574
Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Aphasia Treatment
A study testing Anodal or Cathodal tDCS and Computerized naming therapy in people with Stroke, run by Johns Hopkins University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
People with post-stroke aphasia are left with some degree of chronic deficit for which current rehabilitative treatments are variably effective. This study investigates the behavioral and neural effects of multiple consecutive cerebellar tDCS sessions coupled with computerized naming therapy in stroke survivors with… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 100 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Stroke
- What is being tested?
- Anodal or Cathodal tDCS and Computerized naming therapy
- Type of treatment
- Medical device, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 32 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 19 Sep 2016to 20 May 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 100 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants must have sustained a left hemisphere stroke.
- Participants must be fluent speakers of English by self-report.
- Participants must be capable of giving informed consent or indicating another to provide informed consent.
- Participants must be age 18 or older.
- Participants must be premorbidly right handed.
- Participants must be at least 6 months post stroke.
- Participants must have an aphasia diagnosis as confirmed by the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE) Short Form.
- Participants must achieve at least 65% accuracy on screening task (comparable to treatment task) on 1 of 3 attempts
Who cannot join
- Participants with lesion involving the right cerebellum
- Previous neurological or psychiatric disease.
- Seizures during the previous 12 months.
- Uncorrected visual loss or hearing loss by self-report.
- Use of medications that lower the seizure threshold (e.g., methylphenidate, amphetamine salts).
- Use of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) antagonists (e.g., memantine).
Show all 9Show fewer
- > 80% (140 out of 175) correct responses on the Philadelphia Naming Test at baseline.
- History of brain surgery or any metal in the head.
- Scalp sensitivity (per participant report).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287
About this study
Official title: Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Augment Chronic Aphasia Treatment
People with post-stroke aphasia are left with some degree of chronic deficit for which current rehabilitative treatments are variably effective. This study investigates the behavioral and neural effects of multiple consecutive cerebellar tDCS sessions coupled with computerized naming therapy in stroke survivors with aphasia.
Read the detailed description
The investigators will study the effect of right cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) stimulation during language therapy for naming in individuals with chronic aphasia (>6 months post stroke). Naming difficulties are a persistent and common symptom in aphasia after left-hemisphere (LH) stroke. Although the interventions to improve naming can have benefits, a massive number of treatment sessions is usually required to show gains, particularly in individuals with chronic, large LH stroke. tDCS is a promising adjunct to traditional language therapy. tDCS is a safe, non-invasive, non-painful electrical stimulation of the brain which modulates cortical excitability by application of weak electrical currents in the form of direct current brain polarization. It is usually administered via saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes attached to the scalp and connected to a direct current stimulator with low intensities. Prior investigators have mainly focused on the role of LH in language recovery, wherein the electrode is placed in the left frontal or temporal region. However, in individuals with large lesions involving key language areas like the frontal and temporal cortex, it may be difficult to find viable tissue to stimulate in the LH. This study uses a novel electrode placement for chronic stroke patients with aphasia with large LH lesions. Targeting the intact right cerebellum allows for the possibility of identifying a single target that can be used across groups of people with aphasia with varying lesion sites and size in the LH. Evidence from functional neuroimaging and clinical studies indicate that the right cerebellum is important for both language and cognitive functions.
The investigators will utilize a randomized, double-blind, sham controlled, within-subject crossover trial design. A random subset (half) of participants will be assigned to the "anode" group (Group Anode) and other half will be assigned to the 'cathode' group (Group Cathode). Participants will take part in 2 intervention periods of 15 computerized naming training sessions (3-5 sessions per week), with either tDCS + naming therapy or sham+ naming therapy, separated by 2 months. Detailed language evaluation will take place before, immediately after, 2 weeks and 2 months post-intervention for each condition. The investigators will test the hypothesis that anodal tDCS or cathodal tDCS over the cerebellum and computerized naming therapy is associated with greater gains in accuracy in naming pictures, compared to sham combined with the same computerized naming therapy.
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Being tested
- Anodal or Cathodal tDCS, Sham, Computerized naming therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Stroke
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Anodal or Cathodal tDCSDevice
2 mA or Anodal or Cathodal tDCS stimulation is induced between 5cm X5 cm saline soaked sponges where one sponge (anode in group anode or cathode in group cathode) is placed on the right cerebellum. The stimulation will be delivered at an intensity of 2 mA in a ramp-like fashion for a maximum of 20 minutes.
ShamDevice
2 mA of Anodal tDCS or Cathodal tDCS is induced between two 5cm X 5cn saline soaked sponges where one sponge (anode in group Anode and cathode in group Cathode) is placed on the right cerebellum. Ramping up of the current to 2 mA occurs over 15-30 seconds to allow participants to habituate to the tingling sensation. Then, the current will be ramped back down to 0 mA in the sham condition. Termination of the stimulation after the ramping up process is generally undetectable, and the brief duration of stimulation yields no functional effects.
Computerized naming therapyBehavioural
Computer delivered naming treatment requires matching (heard and seen being produced by the speaker) with pictures depicting common objects. It is run on a laptop computer with headphones and 2 large response buttons. During treatment, a picture appears on the laptop screen for 2 seconds. Then, a video of the speaker's face below the nose is presented on the screen saying a word that either matches or does not match the picture. The participant is instructed to press a green response button if the word matches the picture and press the red button if the word does not match the picture.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| tDCS plus computerized naming therapy | Active comparator | Anodal or cathodal tDCS, 2 milliamps (mA) plus computerized naming treatment for 15 sessions (20 minutes per each 45 minute treatment session) over the course of 3-5 weeks.The electrical current will be administered to the right cerebellum. The stimulation will be delivered at an intensity of 2 mA for a maximum of 20 minutes. Language therapy will be a computer delivered naming +picture matching task. Receives: Device: Anodal or Cathodal tDCS; Behavioral: Computerized naming therapy |
| Sham plus computerized naming therapy | Sham comparator | Sham tDCS plus computerized naming treatment for 15 sessions (20 minutes per each 45 minute treatment session) over the course of 3-5 weeks. Current will be administered in the in a ramp like fashion for 15-30 seconds but then the current is gradually decreased and drop to 0 mA. Language therapy will be a computer delivered naming +picture matching task. Receives: Device: Sham; Behavioral: Computerized naming therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Accuracy of Naming Untrained Pictures (Philadelphia Naming Test:PNT) Pre-treatment to Post-treatment
To determine whether tDCS coupled with computerized naming therapy will improve naming performance of participants with post stroke aphasia more effectively than naming therapy alone (i.e., the sham condition).The PNT is a 175-item picture naming test where a person earns one point per each correct answer. Scores range from 0-175 with higher scores associated with better performance.
Measured: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment.
Secondary outcomes (11)
Change in Accuracy of Naming Untrained Pictures (Philadelphia Naming Test:PNT)Pre-treatment to 2 Weeks Post-treatment.
To determine whether tDCS coupled with computerized naming therapy will improve naming performance of participants with post stroke aphasia more effectively than naming therapy alone (i.e., the sham condition).The PNT is a 175-item picture naming test where a person earns one point per each correct answer. Scores range from 0-175 with higher scores associated with better performance.
Measured: Pre-treatment and at 2 weeks Post-treatment
Change in Accuracy of Naming Untrained Pictures (Philadelphia Naming Test:PNT) Pre-treatment to 2 Months Post-treatment.
To determine whether tDCS coupled with computerized naming therapy will improve naming performance of participants with post stroke aphasia more effectively than naming therapy alone (i.e., the sham condition).The PNT is a 175-item picture naming test where a person earns one point per each correct answer. Scores range from 0-175 with higher scores associated with better performance.
Measured: Pre-treatment and at 2 months Post-treatment
Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Communication Independence Scale Pre-treatment to Post-treatment
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) will be administered at Pre- treatment and Post-treatment to evaluate changes in functional communication skills.The ASHA-FACS Communication Independence scale measures functional communication performance along a continuum of independence, in terms of levels of assistance and/or prompting needed in-order to communicate. The 7-point scale ranges from 1) "does not perform the behavior" to 7) "does perform the behavior". Higher scores means better functional communication independence.
of communication independence Scale (CI)
Measured: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment.
Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Communication Independence Scale Pre-treatment to 2 Weeks Post-treatment
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) will be administered pre- treatment and 2 weeks post treatment to evaluate changes in functional communication skills.The ASHA-FACS Communication Independence scale measures functional communication performance along a continuum of independence, in terms of levels of assistance and/or prompting needed in-order to communicate. The 7-point scale ranges from 1) "does not perform the behavior" to 7) "does perform the behavior". Higher scores means better functional communication independence.
Measured: Pre-treatment and at 2 weeks Post-treatment
Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Communication Independence Scale Pre-treatment to 2 Months Post-treatment
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) will be administered pre- treatment and 2 months post treatment to evaluate changes in functional communication skills.The ASHA-FACS Communication Independence scale measures functional communication performance along a continuum of independence, in terms of levels of assistance and/or prompting needed in-order to communicate. The 7-point scale ranges from 1) "does not perform the behavior" to 7) "does perform the behavior". Higher scores means better functional communication independence.
Measured: Pre-treatment and at 2 months Post-treatment
Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale Pre-treatment to Post-treatment
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) will be administered pre-treatment and post-treatment to evaluate changes in functional communication skills. The ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale is rated on a 5-point scale reflecting adequacy, appropriateness, and promptness of communication and communication sharing.
The 5-point scale ranges from 1) "communication is never relevant/without delay" to 5) "communication is always relevant/ without delay". Higher scores means better functional communication outcome.
Measured: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment.
Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale Pre-Treatment to 2 Week Post-Treatment
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) will be administered pre-treatment and 2 weeks post-treatment to evaluate changes in functional communication skills. The ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale is rated on a 5-point scale reflecting adequacy, appropriateness, and promptness of communication and communication sharing. The 5-point scale ranges from 1) "communication is never relevant/without delay" to 5) "communication is always relevant/ without delay". Higher scores means better functional communication outcome.
Measured: Pre-treatment and at 2 weeks Post-treatment
Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale Pre-treatment to 2 Months Post-treatment
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) will be administered pre-treatment and 2 months post-treatment to evaluate changes in functional communication skills. The ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale is rated on a 5-point scale reflecting adequacy, appropriateness, and promptness of communication and communication sharing. The 5-point scale ranges from 1) "communication is never relevant/without delay" to 5) "communication is always relevant/ without delay". Higher scores means better functional communication outcome.
Measured: Pre-treatment and at 2 months Post-treatment
Change in Discourse Ability Pre-treatment to Post-treatment.
The investigators will record the administration of the Cinderella Story Discourse Analysis task to compare changes in core production of words from pre-treatment to post-treatment.
The investigators will transcribe the story told by participants at pre and post-treatment and count the total number of words produced on a Core Lexicon checklist. There are 95 words on the Core Lexicon checklist which conveys the story of Cinderella. A person earns one point for each word produced from the checklist when telling the story. Production scores range from 0-95 with higher scores associated with better performance on this discourse task.
Measured: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment
Change in Discourse Ability Pre- Treatment to 2 Weeks Post-treatment.
The investigators will record the administration of the Cinderella Story Discourse Analysis task to compare changes in core production of words from pre- treatment to 2 weeks post treatment.
The investigators will transcribe the story told by participants at pre and post-treatment and count the total number of words produced on a Core Lexicon checklist. There are 95 words on the Core Lexicon checklist which conveys the story of Cinderella. A person earns one point for each word produced from the checklist when telling the story. Production scores range from 0-95 with higher scores associated with better performance on this discourse task.
Measured: Pre-treatment and at 2 weeks Post-treatment
Change in Discourse Ability Pre-treatment to 2 Months Post-treatment.
The investigators will record the administration of the Cinderella Story Discourse Analysis task to compare changes in core production of words from Pre-treatment to 2 months Post-treatment.
The investigators will transcribe the story told by participants at pre and 2 months post-treatment and count the total number of words produced on a Core Lexicon checklist. There are 95 words on the Core Lexicon checklist which conveys the story of Cinderella. A person earns one point for each word produced from the checklist when telling the story. Production scores range from 0-95 with higher scores associated with better performance on this discourse task.
Measured: Pre-treatment and at 2 months Post-treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Sep 2016 (estimated)
- Study start19 Sep 2016
- Primary completion20 May 2022
- Study completion20 May 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for StrokeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Johns Hopkins UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Johns Hopkins University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Rajani Sebastian, PhD, CCC-SLP, Principal investigator, Johns Hopkins University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02901574
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB00100024
- Other IDs
- R00DC015554
- Status last verified
- Feb 2023
- First submitted
- 6 Sep 2016
- Last updated
- 21 Apr 2023
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Upon completion of the projects and dissemination of primary study results, the analysis data files will be made available to the public, along with the final version of the study protocol, the data dictionary, and brief instructions ("read me" file). The public use data files and the accompanying documents will be made available through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS).
Publications
Sydnor MJ, Johnson MA, Lammers B, Murter JL, Lindquist M, Sebastian R. Investigating naming error patterns after non-invasive brain stimulation and language treatment in persons with aphasia. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2026 Jun 16:2026.06.08.26354856. doi: 10.64898/2026.06.08.26354856.
PubMed 42369477Johnson MA, Keser Z, Lammers B, Sydnor MJ, Murter JL, Sadil P, Zhang Y, Desmond JE, Hillis AE, Lindquist MA, Sebastian R. White matter predictors of cerebellar tDCS treatment effects in aphasia rehabilitation. Front Neurol. 2026 Feb 20;17:1659337. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2026.1659337. eCollection 2026.
PubMed 41798805
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Apr 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Augment Chronic Aphasia Treatment
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02901574
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB00100024
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Johns Hopkins UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
- Study start
- 19 Sep 2016 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 May 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 20 May 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 Sep 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 21 Apr 2023
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
People with post-stroke aphasia are left with some degree of chronic deficit for which current rehabilitative treatments are variably effective. This study investigates the behavioral and neural effects of multiple consecutive cerebellar tDCS sessions coupled with computerized naming therapy in stroke survivors with aphasia.
Detailed description
The investigators will study the effect of right cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) stimulation during language therapy for naming in individuals with chronic aphasia (>6 months post stroke). Naming difficulties are a persistent and common symptom in aphasia after left-hemisphere (LH) stroke. Although the interventions to improve naming can have benefits, a massive number of treatment sessions is usually required to show gains, particularly in individuals with chronic, large LH stroke. tDCS is a promising adjunct to traditional language therapy. tDCS is a safe, non-invasive, non-painful electrical stimulation of the brain which modulates cortical excitability by application of weak electrical currents in the form of direct current brain polarization. It is usually administered via saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes attached to the scalp and connected to a direct current stimulator with low intensities. Prior investigators have mainly focused on the role of LH in language recovery, wherein the electrode is placed in the left frontal or temporal region. However, in individuals with large lesions involving key language areas like the frontal and temporal cortex, it may be difficult to find viable tissue to stimulate in the LH. This study uses a novel electrode placement for chronic stroke patients with aphasia with large LH lesions. Targeting the intact right cerebellum allows for the possibility of identifying a single target that can be used across groups of people with aphasia with varying lesion sites and size in the LH. Evidence from functional neuroimaging and clinical studies indicate that the right cerebellum is important for both language and cognitive functions.
The investigators will utilize a randomized, double-blind, sham controlled, within-subject crossover trial design. A random subset (half) of participants will be assigned to the "anode" group (Group Anode) and other half will be assigned to the 'cathode' group (Group Cathode). Participants will take part in 2 intervention periods of 15 computerized naming training sessions (3-5 sessions per week), with either tDCS + naming therapy or sham+ naming therapy, separated by 2 months. Detailed language evaluation will take place before, immediately after, 2 weeks and 2 months post-intervention for each condition. The investigators will test the hypothesis that anodal tDCS or cathodal tDCS over the cerebellum and computerized naming therapy is associated with greater gains in accuracy in naming pictures, compared to sham combined with the same computerized naming therapy.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| tDCS plus computerized naming therapy | Active comparator | Device: Anodal or Cathodal tDCS, Behavioral: Computerized naming therapyAnodal or cathodal tDCS, 2 milliamps (mA) plus computerized naming treatment for 15 sessions (20 minutes per each 45 minute treatment session) over the course of 3-5 weeks.The electrical current will be administered to the right cerebellum. The stimulation will be delivered at an intensity of 2 mA for a maximum of 20 minutes. Language therapy will be a computer delivered naming +picture matching task. |
| Sham plus computerized naming therapy | Sham comparator | Device: Sham, Behavioral: Computerized naming therapySham tDCS plus computerized naming treatment for 15 sessions (20 minutes per each 45 minute treatment session) over the course of 3-5 weeks. Current will be administered in the in a ramp like fashion for 15-30 seconds but then the current is gradually decreased and drop to 0 mA. Language therapy will be a computer delivered naming +picture matching task. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Participants must have sustained a left hemisphere stroke.
- Participants must be fluent speakers of English by self-report.
- Participants must be capable of giving informed consent or indicating another to provide informed consent.
- Participants must be age 18 or older.
- Participants must be premorbidly right handed.
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Participants with lesion involving the right cerebellum
- Previous neurological or psychiatric disease.
- Seizures during the previous 12 months.
- Uncorrected visual loss or hearing loss by self-report.
- Use of medications that lower the seizure threshold (e.g., methylphenidate, amphetamine salts).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Anodal or Cathodal tDCS2 mA or Anodal or Cathodal tDCS stimulation is induced between 5cm X5 cm saline soaked sponges where one sponge (anode in group anode or cathode in group cathode) is placed on the right cerebellum. The stimulation will be delivered at an intensity of 2 mA in a ramp-like fashion for a maximum of 20 minutes. | Device | tDCS plus computerized naming therapy |
| Sham2 mA of Anodal tDCS or Cathodal tDCS is induced between two 5cm X 5cn saline soaked sponges where one sponge (anode in group Anode and cathode in group Cathode) is placed on the right cerebellum. Ramping up of the current to 2 mA occurs over 15-30 seconds to allow participants to habituate to the tingling sensation. Then, the current will be ramped back down to 0 mA in the sham condition. Termination of the stimulation after the ramping up process is generally undetectable, and the brief duration of stimulation yields no functional effects. | Device | Sham plus computerized naming therapy |
| Computerized naming therapyComputer delivered naming treatment requires matching (heard and seen being produced by the speaker) with pictures depicting common objects. It is run on a laptop computer with headphones and 2 large response buttons. During treatment, a picture appears on the laptop screen for 2 seconds. Then, a video of the speaker's face below the nose is presented on the screen saying a word that either matches or does not match the picture. The participant is instructed to press a green response button if the word matches the picture and press the red button if the word does not match the picture. | Behavioural | Sham plus computerized naming therapy, tDCS plus computerized naming therapy |
Primary outcome
Change in Accuracy of Naming Untrained Pictures (Philadelphia Naming Test:PNT) Pre-treatment to Post-treatment
Time frame: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment.
To determine whether tDCS coupled with computerized naming therapy will improve naming performance of participants with post stroke aphasia more effectively than naming therapy alone (i.e., the sham condition).The PNT is a 175-item picture naming test where a person earns one point per each correct answer. Scores range from 0-175 with higher scores associated with better performance.
11 secondary outcomes
Change in Accuracy of Naming Untrained Pictures (Philadelphia Naming Test:PNT)Pre-treatment to 2 Weeks Post-treatment.
Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 weeks Post-treatment
Change in Accuracy of Naming Untrained Pictures (Philadelphia Naming Test:PNT) Pre-treatment to 2 Months Post-treatment.
Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 months Post-treatment
Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Communication Independence Scale Pre-treatment to Post-treatment
Time frame: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment.
Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Communication Independence Scale Pre-treatment to 2 Weeks Post-treatment
Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 weeks Post-treatment
Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Communication Independence Scale Pre-treatment to 2 Months Post-treatment
Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 months Post-treatment
Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale Pre-treatment to Post-treatment
Time frame: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment.
Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale Pre-Treatment to 2 Week Post-Treatment
Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 weeks Post-treatment
Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale Pre-treatment to 2 Months Post-treatment
Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 months Post-treatment
Change in Discourse Ability Pre-treatment to Post-treatment.
Time frame: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment
Change in Discourse Ability Pre- Treatment to 2 Weeks Post-treatment.
Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 weeks Post-treatment
Change in Discourse Ability Pre-treatment to 2 Months Post-treatment.
Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 months Post-treatment
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Apr 2023.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42369477Sydnor MJ, Johnson MA, Lammers B, Murter JL, Lindquist M, Sebastian R. Investigating naming error patterns after non-invasive brain stimulation and language treatment in persons with aphasia. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2026 Jun 16:2026.06.08.26354856. doi: 10.64898/2026.06.08.26354856.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41798805Johnson MA, Keser Z, Lammers B, Sydnor MJ, Murter JL, Sadil P, Zhang Y, Desmond JE, Hillis AE, Lindquist MA, Sebastian R. White matter predictors of cerebellar tDCS treatment effects in aphasia rehabilitation. Front Neurol. 2026 Feb 20;17:1659337. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2026.1659337. eCollection 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Upon completion of the projects and dissemination of primary study results, the analysis data files will be made available to the public, along with the final version of the study protocol, the data dictionary, and brief instructions ("read me" file). The public use data files and the accompanying documents will be made available through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS).
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Rajani Sebastian, PhD, CCC-SLP principal investigator
Johns Hopkins University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Anodal or Cathodal tDCS and Computerized naming therapy in people with Stroke, run by Johns Hopkins University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Apr 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 21 Apr 2023). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Accuracy of Naming Untrained Pictures (Philadelphia Naming Test:PNT) Pre-treatment to Post-treatment (time frame: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02901574, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Apr 2023.