Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to study and treat aphasia
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1
Johns Hopkins University, Neurology Department, School of Medicine, United States
Organizer: Nazbanou Nozari, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
Other speakers:
• Michael A. Nitsche, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medicine Goettingen, Germany
• Roy H. Hamilton, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
• Argye E. Hillis, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
Individual abstract titles:
• Basic science of tDCS (M. Nitsche)
• Theories of inter-hemispheric interactions in aphasia: the role of tDCS in rehabilitation of post-stroke aphasia (R. Hamilton)
• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in neurodegenerative disease (A. Hillis)
• Using tDCS to test cognitive hypotheses (N. Nozari)
In recent years, tDCS, as a non-invasive and easy-to-administer technique has gained much popularity in both clinical and research settings. Many studies have reported successful application of tDCS in aphasia rehabilitation, and several studies have used the technique to test hypotheses regarding how language is processed in the brain. It is, however, often forgotten that many claims about the technique have only been verified in the motor domain, and that extrapolation to the cognitive domain (e.g., language processing) is likely to bring up unique issues requiring careful examination. This symposium focuses on such issues and launches a discussion on how they should be tackled.
The symposium is structured in four talks, with each speaker covering a unique aspect of the topic. The first talk, delivered by one of the founders of the technique, explains the basic science of tDCS at the molecular level, focusing mainly on the motor domain. The next two talks are specific to tDCS use in aphasia: the second talk covers tDCS application in post-stroke aphasia, in light of theories of inter-hemispheric changes after stroke. The third talk discusses tDCS application in primary progressive aphasia which, unlike stroke, is a progressive condition. This talk addresses the specific challenges of assessing the potential benefits of tDCS in the face of a declining baseline. Finally, the last talk focuses on the challenges of using tDCS for evaluating cognitive hypotheses.
At the end of the symposium, the audience should have a better sense of the following issues:
- What is tDCS doing to the neural tissue?
- What is the difference between anodal and cathodal stimulation and which one should I use for my study/treating my patients?
- What are the design parameters I should pay attention to?
- What are the challenges of using tDCS for hypothesis testing and how can I reduce the risk of misinterpreting my results?
In summary, the symposium is designed to (a) promote the theoretical understanding of the basic science of tDCS, and (b) to tackle several pragmatic issues when designing tDCS studies, with the ultimate goal of cultivating higher standards for using a potentially invaluable technique for both clinical and research purposes. Given the growing interest in the aphasia community for using tDCS and the sophistication of the audience, we believe that the Academy’s annual meeting is the ideal venue for this symposium.
Keywords:
Aphasia,
Brain Stimulation,
tDCS,
primary progressive aphasia,
Language production
Conference:
Academy of Aphasia -- 52nd Annual Meeting, Miami, FL, United States, 5 Oct - 7 Oct, 2014.
Presentation Type:
Symposium
Topic:
Not student
Citation:
Nozari
N
(2014). Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to study and treat aphasia.
Front. Psychol.
Conference Abstract:
Academy of Aphasia -- 52nd Annual Meeting.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fpsyg.2014.64.00008
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Received:
20 Apr 2014;
Published Online:
04 Aug 2014.
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Correspondence:
Dr. Nazbanou Nozari, Johns Hopkins University, Neurology Department, School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States, bnozariiu@gmail.com