AUTHOR=Xie Hui , Jing Jing , Ma Yanping , Song Ying , Yin Jiahui , Xu Gongcheng , Li Xinglou , Li Zengyong , Wang Yonghui 

TITLE=Effects of simultaneous use of m-NMES and language training on brain functional connectivity in stroke patients with aphasia: A randomized controlled clinical trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2022.965486

DOI=10.3389/fnagi.2022.965486

ISSN=1663-4365

ABSTRACT=Introduction. The m-NMES had been demonstrated to redistribute brain resources and induce plastic changes in the stroke patients. However, the physiological mechanism and clinical efficacy of m-NMES combination with existing clinical rehabilitation programs remains unclear in patients with aphasia after stroke. This study aimed to investigate the effects of simultaneous use of m-NMES and language training (m-NMES-LT) with on cerebral oscillations and brain connection, as well as the effect on clinical efficacy. 
Materials and Methods. Total 21 right–handed adult patients with aphasia were randomly assigned to speech training (LT) group and m-NMES-LT group, and tissue concentration of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin oscillations were measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy in resting and treatment state during 3 consecutive weeks. Five characteristic frequency signals (I, 0.6–2 Hz; II, 0.145–0.6 Hz; III, 0.052–0.145 Hz; IV, 0.021–0.052 Hz; and V, 0.0095–0.021 Hz) were identified using the wavelet method. The wavelet amplitude (WA) and wavelet phase coherence (WPCO) were calculated to describe the frequency-specific cortical activities. 
Results. The m-NMES-LT induced significantly higher WA values in contralesional PFC in intervals I, II and V, and ipsilesional MC in intervals I-V than the resting state. The WPCO values between ipsilesional PFC-MC in interval III-IV, and between bilateral MC in interval III-IV were significantly higher than resting state. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between WPCO and Western Aphasia Battery in m-NMES-LT group. 
Conclusions. The m-NMES-LT had significant effect on the cortical activities and functional connectivity, which might be more effective than LT to promote clinical recovery in patients with aphasia.