Neurobiology of Language Recovery in Aphasia: Natural History and Treatment-Induced Recovery



Status:Active, not recruiting
Conditions:Neurology
Therapuetic Areas:Neurology
Healthy:No
Age Range:35 - 80
Updated:3/15/2019
Start Date:April 2013
End Date:March 2019

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The Center for the Neurobiology of Language Recovery (CNLR)

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of treatment for specific language
deficits in people with aphasia. In addition to language and cognitive measures, changes in
brain function will also be gathered before and after the treatment is administered in order
to track any changes resulting from receiving treatment.

Naming Impairments (Anomia):

The labs of Dr. Swathi Kiran (Boston University) and Dr. David Caplan (Harvard University,
Massachusetts General Hospital) will be studying language recovery in adults with anomia
(naming impairments) following a stroke. Participants will receive treatment focusing on the
semantic features of common objects (e.g., that birds can fly). The study will examine how
naming and other language abilities change in response to treatment, as well as how the brain
changes, as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other techniques.

Spelling/Writing Impairments (Dysgraphia):

At Johns Hopkins University, the lab of Dr. Brenda Rapp will investigate the neurobiology of
language recovery in individuals with dysgraphia (spelling/writing impairments) resulting
from a stroke. In this study, treatment will focus on improving spelling ability. The study
will examine how spelling and other language abilities change in response to treatment, as
well as how the brain changes, as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other
techniques.

Deficits in Sentence Comprehension & Production:

Dr. Cynthia Thompson's lab at Northwestern University will investigate language recovery in
individuals with deficits in sentence production and comprehension. Treatment focuses on
production and comprehension of complex sentences. At baseline (week 0) and after the
treatment period (at week 12), participants take part in language, eye-tracking, and MRI
testing, in order to learn how the processing of language, as well as brain function, changes
as a result of treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Aphasia following a stroke

- Stoke was at least 1 year ago

- Medically stable

- Right-handed

- Normal or 'corrected to normal' vision and hearing

- English as primary language

- At least a high school education

Exclusion Criteria:

- History of neurological disease, head trauma, psychiatric disorders, alcoholism, or
developmental speech, language, or learning disabilities
We found this trial at
4
sites
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore, Maryland 21205
410-516-8000
Principal Investigator: Brenda Rapp, PhD
Phone: 410-516-5250
Johns Hopkins University The Johns Hopkins University opened in 1876, with the inauguration of its...
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1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
Principal Investigator: David Caplan, MDCM, PhD
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Cambridge, MA
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One Silber Way
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
(617) 353-2000
Principal Investigator: Swathi Kiran, PhD, CCC-SLP
Phone: 617-353-2706
Boston University Boston University is no small operation . With over 33,000 undergraduate and graduate...
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303 East Superior Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Principal Investigator: Cynthia K Thompson, PhD
Phone: 847-467-7591
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Chicago, IL
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