Effects of tDCS Versus HD-tDCS for Stroke Rehabilitation (tDCS- Aphasia)

The purpose of this study is to assess the changes in language processing of patients with chronic aphasia after receiving non-invasive brain stimulation.Previous research using traditional transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) using 2 sponge electrodes has shown that persons with aphasia show more improvement after treatment when that treatment is accompanied by brain stimulation. Traditional tDCS has recently been modified to deliver current to more specific locations in the brain. This new delivery method is called high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS). It is not known whether traditional tDCS (more diffuse current delivery) or HD-tDCS (more focal current delivery) will be the better approach for enhancing treatment outcomes. To answer this question, computerized speech-language treatment will be administered during the application of the different forms of brain stimulation.

Subjects will be given individualized dose (number of electrodes and electrode placement) through High-Definition electrodes to target fMRI determined targets

Inclusion Criteria: one-time ischemic stroke in the left hemisphere greater than 6-months post-stroke onset between 25 and 80 years of age aphasia diagnosis (as determined by pre-treatment language-based testing) right-handed (before the stroke) native speaker of English ability to provide informed written or verbal consent Exclusion Criteria: clinically reported history of dementia, alcohol abuse, psychiatric disorder, traumatic brain injury, or extensive visual acuity or visual-spatial problems factors contraindicative of tDCS administration (sensitive scalp, previous brain surgery) prior history of epileptic or unprovoked seizures occurring during the previous 12 months.