Clinic and Neurophysiology of Aphasia Treatment

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In the planned study, clinical and electrophysiological features of aphasia recovery in stroke patients are investigated.

Detailed Description
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Clinical neurorehabilitation faces a major challenge of functional recovery in aphasia, i.e. guiding the structural and temporal dynamics of reorganization within responsible neural networks. Here, according to current research, relevant neural factors affecting the treatment and thus the functional recovery of aphasia patients after stroke are of interest, highlighting structural as well as functional neuroanatomical features. Of particular interest are not only the functional localization of affected cerebral regions, but more the clinical and neurophysiological patterns which might help to factorize and predict the therapeutic outcome. In the planned study, the clinical and neurophysiological characteristics of the dynamics of language function recovery in relation to the intensity of professional speech therapy (constraint induced aphasia therapie - CIAT) will be recorded in 40 patients with aphasia resulting from a cerebrovascular event. The aim of this study is to test the value of neurophysiological aspects based on electroencephalographic (EEG) parameters such as event-related potentials (N400, P600, theta band activity) for the identification of specific neuronal markers, which in turn support predictive statements for individual therapy planning of logopedic treatment in neurorehabilitation.

Official Title
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Clinical and Neurophysiological Features of Neurorehabilitation Effects in Cerebrovascular Aphasia

Conditions
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Aphasia, Acquired

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: CIAT + Conventional neurorehabilitative therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: patients with a cerebrovascular event Exclusion Criteria: premorbid brain disorder
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Patients with aphasia<br>Patients with a clinical aphasia (20 receptive, 20 expressive) with a specific logopedic treatment, with specific EEG measurement at start and end of treatment schedule. | Behavioral: CIAT + Conventional neurorehabilitative therapy<br>* CIAT = Constrained induced aphasia therapy<br>* Other names: Conventional neurorehabilitative therapy;|
| No Intervention: Patients without aphasia<br>Patients with comparable stroke characteristics, but without clinical aphasia. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EEG correlates of language reconstitution | Identitification of EEG features (N400, P600, Theta band activity) that correlate with clinical outcome of language reconstitution. | 3-6 months after stroke |