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

• Change in language and cognitive abilities as a result of treatment [ Time Frame: week 0 to week 12 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Standard and non-standard measures of language and cognitive abilities will be gathered at baseline (week 0) to see if language deficits improve after treatment is administered (week 12).
  
  

• Composite change in brain function as a result of treatment [ Time Frame: week 0 to week 12 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  Neural correlates of treatment effects will be examined using:

  • Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
  • Perfusion Imaging
  • Functional Connectivity
  • Rest state Connectivity
  
  
• Maintenance of language and cognitive abilities as a result of treatment [ Time Frame: week 12 to week 24 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Standard and non-standard measures of language and cognitive abilities administered at week 12 will be compared to those administered at week 24 to see if improvement in language abilities as a result of treatment is maintained.
  
  
• Maintenance of composite changes in brain function as a result of treatment [ Time Frame: week 12 to week 24 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  Neural correlates of treatment effects that are maintained for 12 weeks after treatment ends (week 12 to week 24) will be examined using:

  • Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
  • Perfusion Imaging
  • Functional Connectivity
  • Rest state Connectivity
  
  

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.