Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Audioverbal Memory in Stroke Patients.
Toshinari Kazuta, Kotaro Takeda, Rieko Osu and 4 others
PMID 28085735WHAT IT FOUND
In 12 stroke patients with verbal memory trouble, anodal tDCS over the left temporal parietal area increased word recall on the fifth learning trial compared with sham.
It did not improve delayed recall or recognition.
Key findings
01At T5, recall from the 15-word list was greater with anodal tDCS than sham (8.2 ± 3.1 words vs 5.9 ± 3.3 words).
02The learning score, defined as words recalled at T5 minus T1 from the 15-word list, was higher with anodal tDCS than sham (5.0 ± 2.5 vs 3.3 ± 2.8).
03No difference was found for the interference trial, delayed recall, or recognition.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Only 12 patients were studied, and the early trial effects changed when 2 patients with lesions beneath the tentorium were excluded. The benefit was limited to recall during the learning trials; it did not carry to the interference trial, delayed recall, or recognition. The stimulated region is uncertain because large electrodes and the 10-10 EEG placement were used, and participants had varied lesion sites. The cathode was placed over the right supraorbital area, so possible prefrontal attention effects cannot be separated from the temporal parietal effect. The study excluded people with seizure disorder, intracranial metal, pacemaker, or medications affecting the central nervous system.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest, and financial disclosures were obtained.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that tDCS improves all verbal memory after stroke. Only 12 patients were studied, and the benefit did not appear for delayed recall or recognition.