Study of the Effect of Transcranial Stimulations in Aphasic Subject Within a Year of Their Stroke

Etude de l'Effet de Stimulations transcrâniennes en Courant Continu (tDCS) Sur Les Performances en dénomination Chez le Sujet Aphasique à Moins d'un an de Son Accident Vasculaire cérébral : Comparaison de 5 Configurations de Stimulation

The aim of this work is to study the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with naming therapy in acute and post-acute stroke comparing four bihemispheric positioning electrodes to a sham condition.

TDCS have shown a positive effect on clinical outcome in naming treatment in aphasic subjects however some aspects as the positioning of the electrodes on the head are still unclear. That is why we compare the effects of four different positionings of the electrodes (two anterior over Broca's area and its homologue and two posterior over Wernicke's area and its homologue) to a sham stimulation in order to observe if a more important effect of one or another positioning could be found.

Inclusion Criteria:

• man or woman of 18 years and older
• aphasic patient following a first left hemispheric stroke
• BDAE 3.0 aphasia score > or = to 1
• stroke within 3 to 12 months before inclusion in the study
• mother tongue = French
• right handedness
• signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of other neurologic pathologies
• epileptic seizure within 2 months before inclusion
• dementia
• bilingual patient (2 mother tongues)
• history of cranial surgery
• presence of intracerebral metallic material
• unauthorized molecules at inclusion : sulpiride, rivastigmine, dextromethorphan, carbamazepine, flunarizine, levodopa
• pregnant, parturient or lactating woman