Effect of Striatal Temporal Interference Stimulation on Language Processing in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Immediate Effects of Non-invasive Temporal Interference Stimulation Targeting Deep Fronto-Striatal Structures on Language Processing and Behavioral Performance in Patients With Neurodegenerative Diseases

The purpose of this study is to investigate the immediate effects of non-invasive temporal interference stimulation (TIS) targeting the striatum on sentence processing and brain connectivity in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

The study aims to investigate the immediate effects of non-invasive temporal interference stimulation (TIS) targeting the deep structures of the fronto-striatal circuit involved in language processing. The research focuses on patients with neurodegenerative diseases who often suffer from communication deficits and impaired sentence comprehension.

Participants will undergo a cross-over design consisting of a single session of active TIS directed at the striatum and a session of placebo stimulation. The stimulation will be administered in a randomized order. The duration of the stimulation is approximately 20 minutes. During the stimulation, participants will perform a sentence comprehension task. Resting-state fMRI measurements will be taken before and after the stimulation to evaluate offline effects on brain connectivity and potential neuroplasticity.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Possible or probable Mild Cognitive Impairment with Lewy Bodies (MCI-LB), in Parkinson's Disease (MCI-PD) or Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any severe psychiatric disorder.
• History of other neurological diseases affecting the central nervous system.
• Severe head trauma.
• Uncompensated internal or oncological disease.
• Presence of MRI-incompatible metal in the body (e.g., pacemaker).