Efficacy and Neural Mechanisms of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Targeting the Supplementary Motor Area for the Treatment of Subacute Post-stroke Aphasia

This study aims to investigate the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in patients with post-stroke aphasia (PSA) and to explore its potential neural mechanisms. The study will recruit PSA patients and provide them with 14 tDCS sessions over 7 days, along with speech therapy. Language Behavior Scale scores and resting-state functional MRI scans will be collected before and after the intervention. In addition, a retrospective comparison will be conducted of language function and resting-state fMRI changes in a group of PSA patients who received only speech therapy; these patients did not undergo any physical intervention but received only speech therapy. Changes in Language Behavior Scale scores and functional connectivity (FC) before and after treatment in the speech therapy-only group will be analyzed and compared with those in the tDCS intervention group.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must be between 18 and 80 years of age * First stroke in the left hemisphere * Stroke onset within the past 12 weeks * Native Chinese speakers who were able to communicate normally prior to onset * Diagnosed with aphasia using the ABC scale * Right-handed * Informed consent obtained from the patient and family members Exclusion Criteria: * Time since stroke onset exceeds 12 weeks * History of psychiatric or neurological disorders * History of surgery for severe head trauma, brain tumors, or brain abscesses * Severe articulation disorders * Claustrophobia or implants incompatible with MRI * Inability to cooperate with language scale testing or fMRI scanning * History of previous stroke