Evaluating Anodal tDCS Preceding Aphasia Therapy

Inclusion Criteria:

1. ≥ 18 years of age

2. First single focal unilateral left hemisphere lesion with diagnosis verified by brain
imaging (MRI or CT scans) that occurred at least 6 months prior

3. Pre-morbidly right handed

4. Pre-morbidly fluent English speaker

5. Cognitive function sufficient to understand the experiments and follow instructions
(per interview with Speech Pathologist)

6. A baseline Aphasia Quotient score between 10 to 94 out of 100 points on the Western
Aphasia Battery (neither completely without language comprehension/expression nor
fully recovered from aphasia).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Ongoing use of CNS-active medications

2. Ongoing use of psychoactive medications, such as stimulants, antidepressants, and
anti-psychotic medications

3. Presence of additional potential tDCS risk factors:

- Damaged skin at the site of stimulation (i.e., skin with ingrown hairs, acne,
razor nicks, wounds that have not healed, recent scar tissue, broken skin, etc.)

- Presence of an electrically, magnetically or mechanically activated implant
(including cardiac pacemaker), an intracerebral vascular clip, or any other
electrically sensitive support system

- Metal in any part of the body, including metal injury to the eye (jewelry must be
removed during stimulation)

- A history of medication-resistant epilepsy in the family

- Past history of seizures or unexplained spells of loss of consciousness during
the previous 36 months

4. Pregnancy in women, as determined by self-report