Identification and remediation of language deficits in TBI

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Detecting and alleviating language impairments due to Traumatic Brain Injury

• IRAS ID

  141276

• Contact name

  Anna Woollams

• Contact email

  anna.woollams@manchester.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  The University of Manchester

• Research summary

  Impairments in language function, or aphasia, can have a debilitating effect on a person’s life. Acquired impairments can arise through various conditions such as stroke, brain tumours, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Language deficits can occur following TBI when there is obvious injury to the language centres of the brain. However, there is also some evidence to show that even when these areas remain intact, language problems can occur.

  There are three arms to this project. The first is to determine how prevalent language problems are following TBI, when there is no obvious injury to the language areas, using a series of neuropsychological language tests.
  The second part of the research is to determine why these problems occur. Using a relatively new method of MRI scanning, called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), which detects the diffusion of water in the brain to form maps of neural connections, we aim to determine if the deficits occur due to injury to the underlying connections of the brain.

  The final part of the project aims to test if we can improve these patients’ language function using a technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). tDCS is a non-invasive neurostimulation technique which delivers a small current of electricity to the brain to increase neuronal activity. It is thought to promote regeneration and rewiring of the connections in the brain, and so it is possible it would promote regeneration of injured language neural circuits, improving language function. This will be administered during the performance of language production and comprehension tasks and will be compared to a sham condition, in which the equipment is still used but no current is applied

• REC name

  North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/NW/0182

• Date of REC Opinion

  25 Apr 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion