The purpose of this Study is to determine whether non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is effective in increasing rehabilitation effects after stroke in visual Cortex.
Visual field defects after posterior cerebral artery stroke can be improved by vision restoration training (VRT), but when combined with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) which alters brain excitability, vision restoration can be potentiated in the chronic stage. Because it is possible that such therapy may be more effective during the early recovery phase after the stroke and can reach patients during the rehabilitation phase, investigators wished to explore the applicability, efficacy and safety of early intervention with a combined tDCS/VRT treatment. Seven post-acute stroke homonymous hemianopia patients were assigned to 10 sessions of combined tDCS (2mA, 10 daily sessions of 15-20 min) and VRT. The primary outcome criterion was the pre-post change in perimetric detection thresholds in percent. The results were compared to 7 age and stroke lesion matched controls of our patient data pool who received standard rehabilitation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
14
Device: verum tDCS real transcranial direct current stimulation,10 sessions, 2mA for 20 minutes Behavioral: VRT Vision restoration training, 10 sessions, 20 minutes
Standard rehabilitation procedures involving PC-based training of saccades and visual exploration
Neurologisches Therapiezentrum Gmundnerberg
Altmünster, Austria
Inst. f. Medical Psychology, Univ. of Magdeburg
Magdeburg, Germany
Change of mean sensitivity (in dB) detection threshold from baseline to post-intervention
Time frame: 14-20 days post treatment,
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