A systematic review of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in aphasia rehabilitation: Leads for future studies

Sophie Arheix-Parras; Charline Barrios; Grégoire Python; Mélanie Cogné; Igor Sibon; Mélanie Engelhardt; Patrick Dehail; Hélène Cassoudesalle; Geoffroy Moucheboeuf; Bertrand Glize

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.04.008

A systematic review of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in aphasia rehabilitation: Leads for future studies

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Aug:127:212-241. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.04.008. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Affiliations

¹ Handicap Activité Cognition Santé, BPH U1219 Inserm, Université de Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France; Institut Universitaire des Sciences de la Réadaptation, Université de Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France; Department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, CHU de Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.
² Faculté de psychologie, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland.
³ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France.
⁴ INCIA, CNRS, UMR5287, University of Bordeaux, F-33400, Talence, France; Stroke Unit, Clinical Neurosciences Department, CHU de Bordeaux, 33076, Bordeaux, France.
⁵ Handicap Activité Cognition Santé, BPH U1219 Inserm, Université de Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France; Department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, CHU de Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.
⁶ Handicap Activité Cognition Santé, BPH U1219 Inserm, Université de Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France; Institut Universitaire des Sciences de la Réadaptation, Université de Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France; Department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, CHU de Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France; Faculté de psychologie, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, CNRS UMR 5293, Université de Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 33862065
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.04.008

Abstract

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive tool that induces neuromodulation in the brain. Several studies have shown that rTMS improves language recovery in patients with post-stroke aphasia.

Objective: This systematic review summarizes the role of rTMS in aphasia rehabilitation.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE via PubMed and Scopus on 30October, 2020, for English articles (1996-2020). Eligible studies involved post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation with rTMS. In some of these studies, rTMS was also combined with speech therapy.

Results: In total, seven meta-analyses and 59studies (23randomized clinical trials) were included in this systematic review. The methods used in these studies were heterogeneous. Only six studies did not find that rTMS had a significant effect on language performance.

Conclusions: The evidence from the peer-reviewed literature suggests that rTMS is an effective tool in post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation. However, the precise mechanisms that underlie the effects of rTMS and the reorganization of language networks in patients who have had a stroke remain unclear. We discuss these crucial challenges in the context of future studies.

Keywords: Aphasia; Rehabilitation; Speech therapy; rTMS.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Aphasia* / etiology
Aphasia* / therapy
Humans
Speech Therapy
Stroke Rehabilitation*
Stroke* / complications
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation