Sophie Arheix-Parras1, Charline Barrios1, Grégoire Python2, Mélanie Cogné3, Igor Sibon4, Mélanie Engelhardt1, Patrick Dehail1, Hélène Cassoudesalle5, Geoffroy Moucheboeuf5, Bertrand Glize6. 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: bertrand.glize@chu-bordeaux.fr.
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.
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.