Pseudoword Learning for Aphasia

Overseen By Haley Dresang, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Disqualifiers: Neurological disorders, Psychiatric disorders, Alcohol/drug abuse, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 5 years

90 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Patients with stroke frequently suffer from aphasia, a disorder of expressive and/or receptive language, that can lead to serious health consequences, including social isolation, depression, reduced quality of life, and increased caregiver burden. Aphasia recovery varies greatly between individuals, and likely relies upon the capacity for neuroplasticity, both at a systems level of reorganized brain networks and a molecular level of neuronal repair and plasticity. The proposed work will evaluate genetic and neural network biological markers of neuroplasticity associated with variability in aphasia, with a future goal to improve prognostics and identify therapeutic targets to reduce the long-term burdens of aphasia.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but it mentions that standard stroke treatments like Plavix, aspirin, beta-blockers, diabetes medications, cholesterol-lowering agents, thrombolytics, and anticoagulation agents are allowed.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Pseudoword learning paradigm task treatment for aphasia?

Research shows that people with aphasia can still learn new words, and this ability is linked to better treatment outcomes. A study found that training with pseudowords (made-up words) helped participants learn and remember new words, similar to how children learn language, suggesting this method could be effective for language recovery in aphasia. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is pseudoword learning safe for humans?

The research does not provide specific safety data for pseudoword learning in humans, but it involves language learning tasks similar to those used in everyday educational settings, suggesting it is generally safe. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

How does the Pseudoword learning paradigm task treatment for aphasia differ from other treatments?

The Pseudoword learning paradigm task is unique because it uses a method similar to how children learn their first words, by pairing made-up words with objects and reinforcing correct pairings over multiple sessions. This approach focuses on re-acquiring language skills through associative learning, which is different from other treatments that may focus on specific word retrieval or error correction strategies. ^{2 4 5 7 8}

Research Team

Haley Dresang, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals aged 40-90 who have had a single ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory, resulting in aphasia. They must be right-handed (before the stroke), proficient in English, and able to consent. The study includes those with recent strokes for one part and those within 12 months post-stroke for other parts. Exclusions include significant vision/hearing loss, non-standard stroke treatments, other major medical/neurological disorders, uncontrolled psychiatric issues, or substance abuse.

Inclusion Criteria

Right-handed (prior to stroke)

Proficient English speakers

Medically stable

Exclusion Criteria

History of significant medical or neurological disorder (other than stroke)

History of significant or poorly controlled psychiatric disorders

Current abuse of alcohol or drugs, prescription or otherwise

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a word-learning task for aphasia, including 210 trials across 7 learning blocks, with assessments of semantic, phonological, and verb processing abilities

5 years

Multiple visits for assessments and tasks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in language abilities and neuroplasticity biomarkers post-stroke

1 year

Long-term follow-up

Participants' aphasia recovery and neuroplasticity biomarkers are evaluated to support future multi-site studies

Ongoing

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Pseudoword learning paradigm task

Trial Overview The study investigates how well people with aphasia can learn made-up words (Pseudoword learning paradigm task) to understand brain changes after a stroke. It aims to identify genetic and neural markers of neuroplasticity that could explain why recovery varies so much between individuals.

Participant Groups

Group I: Experimental word-learning task for aphasia Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The word learning task includes 210 trials across 7 learning blocks (30 trials/block). Each trial features two novel objects (target and foil) on the screen, with an audio recording naming one object. Subjects must quickly and accurately identify the named object. Correct responses are rewarded with a happy face, and incorrect ones with a sad face. The target object's position is counter-balanced, and trial order is randomized for each subject. Short pauses occur every 60 trials to reduce fatigue. After 7 learning blocks, feedback is discontinued, and an immediate test block assesses word-referent recognition. A week later, a second test block, with the same instructions, measures retained learning. Each test block consists of 30 randomized trials without feedback.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,249

Recruited

3,255,000+

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

Trials

2,896

Recruited

8,053,000+

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Collaborator

Trials

377

Recruited

190,000+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Language learning in aphasia: A narrative review and critical analysis of the literature with implications for language therapy. [2022]

2. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and validation of a language learning model for behavioral and functional-imaging studies. [2019]

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Expressive recall and recognition as complementary measures to assess novel word learning ability in aphasia. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Learning to fail in aphasia: an investigation of error learning in naming. [2021]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Abstract Semantic Associative Network Training: A Replication and Update of an Abstract Word Retrieval Therapy Program. [2021]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A large, searchable, web-based database of aphasic performance on picture naming and other tests of cognitive function. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lexical access in aphasic and nonaphasic speakers. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The time course of priming in aphasia: An exploration of learning along a continuum of linguistic processing demands. [2021]