Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
Utilizing Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Language Function in Stroke Patients with Chronic Non-fluent Aphasia
Published on: July 2, 2013
Changes in white matter integrity follow excitatory rTMS treatment of post-stroke aphasia
Jane B Allendorfer1, Judd M Storrs, Jerzy P Szaflarski
1Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. Jane.Allendorfer@uc.edu
Purpose:
In this study, we examine whether an excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) protocol called intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) applied to the affected left hemisphere leads to changes in white matter fractional anisotropy (FA).
Methods:
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were collected in 8 aphasic stroke patients before and after 10 daily iTBS treatments. Alignment of structural and DTI data and derivation of diffusion index maps were performed using Analysis of Functional NeuroImages software followed by Tract-Based Spatial Statistics using FMRIB Software Library. Paired t-tests were performed to compare pre- to post-rTMS changes in FA.
Results:
There were significant (p < 0.001) left-hemispheric FA increases near the inferior and superior frontal gyri and anterior corpus callosum. FA also increased in the right midbrain and bilaterally near temporal, parietal and posterior cingulate regions. FA decreased bilaterally near the fusiform gyrus and in left cerebellum.
Conclusions:
Overall, left-hemispheric regions that showed increased FA corresponded to areas previously shown to have increases in fMRI language activation after iTBS. The increased white matter integrity near the stimulation sites may reflect improvements in cortical function mediated by excitatory rTMS through its ability to facilitate synaptic connections.
