Does Executive Function Training Impact on Communication? A Randomized Controlled tDCS Study on Post-Stroke Aphasia.

New approaches in aphasia rehabilitation have recently identified the crucial role of executive functions (EFs) in language recovery, especially for people with severe aphasia (PWSA). Indeed, EFs include high-order cognitive abilities such as planning and problem solving, which enable humans to adapt to novel situations and are essential for everyday functional communication. In a randomized double-blind crossover design, twenty chronic Italian PWSA underwent ten days of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) (20 min, 2 mA) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Two conditions were considered, i.e., anodal and sham, while performing four types of cognitive training (alertness, selective attention, visuo-spatial working memory, and planning), all of which were related to executive functions. After anodal tDCS, a greater improvement in selective attention, visuospatial working memory and planning abilities was found compared to the sham condition; this improvement persisted one month after the intervention. Importantly, a significant improvement was also observed in functional communication, as measured through the Communication Activities of Daily Living Scale, in noun and verb naming, in auditory and written language comprehension tasks and in executive function abilities. This evidence emphasizes, for the first time, that tDCS over the right DLPFC combined with executive training enhances functional communication in severe aphasia.

Pregnancy and voice: changes during the third trimester.

INTRODUCTION: From conception to postpartum, pregnancy is a state in which physiologic, metabolic, and anatomic parameters are altered. Pregnancy could affect voice attributes by changing quality and perturbation rates, mainly during the third trimester. The aim of this study was to compare voice attributes between third trimester pregnant and nonpregnant matched women. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study was undertaken with third trimester pregnant women attending the antenatal care clinic of the Hospital Italiano in Buenos Aires. We analyzed and compared values of fundamental frequency, maximum phonation time, vocal intensity, perturbation rates, and physical acoustic qualities. RESULTS: Most pregnant women showed abnormal parameters of auditory perceptual evaluation, a higher incidence of gastroesophageal reflux, predominance of clavicular breathing, and a reduction of phonation time. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences found in both groups suggest that physiologic and body changes produced during pregnancy affect voice quality.