Focal brain stimulation to enhance human cognitive and language functions in both healthy individuals and those with aphasia is a relatively new and exciting area of research. In this special issue leading authors in the field present novel data and summarize the evidence related to the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and epidural cortical stimulation. These techniques are used not only for understanding normal brain-language functions but also language learning and recovery after brain damage. The first brain stimulation trials in aphasia rehabilitation are then investigated along with suggested directions for future research.

Contents

Crinion, Jenny Introduction to Special Issue on Brain Stimulation and Language: Shocking Speech, Floel, Agnes Non-invasive brain stimulation and language processing in the healthy brain, Möttönen, Riikka; Watkins, Kate Using TMS to study the role of the articulatory motor system in speech perception; Hoffman, Paul; Pobric, Gorana; Drakesmith, Mark; Lambon Ralph, Matthew A. Posterior middle temporal gyrus is involved in verbal and non-verbal semantic cognition: Evidence from rTMS; Hartwigsen, Gesa; Siebner, Hartwig R. Probing the involvement of the right hemisphere in language processing with online transcranial magnetic stimulation in healthy volunteers; Hamilton, Roy; Medina, Jared;; Turkeltaub, Peter; Faseyitan, Olufunsho; Thomas, Amy; Benson, Jennifer; Coslett, H. Branch Finding the right words: Transcranial magnetic stimulation improves discourse productivity in non-fluent aphasia after stroke; Holland, Rachel; Crinion, Jenny Can tDCS enhance treatment of aphasia after stroke?; Cherney, Leora; Harvey, Richard L.; Babbitt, Edna M.; Hurwitz, Rosalind; Kaye, Rosalind C., Lee, Jaime B.; Small, Steven L. Epidural cortical stimulation and aphasia therapy