Abstracto

The role of non-invasive Brain stimulation in Neurorehabilitation of Post- Stroke Dysphagia

Meysam Amidfar and Hadis Jalainejad

Post stroke dysphagia has been related to an increased risk for pulmonary complications and higher rate of morbidity and mortality. A developing body of evidence has pointed to noninvasive brain stimulation techniques as efficient neurorehabilitation approaches in treatment of post-stroke dysphagia. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) depending on frequency and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) depending on the duration and polarity of stimulation can activate or suppress activity in cortical regions. Enhancement of cortical excitability in the undamaged hemisphere has been related to the improvement of swallowing function in post stroke dysphagia. Developing data suggest that adjunct of cortical stimulation and following reorganization of the intact swallowing cortex augmented the speed of improvement of oropharyngeal dysphagia after a unilateral hemispheric stroke. This Review aims to evaluate the effects of the role of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques including TMS and tDCS as facilitators of recovery from post stroke dysphagia.

Keywords: Stroke, Dysphagia, Neurorehabilitation, Non-invasive brain stimulation TMS, tDCS