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Investigating the neural mechanisms underlying language recovery through rhythm therapy in Aphasia

Award Number: R21DC018699
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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Every year, approximately 100,000 people are diagnosed with aphasia—a language disorder leading to substantial difficulties in their daily communication. Based on the observation that many people with aphasia can sing words that they otherwise cannot speak, melodic intonation therapy (MIT) was developed in the 1970s. Although recognized as a standard aphasia treatment, the neural mechanisms of MIT have been largely unexplored. Our first goal is to identify the active ingredient of this music-based intervention that leads to language recovery. Although rhythm has long been considered secondary to melody, recent evidence has challenged this notion by demonstrating that rhythm alone is sufficient enough to facilitate improvements in speech fluency for people with aphasia. To corroborate the faciliatory role of rhythm, we will train aphasic patients to leverage “rhythm” for sets of sentences/phrases delivered through a fun and engaging video gaming platform. This intervention emerges from the theoretical framework, built from neuroimaging data, that language processes heavily rely on neural resources within the sensorimotor and fronto-striatal circuits that subserve rhythm/timing processes. Our second goal is to characterize the neural plasticity associated with language recovery promoted by the novel rhythm-based therapy. We hypothesize that neuroplasticity will manifest itself as increased white matter tracts, presumably due to changes in myelination in either ipsilateral or contralateral (homologues) language areas. To effectively measure myelin white matter fraction (MWF) in candidate tracts, we will mainly use a patented Myelin-imaging technique. Additionally, we will measure resting-state functional connectivity using BOLD (Blood Oxygen- Level Dependent) fMRI. Lastly, we will attempt to record cortical activity using fNIRS (functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy) during the pre-post behavioral assessments. Taken together, the proposed interdisciplinary research has theoretical, methodological, and clinical innovations and significance. This exploratory work will serve as a critical stepping stone toward unraveling the therapeutic component of music in neurological disorders and will provide evidence-based guidance to the clinicians and therapists.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = -$255,183 )
2024	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	2	6/17/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	-$255,183
2024	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	2	3/6/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$0
2024	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	10/13/2023	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$0
														Subtotal = -$255,183

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2022	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 W CAMPBELL RD	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	8/18/2022	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2021	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 W CAMPBELL RD	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	2	6/22/2021	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$186,233
2021	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 W CAMPBELL RD	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	6/8/2021	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$0
2021	2019	OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	1960 KENNY RD	COLUMBUS	OH	43210	FRANKLIN	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	1	6/22/2021	NEW	-$186,233
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $224,795 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 W CAMPBELL RD	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	2	9/2/2020	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$224,795
2020	2019	OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	1960 KENNY RD	COLUMBUS	OH	43210	FRANKLIN	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	9/1/2020	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $224,795

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $186,233 )
2019	2019	OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	1960 KENNY RD	COLUMBUS	OH	43210	FRANKLIN	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	9/12/2019	NEW	$186,233
2019	2019	OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	1960 KENNY RD	COLUMBUS	OH	43210	FRANKLIN	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	1	9/13/2019	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $186,233

Grand Total All Awards = $155,845

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Investigating the neural mechanisms underlying language recovery through rhythm therapy in Aphasia

Award Number: R21DC018699

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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