Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (28): 7485-7493.doi: 10.12307/2026.820

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A network meta-analysis of effects of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques on language function in patients with aphasia after stroke

Li Sihui1, Wang Qin2, Cui Shenhong2, Cheng Xiaofei1, Feng Ziyun2, Wang Dehua1, Liang Chunting1, Leng Jun2   

  1. 1Rehabilitation Medical College of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, Shandong Province, China; 2Rehabilitation Hospital of Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, Shandong Province, China
  • Received:2025-09-10 Revised:2025-12-08 Online:2026-10-08 Published:2026-02-27
  • Contact: Leng Jun, MD, Chief physician, Master’s supervisor, Rehabilitation Hospital of Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, Shandong Province, China
  • About author:Li Sihui, MS candidate, Rehabilitation Medical College of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, Shandong Province, China
  • Supported by:
    2024 Shandong Provincial Key Research and Development Program (Major Scientific and Technological Innovation Project) Program, No. 2024CXGC010603 (to LJ); Shandong Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Project, No. M2023102 (to WQ) 

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Many studies have shown that non-invasive neuromodulation techniques can effectively improve the symptoms of non-fluent aphasia after stroke. However, the optimal stimulation protocols for these techniques still need to be further verified and explored. This article used a network meta-analysis method to systematically evaluate the effects of different non-invasive neuromodulation techniques on improving the language function of patients with non-fluent aphasia after stroke.
METHODS: The CNKI, WanFang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on the treatment of non-fluent aphasia after stroke with non-invasive neural modulation techniques, with the search ending on June 1, 2025. The control group received conventional treatment or sham stimulation, while the trial group received non-invasive neural modulation techniques in addition to the control group’s treatment. The outcome indicators were the western aphasia battery, aphasia battery of Chinese, and activity of daily living scale. The outcome measures were analyzed using both traditional meta-analysis and network meta-analysis with Stata 17.0 software, respectively. The GRADE methodology was employed to evaluate the quality of evidence pertaining to the outcome measures.
RESULTS: A total of 33 randomized controlled trials were included, involving 10 types of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques. (1) Traditional meta-analysis results showed that, low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the right Broca’s area, transcranial direct current stimulation of both Broca’s area, and transcranial direct current stimulation of the left Broca’s area improved patients’ scores on the western aphasia battery (P < 0.001). Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the right Broca’s area, low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the posterior superior temporal gyrus, and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the right Broca’s area combined with high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left Broca’s area improved patients’ scores on aphasia battery of Chinese (P < 0.05). Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the right Broca’s area, transcranial direct current stimulation of both Broca’s areas, continuous theta burst stimulation of the right Broca’s area combined with intermittent theta burst stimulation of the left Broca’s area, high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the right Broca’s area, and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the right Broca’s area combined with high-frequency stimulation of the left Broca’s area all improved patients’ scores on the activity of daily living scale (P < 0.05). (2) The network meta-analysis results showed that low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the right Broca’s area was more effective in improving the scores of the western aphasia battery and aphasia battery of Chinese [SMD=1.13, 95%CI(0.59, 1.67), P < 0.05; SMD=4.73, 95%CI(1.28, 8.18), P < 0.05], while transcranial direct current stimulation of the bilateral Broca’s areas was more effective in improving the scores of the activity of daily living scale [SMD=1.81, 95%CI(0.51, 2.12), P < 0.05]. (3) The GRADE evidence level assessment results showed that the evidence levels for the western aphasia battery, aphasia battery of Chinese, and activity of daily living scale were all low. 
CONCLUSION: Different non-invasive neuromodulation techniques can improve speech function in patients with non-fluent aphasia after stroke. Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the right Broca’s area is significantly effective in improving multidimensional speech function, especially in spontaneous speech coherence, auditory comprehension accuracy, and naming fluency. Bilateral transcranial direct current stimulation of the Broca’s area focuses more on improving patients’ daily communication ability. However, the results are affected by the number and quality of included studies, and the level of evidence is low. More high-quality studies are needed to further verify these findings.

Key words: stroke, non-fluent aphasia, non-invasive neuromodulation technique, language function, transcranial direct current stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic simulation, network meta-analysis 

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