1. Can we foster www.salwe.fi
linguistic neuroplasticity?
Stroke is the leading cause of disability in industrial countries, affecting speech, language and
interpersonal communication. Part of SalWe’s Mind and Body Programme is aimed at developing
speech and language therapy for treating aphasia after a stroke. The research is being done by
the University of Helsinki in cooperation with the commercial partner Nexstim Ltd.
In the United States alone about 700,000 people have begun to be understood. Transcranial magnetic stimu-
a stroke each year while another 7 million suffer the lation (TMS) of the damaged brain areas can enhance
chronic consequences of an earlier stroke. Currently, their recovery. Another form of treatment is Inten-
the only proven treatment for aphasia, the disruption sive Language Action Therapy (ILAT), short courses of
of speech and language following a stroke, is speech intensive training for small groups, focussing on the
therapy. functional use of language.
Most stroke victims regain a degree of speech and An objective of SalWe’s Mind and Body Programme is
language ability but there is no cost-effective, to develop a deeper understanding of the mechanisms
scientifically proven way to speed up their recovery. of the nervous system.
The mechanisms of neuroplasticity have only recently
SalWe - Strategic Center for Science, Technology and Innovation in Health and Well-being

2. “Our approach combines Intensive Language
Action Therapy and Transcranial Magnetic
Brain Stimulation”
Anu Klippi, University of Helsinki
It is exploring how the brain recovers from a stroke turally adapted into Finnish. We’ve also modified the
and how different forms of rehabilitation affect these repeated TMS procedure and produced noun and verb
mechanisms. The longer-term objective is to develop material to be used during the treatment.”
new rehabilitation techniques and related services.
Currently under way is a randomised group study to
Brain therapy and stimulation monitor how the ILAT and TMS methods and their
“We’ve developed a novel form of treatment for post- combinations affect aphasia. Nexstim Ltd intends to
stroke aphasia, combining intensive language action commercialise the results to produce products and
therapy with repeated magnetic stimulation. The aim services suitable for treating aphasia. The company
is to maximise the linguistic plasticity of the brain, is a world leader in equipment for navigated brain
by activating neurons simultaneously so that the con- stimulation.
nections between them are reinforced. With ILAT and
TMS we can modify brain activity. Repeated stimula-
tion produces lasting effects and changes in synaptic
connections, which are the basis of learning. It is a
therapy that can repair the brain after a stroke,” says
Professor Anu Klippi of the University of Helsinki.
“In addition, we’ve developed a comprehensive method
for assessing speech and language. It has a unique set
of parameters that can measure phonological, lexical
and grammatical constructions in a detailed way, as
well as the pragmatic use of speech. The ten different
measurements have been translated, piloted and cul-
More information
Anu Klippi
professor
University of Helsinki
anu.klippi@helsinki.fi
+358 9 1912 9343
SalWe - Strategic Center for Science, Technology and Innovation in Health and Well-being