CBR Seminar Series: Kyrana Tsapkini
CBR Seminar Series: Kyrana Tsapkini, April 27, 2026
Title: Electrical stimulation in neurodegenerative disorders: efficacy, mechanisms and new trends
Abstract:
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) presents a critical unmet need for scalable, effective interventions targeting progressive language decline. This work advances a novel therapeutic framework combining noninvasive brain stimulation with behavioral language therapy, with a particular emphasis on home-based, telehealth-enabled delivery.
Randomized controlled trials demonstrate that anodal tDCS applied to language-relevant cortex augments therapy-induced gains, consistent with mechanisms of neural priming and Hebbian plasticity. We extend this paradigm to remotely supervised, home-based protocols, enabling higher-dose, longitudinal intervention while reducing barriers to access and improving ecological validity.
Mechanistic studies further show that tES modulates dysfunctional language networks—normalizing aberrant functional connectivity and altering inhibitory neurotransmission—supporting a shift toward network-informed, personalized treatment.
Ongoing work integrates oscillatory targeting with tACS, expands applications to bvFTD and Alzheimer’s disease, and incorporates machine learning–based stratification to optimize treatment response. Together, this approach redefines neurorehabilitation delivery, positioning home-based neuromodulation as a scalable, precision-medicine strategy for neurodegenerative language disorders.
Bio:
Dr. Tsapkini is a professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She trained in the U.S. and Canada. Her expertise is in the domain of language—especially from an interdisciplinary approach—combining cognitive science, psychology, and neural sciences.