Brain stimulation system, device, arrangement and corresponding method for treating aphasia

A brain stimulation system comprising:

• a) a computer program product comprising program code (P1, P1a) which, when loaded and executed on an electronic control unit, provides an operation control system, or
• b) an electronic control unit with a program code (P1, P1a) loaded on the electronic control unit, wherein the program code (P1, P1a), when executed on the electronic control unit, provides an operation control system,
• wherein the operation control system is configured to control a brain training and stimulation session for a brain, wherein the brain training and stimulation session comprises a task performance and a stimulation of the brain, and wherein the operation control system comprises a plurality of control system functionalities, the control system functionalities comprising:
• a stimulation functionality which is configured to cause the electronic control unit to issue a stimulation command to an electrical brain stimulation device to cause the electrical brain stimulation device to perform an electrical brain stimulation procedure;
• and
• a presentation functionality which is configured to cause the electronic control unit to issue a presentation command in order to present a task to be performed by a user on a user interface,
• wherein the task is presented during the brain training and stimulation session, wherein the operation control system comprises a user condition monitoring functionality which is configured to determine based on user condition data indicative for the current cognitive load/workload experienced by the user during the brain training and stimulation session whether the task performance and the stimulation of the brain training and stimulation session is continued or whether the task performance and the stimulation of the brain training and stimulation session is interrupted only temporarily to avoid excessive cognitive load/workload for the user,
• wherein the system is configured such that in case of a temporary interruption, no task is presented to the user by the brain stimulation system,
• wherein a cognitive load/workload level is analyzed,
• wherein it is checked whether a specific cognitive load/workload level is exceeded, and
• wherein the temporary interruption is provided if the check indicates that the specific cognitive load/workload level is exceeded.

A method for treating aphasia, the method comprising the following steps:

• a) providing to a patient a task to be performed by the patient, the patient suffering from aphasia;
• and
• b) stimulating one area or more areas of the patient's brain areas involved in language comprehension and/or language production, using varying current mode while the patient is performing the task and/or while the task is presented to the patient, further comprising the step of:
• using a brain stimulation system comprising:
• a) a computer program product comprising program code (P1, P1a) which, when loaded and executed on an electronic control unit, provides an operation control system, or
• b) an electronic control unit with a program code (P1, P1a) loaded on the electronic control unit, wherein the program code (P1, P1a), when executed on the electronic control unit, provides an operation control system,
• wherein the operation control system is configured to control a brain training and stimulation session for a brain, wherein the brain training and stimulation session comprises task performance and stimulation of the brain, and wherein the operation control system comprises a plurality of control system functionalities, the control system functionalities comprising:
• a stimulation functionality which is configured to cause the electronic control unit to issue a stimulation command to an electrical brain stimulation device to cause the electrical brain stimulation device to perform an electrical brain stimulation procedure;
• wherein a frequency of a transcranial alternating current stimulation used for the brain stimulation procedure is in the range of 70 Hz (Hertz) to 80 Hz;
• and
• a presentation functionality which is configured to cause the electronic control unit to issue a presentation command in order to present a task to be performed by a user on a user interface,
• wherein the task is presented during the brain training and stimulation session, wherein the operation control system comprises a user condition monitoring functionality which is configured to determine based on user condition data indicative for the current cognitive load/workload experienced by the user during the brain training and stimulation session whether the task performance and the stimulation of the brain training and stimulation session is continued or whether the task performance and the stimulation of the brain training and stimulation session is interrupted only temporarily to avoid excessive cognitive load/workload for the user,
• wherein the system is configured such that in case of a temporarily interruption no task is presented to the user by the brain stimulation system, and
• wherein a duration of the temporary interruption is determined by at least one physiological parameter of the user being again in a normal range.