Fig. 2

The study design consisted of a baseline assessment (3–4 days before first tDCS session), the stimulation period (comprising 5 daily session of either anodal or sham tDCS applied above left posterior parietal cortex, PPC, combined with motor training by three motor tasks, see text), and the post-stimulation assessment (3–4 days after final tDCS session). While all 30 LH stroke patients underwent these three study parts, 25 LH stroke patients performed a follow-up assessment, about 3 months after the final tDCS session. The apraxia and aphasia assessments focused on the Cologne Apraxia Screening (KAS) and the short version of the Aphasia Check-List (ACL-K). Grip force measures reflected the motor impairment. As depicted by the grey box, the baseline assessment, the stimulation period, and the post-stimulation assessment took place while the 30 patients were hospitalized for stroke rehabilitation undergoing a patient-tailored, individualized motor (i.e., physiotherapy and occupational therapy) and cognitive (i.e., speech and neuropsychological therapy) rehabilitation program