The K99/R00 Award will support my transition to an independent researcher focused on using repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) to enhance post-stroke aphasia recovery. The majority of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) studies, including those using rTMS, apply facilitatory stimulation to the left Inferior Frontal Gyrus (IFG) or inhibitory stimulation to its right homologue. While IFG is an important hub, the language system is widespread and complex, and its damage induce impairments that vary significantly across individuals. For instance, post-stroke aphasia often leads to anomia and semantic errors due to disruption in lexicosemantic processes. I propose to use a novel and promising target for stimulation – the Anterior Temporal Lobe (ATL) – given that evidence suggests that it plays a crucial role in lexicosemantic processing and hence may be pivotal in individuals with such impairment. Additionally, the theory of transcallosal interhemispheric imbalance hypothesize that brain lesions cause hyperactivation of the undamaged hemisphere and hypoactivation of the damaged one, justifying left hemispheric (LH) facilitation and right hemispheric (RH) inhibition. However, this model does not fully explain the complex involvement of the RH in post-stroke aphasia recovery. Furthermore, while rTMS shows promise in improving post-stroke language impairments, individual responses vary, necessitating a better understanding of factors influencing its efficacity. To address these gaps, I propose a three-arm randomized clinical trial involving 60 individuals with post-stroke aphasia. The study will compare facilitatory rTMS targeting the left ATL, inhibitory rTMS targeting the right ATL, and sham stimulation. By tailoring rTMS targets to participants’ clinical profiles, we aim to improve language processing outcomes (Aim 1). I will investigate how RH inhibition versus LH facilitation affects language recovery. Using resting-state and task-based functional Mag