Introduction: Previous studies found that post-stroke motor impairments are associated with damage to the lesioned corticospinal tract (CST) and hyperexcitability of the contralesional cortico-reticulospinal tract (CRST). This proof-of-concept study aims to develop a non-invasive brain stimulation protocol that facilitates the lesioned CST and inhibits the contralesional CRST to improve upper extremity rehabilitation in individuals with moderate-to-severe motor impairments post-stroke.

Methods: Fourteen individuals (minimum 3 months post ischemic stroke) consented. Physician decision of the participants baseline assessment qualified eight to continue in a randomized, double-blind cross-over pilot trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05174949) with: (1) anodal high-definition transcranial direct stimulation (HD-tDCS) over the ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1), (2) cathodal HD-tDCS over contralesional dorsal premotor cortex (PMd), (3) sham stimulation, with a two-week washout period in-between. Subject-specific MR images and computer simulation were used to guide HD-tDCS and verified by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) induced Motor Evoked Potential (MEP). The motor behavior outcome was evaluated by an Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity score (primary outcome measure) and the excitability of the ipslesoinal CST and contralesional CRST was determined by the change of MEP latencies and amplitude (secondary outcome measures).

Results: The baseline ipsilesional M1 MEP latency and amplitude were correlated with FM-UE. FM-UE scores were improved post HD-tDCS, in comparison to sham stimulation. Both anodal and cathodal HD-tDCS reduced the latency of the ipsilesional M1 MEP. The contralesional PMd MEP disappeared/delayed after HD-tDCS.

Discussion: These results suggest that HD-tDCS could improve the function of the lesioned corticospinal tract and reduce the excitability of the contralesional cortico-reticulospinal tract, thus, improving motor function of the upper extremity in more severely impaired individuals.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10602806PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1286238DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

upper extremity
16
high-definition transcranial
8
transcranial direct
8
extremity rehabilitation
8
ischemic stroke
8
motor impairments
8
lesioned corticospinal
8
corticospinal tract
8
contralesional cortico-reticulospinal
8
cortico-reticulospinal tract
8

Similar Publications

Purpose: Current technologies to define the zone of acute peripheral nerve injury intraoperatively are limited by surgical experience, time, cumbersome electrodiagnostic equipment, and interpreter reliability. In this pilot study, we evaluated a real-time, label-free optical technique for intraoperative nerve injury imaging. We hypothesize that fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) will detect a difference between the time-resolved fluorescence signatures for acute crush injuries versus uninjured segments of peripheral nerves in sheep.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Solitary fibrous tumours (SFTs) are rare soft tissue masses that are often clinically silent until they cause mass effect. A paraneoplastic syndrome manifesting as persistent hypoglycaemia, termed Doege-Potter syndrome (DPS), can be associated with these lesions. Surgical treatment is recommended for the management of these tumours.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Emergency departments are on the front lines of non-fatal self-harm injury (SHI). This study identifies patterns in patients presenting to emergency departments with SHI compared with patients presenting with assault and intimate partner violence.

Methods: Using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System All Injury Program database, we analyzed SHI cases in the emergency department from 2005 to 2021 and examined demographic characteristics, injury mechanism and anatomic location, emergency department disposition and temporal patterns relative to cases involving assault and intimate partner violence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Increasing one's walking speed is an important goal in post-stroke gait rehabilitation. Insufficient arm swing in people post-stroke might limit their ability to propel the body forward and increase walking speed.

Purpose: To investigate the speed-dependent changes (and their contributing factors) in the arm swing of persons post-stroke.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Stroke is one of the leading causes of acquired disability in adults in high-income countries. This study aims to determine the intervention effects of robot-assisted task-oriented training on enhancing the upper limb function and daily living skills of stroke patients.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Scopus databases through March 1, 2024.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!