Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Improve Hand Movement in Stroke Patients
Stroke
About this trial
This is an observational trial for Stroke focused on measuring Motor Recovery, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), Homeostatic Plasticity, Ipsilesional Primary Motor Cortex, Paretic Fingers Motor Sequence, Motor Cortex, Motor Function, Motor Learning, Premotor Cortex, Primary Motor Cortex, Stroke, Healthy Volunteer, HV
Eligibility Criteria
INCLUSION CRITERIA: Stroke Patients: age between 18-80 years first-ever, single stroke with thromboembolic non-hemorrhagic hemispheric lesions stroke more than 3 months ago stroke that affected one side of the brain (unilateral stroke) Patients with initially a severe motor paresis (below MRC grade 2), who subsequently recovered to the point that they have a residual motor deficit but can perform the required tasks (i.e., perform relatively independent finger movements) willing and able to give consent Healthy Volunteers: age between 18-80 years able to perform tasks required by the study willing and able to give consent EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Stroke Patients: unable to perform the tasks of the study more than one stroke both sides of the brain affected or clear bilateral motor impairment stroke in the cerebellum or brainstem increased intracranial pressure as evaluated by clinical means history of severe alcohol or drug abuse, psychiatric illness like severe depression, poor motivational capacity, or severe language disturbances, particularly of receptive nature or with serious cognitive deficits (defined as equivalent to a mini-mental state exam score (MMSE) of 23 or less), or degenerative brain processes such as Alzheimer's disease severe uncontrolled medical problems (e.g., cardiovascular disease, severe rheumatoid arthritis, active joint deformity of arthritic origin, active cancer or renal disease, any kind of end-stage pulmonary or cardiovascular disease, or a deteriorated condition due to age, uncontrolled epilepsy or others), more than moderate to severe microangiopathy, polyneuropathy, diabetes mellitus, or ischemic peripheral disease receiving drugs acting primarily on the central nervous system, which lower the seizure threshold such as antipsychotic drugs (chlorpromazine, clozapine) or tricyclic antidepressants (for the TMS component) pregnant medical or technical contraindications to MRI procedures or devices producing artifacts that impair MRI signal (e.g., dental braces, pacemakers, implanted medication pumps, cochlear devices, neural stimulators, metal in the cranium, surgical clips, and other metal/magnetic implants, claustrophobia) Healthy volunteers: unable to perform the tasks history of severe alcohol or drug abuse, psychiatric illness like severe depression, poor motivational capacity, or severe language disturbances, particularly of receptive nature or with serious cognitive deficits (defined as equivalent to a mini-mental state exam score (MMSE) of 23 or less), or degenerative brain processes such as Alzheimer's disease severe uncontrolled medical problems (e.g., cardiovascular disease, severe rheumatoid arthritis, active joint deformity of arthritic origin, active cancer or renal disease, any kind of end-stage pulmonary or cardiovascular disease, or a deteriorated condition due to age, uncontrolled epilepsy or others), more than moderate to severe microangiopathy, polyneuropathy, diabetes mellitus, or ischemic peripheral disease problems with movement of the hands receiving drugs acting primarily on the central nervous system, which lower the seizure threshold such as antipsychotic drugs (chlorpromazine, clozapine) or tricyclic antidepressants (for the TMS component) pregnant medical or technical contraindications to MRI procedures or devices producing artifacts that impair MRI signal (e.g., dental braces, pacemakers, implanted medication pumps, cochlear devices, neural stimulators, metal in the cranium, surgical clips, and other metal/magnetic implants, claustrophobia)
Sites / Locations
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike