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Investigating the Effects of Transcranial Stimulation to Advance Stroke Rehabilitation
Sponsor: University of Oxford
Summary
Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has the potential to boost rehabilitation after stroke by creating a 'pro-plastic' environment, where the brain is more adaptable in response to movement (motor) training. However, responses to classical NIBS protocols are highly variable. Movement-related changes in specific brain rhythms have previously been shown to be related to recovery of hand/arm function after a stroke. The investigators propose to use NIBS to target movement-related activity in the beta band (13-30Hz) within the motor cortical regions of the brain. The investigators will use a type of NIBS called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), which uses a sinusoidally-varying electrical current where the stimulation frequency is determined to be relevant to the underlying brain rhythms of interest, and the stimulation timed to coincide with specific phases of the hand/arm movement. The primary aim is to investigate whether beta-tACS improves upper limb movement in stroke survivors.
Official title: Investigating the Effects of Beta Transcranial Stimulation to Advance Stroke Rehabilitation
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
60
Start Date
2025-02-01
Completion Date
2027-02-28
Last Updated
2025-03-07
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (beta-tACS)
The study intervention is transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). The electrode montage will include one electrode positioned on the scalp over the left or right motor cortex (either C3 or C4 using the international 10-20 EEG system), depending on the location of the stroke, and a second electrode over posterior area (Pz). A low intensity of stimulation (max. 4 mA peak to peak amplitude) will be used for up to 30 minutes in total (delivered in short bouts of up to 5 seconds based on the timing of movement of the upper limb).
Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (sham)
The comparator is sham stimulation. Stimulation is delivered for a very short duration or timed in such a way relative to movement to mimic the scalp sensations of the active stimulation without delivering stimulation that would be anticipated to impact relevant brain activity rhythms.
Locations (1)
Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB)
Oxford, United Kingdom