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Neurofeedback Intervention for Reading Deficits in Subacute Stroke

NCT04875936 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 28

Last updated 2026-05-08

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The overall goal of this project is to advance a biologically-based approach to treatment of reading disorders after stroke, which will expand the limits of cognitive rehabilitation. Using a novel brain imaging technique, called real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback combined with right hand motor imagery, this project will re-instate brain activity in the left language-dominant hemisphere. Stroke patients will practice modulating their own brain activity using fMRI neurofeedback signal and will select the most effective mental strategies that help them maintain brain activation patterns associated with better reading recovery.

Conditions

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Motor Imagery and Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback

Survivors of left-hemisphere stroke (\<10 weeks post-stroke) or healthy volunteers will use right-hand motor imagery coupled with fMRI neurofeedback to help them re-engage the left hemisphere by shifting brain activation leftward relative to the initial left-right asymmetry. Following group assignment, participants will perform a motor imagery task and complete 3 sessions of motor imagery and reading tasks in the MRI scanner over 3 weeks. During the MRI sessions they will receive real time neurofeedback about how well they are engaging the left side of their brain compared to the right side. They will also practice the same task for 30 min a day as homework using the most effective motor imagery strategy that worked for them in the MRI scanner.

BEHAVIORAL

Motor Imagery and Sham fMRI Neurofeedback

Survivors of left-hemisphere stroke (\<10 weeks post-stroke) or healthy volunteers will practice right-hand motor imagery coupled with sham fMRI neurofeedback. As the experimental group, participants will perform a motor imagery task and complete 3 sessions of motor imagery and reading tasks in the MRI scanner over 3 weeks. However, during the MRI sessions they will receive sham neurofeedback on the basis of another participant's brain activity. Like the experimental group, they will also practice the same task for 30 min a day as homework.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Kessler Foundation

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
80 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-04-03
Primary Completion
2027-06-30
Completion
2027-06-30

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04875936 on ClinicalTrials.gov