Modulation of Brain Rhythms in Stroke

Summary

The goal of this research study is to examine communication between brain and muscle in individuals with stroke and determine if applying non-invasive brain stimulation to different parts of the brain improves this communication and performance on a hand squeezing task.

The investigators will fit participants with an electroencephalography (EEG) cap and place electromyography (EMG) stickers on participants hand and arm muscles to record brain and muscle activity, respectively.

Participants will complete a single research visit lasting approximately 3 hours. During this visit, participants will receive two different types of non-invasive brain stimulation: \[1\] stimulation to the motor part of the brain and \[2\] stimulation to the visual part of the brain. Participants will be randomized so that half will receive stimulation to the motor part of the brain first followed by stimulation to the visual part of the brain second and vice versa. Participants will complete three blocks of hand squeezing trials using the stroke-affected (weak) hand. During the first block of squeezing trials, no brain stimulation will occur. During the second and third blocks, participants will receive stimulation just before each hand squeezing trial. The investigators will record participants' brain and muscle activity during these blocks of hand squeezing trials. Additionally, participants will also complete screening tests and exams looking at mood, motor function, and cognition.

Conditions

• Stroke

Interventions

OTHER

Motor Brain Stimulation

For each grip trial (20 grip trials per block), participants will receive visual cues that signify the onset and offset of squeezing. Just prior to the start of the visual cue representing the onset of squeezing, participants will receive a burst of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to their primary motor hotspot region. Motor brain stimulation will involve 3 bursts of 5 pulses/burst with a 20 Hz inter-pulse interval delivered at 90% of their resting or active motor threshold.

OTHER

Visual Brain Stimulation

For each grip trial (20 grip trials per block), participants will receive visual cues that signify the onset and offset of squeezing. Just prior to the start of the visual cue representing the onset of squeezing, participants will receive a burst of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to their ipsilesional occipital cortex region. Visual brain stimulation will involve 3 burst of 5 pulses/burst with a 20 Hz inter-pulse interval delivered at 90% of their resting or active motor threshold.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

  collaborator NIH

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jessica M Cassidy, DPT, PT, PhD · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

45 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-12-01

Primary Completion

2027-01-31

Completion

2027-01-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations