Interlimb Transfer Post-stroke



Status:Completed
Conditions:Neurology
Therapuetic Areas:Neurology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - Any
Updated:1/11/2019
Start Date:October 1, 2015
End Date:March 30, 2018

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Neural Mechanisms Mediating Interlimb Transfer Following Stroke

This study investigates the effects of sub-maximal exercise to task-failure (e.g., fatigue)
with the less involved, or so-called non-paretic hand, in people who have experienced a
stroke. In previous work the investigators found that non-paretic hand exercise to
task-failure increased excitability of the motor cortex in the more involved hemisphere and
produced behavioral improvements in the unexercised paretic hand. Importantly, the magnitude
of increased brain excitability is greater than what has been observed following brain
stimulation with either repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial
direct current stimulation (tDCS) and lasts longer. This approach could be implemented in the
clinical setting and could be accessible to a greater number of people than brain
stimulation. The investigators' goals in the current study are to: repeat previous findings
in a different group of participants and investigate the neural mechanisms that produce brain
and behavioral facilitation in order to inform development of this approach for clinical
implementation.

The long-term goal is to restore upper extremity (UE) motor function following stroke. The
overall objective of this proposal is to improve the investigators' understanding of neural
mechanisms contributing to inter-limb and inter-hemispheric transfer following non-paretic
limb exercise to task failure. The investigators will use transcranial magnetic stimulation
to probe acute adaptations in cortical excitability, intracortical and inter-hemispheric
circuits that accompany behavioral facilitation of the paretic hand.

The work proposed in this two year project will enable the investigators to obtain three data
elements critical to complete the working hypothesis:

1. . Changes in intracortical and interhemispheric inhibition in both hemispheres following
non-paretic limb exercise to task-failure.

2. . Behavioral effects using a motor task involving manipulation and dexterity.

3. . Determine the persistence and consistency of neural and behavioral facilitation.

Inclusion Criteria:

- individuals at least 6 months post-stroke in the cortical or sub-cortical distribution
with residual upper-extremity hemiparesis

- Non-Veteran Participants are eligible

Exclusion Criteria:

- multiple strokes

- strokes in both hemispheres

- brainstem/medullary/cerebellar stroke

- seizure disorder

- metal implants in head or neck

- pacemaker or other implanted device

- inability to produce any measurable grip force
We found this trial at
2
sites
Gainesville, Florida 32608
Principal Investigator: Carolynn Patten, PhD
Phone: 352-376-1611
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