Neural Mechanisms Mediating Interlimb Transfer Following Stroke

Detailed Summary

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.

Study Details

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Interventions