Neurobiological Principles Applied to the Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2016-09-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The purpose of this study is to use (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) TMS or drugs to improve learning of movement skills and the adaptation processes in patients after stroke. Once investigators have determined the improving effect of TMS and the drugs on learning of movement skills, the study team may be able to provide information that improves rehabilitative treatment and helps to improve recovery after stroke.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Emory University
• Collaborators: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Treatments: Amphetamine; Carbidopa; Carbidopa, levodopa drug combination; Levodopa; Methylphenidate

Criteria

Aims 1 and 2

Inclusion Criteria:

• Normal neurological examination

• Ability to meet criteria of inclusion experiment

• Ability to give informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History or neurological or psychiatric disease

• Abnormal MRI of brain

• Abnormal neuropsychological testing

• Intake of CNS active drugs

• History of seizure disorder

• History of migraine headaches

• History of anaphylaxis or allergic reactions

• Contraindication to TMS

Aim 3:

Inclusion Criteria:

• Cerebral ischemic infarction more than 6 months prior to entering the study

• Single lesion as defined by MRI of the brain affecting the primary motor output system of the hand at a cortical (M1) level or subcortical level, or unilateral, and supratentorial in absence of history of a previous symptomatic stroke within 3 months of the current stroke

• Dense paresis of the hand for more than three days after cerebral infarction (MRC of < 4- of wrist- and finger extension/flexion movements)

• Good functional recovery of hand function as defined by MRC of 4 or 4+ of wrist- and finger extension/flexion movements

• Ability to perform wrist extension movements

• Ability to meet criteria of inclusion experiment

• Ability to give informed consent

• Ability of TMS to elicit a measurable MEP of > 100 μV and an increase in MEP amplitude with increasing stimulus intensity (up to 100% of MSO) of at least 20% over MEP amplitude at MT

Exclusion Criteria:

• History or neurological or psychiatric disease, including bipolar disorder

• Intake of CNS active drugs

• History of seizure disorder

• History of migraine headaches

• History of anaphylaxis or allergic reactions

• Contraindication to TMS