Investigating the Effects of Beta Transcranial Stimulation to Advance Stroke Rehabilitation

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Other
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has the potential to boost rehabilitation after stroke by creating a 'pro-plastic' environment, where the brain is more adaptable in response to movement (motor) training. However, responses to classical NIBS protocols are highly variable. Movement-related changes in specific brain rhythms have previously been shown to be related to recovery of hand/arm function after a stroke. The investigators propose to use NIBS to target movement-related activity in the beta band (13-30Hz) within the motor cortical regions of the brain. The investigators will use a type of NIBS called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), which uses a sinusoidally-varying electrical current where the stimulation frequency is determined to be relevant to the underlying brain rhythms of interest, and the stimulation timed to coincide with specific phases of the hand/arm movement. The primary aim is to investigate whether beta-tACS improves upper limb movement in stroke survivors.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study.

• Aged 18 years or above.

• Clinical diagnosis of stroke affecting the upper limb, with sufficient ability to perform the upper limb reaching task.

• At least 3 months post-stroke and discharged from inpatient care.

Locations
Other Locations
United Kingdom
Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB)
RECRUITING
Oxford
Contact Information
Primary
Melanie Fleming, PhD
melanie.fleming@ndcn.ox.ac.uk
+44 1865 611461
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-02-01
Estimated Completion Date: 2027-02-28
Participants
Target number of participants: 60
Treatments
Experimental: Active Stimulation (beta-tACS)
Participants will receive one session of active stimulation (beta-tACS) to the ipsilesional hemisphere. The electrode montage will include one electrode positioned on the scalp over the left or right motor cortex (either C3 or C4 using the international 10-20 EEG system), depending on the location of the stroke, and a second electrode over posterior area (Pz). A low intensity of stimulation (max. 4 mA peak to peak amplitude) will be used for up to 30 minutes in total (delivered in short bouts of up to 5 seconds based on the timing of movement of the upper limb).
Sham_comparator: Sham Stimulation (tACS)
Participants will receive one session of sham stimulation. The electrode placement will be the same as for the experimental condition, but duration or timing of stimulation will be insufficient to induce intended brain rhythm changes.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: University of Oxford

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov