Cross-Stroke Therapy Effects With BCI and FES Stimulation: A Pilot Study
The goal of this neurorehabilitation explorative study is to investigate how a closed-loop Brain-Computer Interface Functional Electrical Stimulation (BCI-FES) therapy, used within the intended purpose for hand rehabilitation, may impact swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) and language disorders (aphasia) in post-stroke patients.
• Age: Participants must be aged 18 years or older.
• Post-Stroke Phase: Participants must be within the chronic post-stroke phase (time since ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke greater than 3 months).
• Motor Impairment: Participants must exhibit disabling left or right residual arm paresis (left/right arm motor drift part of the NIHSS score ≥1).
• Speech/Swallowing Impairment: Participants must have:
‣ Aphasia (AAT-Skala zum Kommunikationsverhalten score ≤3), and/or
⁃ Dysphagia (MUCCS-N score ≥2).
• Stable Neurological Status: No relevant changes in neurological status in the past 4 weeks (self-reported).
• Motor Function: Participants must be able to raise at least 1 block similar to the ones in Box-and-Block-Test.
• Cognitive Understanding: Participants must be able to understand basic spoken instructions.
• Sitting Tolerance: Participants must be able to maintain a sitting position for at least 60 minutes.
• Willingness to Participate: Participants must be willing to participate in the study and able to understand and sign the informed consent.