Mapping Corticoreticulospinal Motor Control in Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke

Launched by NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · Sep 16, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how the brain controls movement in people who have had a stroke and are experiencing weakness in one arm, known as hemiparesis. Researchers will use a type of brain scan called functional MRI to see which parts of the brain are active when participants perform a simple shoulder movement. By understanding these brain pathways better, the study aims to improve rehabilitation techniques for stroke survivors.

To be eligible for this study, participants must be at least 18 years old, have the ability to move their shoulder, and be safe to undergo an MRI scan. They should have experienced only one stroke that affected one side of the body and have moderate to severe weakness in their arm. Participants will be asked to follow visual instructions during the MRI and need to be able to communicate in either English or Spanish. The trial is currently recruiting and offers an opportunity for stroke survivors to contribute to important research that could help others in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adults aged at least 18y
• • Able to perform shoulder abduction task (confirmed during screening and initial examination)
• • Safe to undergo MRI
• • Able to follow visual instructions using MRI-compatible vision correction goggles
• • No brainstem or cerebellar lesions
• • No severe concurrent medical problems (e.g. cardiorespiratory impairment)
• • Cognitive/attentional capacity to focus on a task
• • Able to communicate in English or Spanish
• Additional inclusion criteria for stroke participants:
• • Have sustained only one unilateral subcortical, ischemic lesion in the territory supplied by the Middle Cerebral Artery (confirmed by clinical or radiological reports) at least one year prior to participation in this project
• • Paresis confined to one side, with moderate-to-severe motor impairment of the upper limb (Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer score between 10 and 45).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • MRI contraindications
• • Severe claustrophobia
• • Pregnant women
• • Prisoners
• • Vulnerable populations
• * Diagnosis/history of:
• • multiple sclerosis
• • brain tumor
• • brain radiation
• • traumatic brain injury
• • dementia
• • Parkinson\'s disease
• • emphysema
• • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• • obstructive sleep apnea
• • Concurrent enrollment in an intervention study
• • Concurrent use of medications known to suppress central nervous system activity