Individualized rTMS Synchronized Task Training for Closed-loop Neuromodulation of Post-stroke Motor Dysfunction

Launched by RUIJIN HOSPITAL · Jul 1, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new way to help people recover movement in their arms and hands after a stroke. It uses a treatment called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which sends gentle magnetic pulses to specific parts of the brain to encourage healing. The study will look at whether a personalized approach—where the magnetic stimulation is carefully targeted and combined with movement training—can improve arm and hand function better than standard or “sham” (placebo) treatments. The researchers also want to make sure this treatment is safe.

People who might join the trial are adults between 20 and 80 years old who have had a stroke that caused problems moving their upper limbs but are otherwise stable and able to participate in tests and therapy. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: personalized rTMS, non-personalized rTMS, or a sham treatment. They will receive the treatment for 10 sessions over two weeks. Before and after the treatment, and at follow-up visits up to three months later, they will have brain scans and movement tests to see how well they are improving. This study aims to find out if this tailored brain stimulation combined with therapy can help the brain reorganize and improve arm and hand function after stroke.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. The patient is first diagnosed with stroke through neurological examination, CT or MRI scan.
• • 2. The vital signs are stable and there is a certain degree of upper limb motor dysfunction.
• • 3. Motor evoked potentials(MEPs) of First Dorsal Interosseous Muscle（FDI）or Abductor Pollicis Brevis Muscle (APB) is negative in ipsilesional hemisphere.
• • 4. The age is between 20 and 80 years old.
• • 5. The cognitive ability is not significantly affected and the patient can cooperate with various examinations and assessments, with a MMSE score ≥ 20 points.
• • 6. There are no serious complications (such as pneumonia, heart failure, urinary tract infection or malnutrition).
• • 7. There is no pathological condition that is a contraindication for TMS in the medical history (for example, patients with metal in the brain, such as aneurysm clips, patients with a cardiac pacemaker, pregnant women, or those with a history of epileptic seizures).
• • 8. The patient or guardian agrees to sign the informed consent form.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Patients with severe heart, lung, liver, kidney diseases and malignant tumors;
• • 2. Those with a history of aphasia, severe cognitive impairment or mental illness;
• • 3. Patients who have had a history of epileptic seizures in the last month or are taking anti-epileptic drugs recently;
• • 4. Those with severe visual or hearing impairments, unable to communicate normally;
• • 5. People with metal implants, pacemakers, skull defects or other conditions that prevent them from undergoing TMS.