Stroke
Conditions
Brief summary
tACS has the potential to directly induce cortical alterations in the intrinsic neural oscillation at specific frequencies, and the brain could mirror the induced frequencies of the external source of oscillations from the stimulation. Hence, tACS with matching stimulation frequency could be an effective means of enhancing brain oscillatory activity to potentially induce synaptic plasticity for restoration of damaged brain functions. However from the existing studies of applying tACS over the M1 in healthy and diseased brains, there is a wide range of applied stimulation frequencies and varied neuromodulation effects on motor behavior or cortical excitability at different frequencies. In this proposal, subject-specific stimulation frequency and latency will be identified.
Interventions
DEVICEtACS
A pair of 25 cm2 rubber electrodes enclosed in saline-soaked sponges and affixed to the head with rubber bands.
Sponsors
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Hemiparesis subsequent to first-ever unilateral stroke for more than 6 months; * MCP and PIP finger joints can be extended to 180° passively; * Sufficient cognition to follow the experimental instructions
Exclusion criteria
* Severe hand spasticity or hand deformity; * History of alcohol or drug abuse or epilepsy; * Bilateral brain infarcts; * Severe cognitive deficits; * Comprehensive aphasia; * Contraindications to tACS and MRI
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic resonance imaging | 3-month after the 10th session training | Structural and functional MRI |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) | 3-month after the 10th session training | The ARAT has total 19 items, divided into 4 categories (grasp, grip, pinch, and gross arm movement). It ranges from 3 to 0 (best to worse). |
| Fugl-Meyer Assessment (Upper Extremity) | 3-month after the 10th session training | The maximum score is 66, divided into 33 items in the form of a 3-point scale (0-2), 0 is cannot perform and 2 performs fully. |
| Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) | 3-month after the 10th session training | The WMFT measures upper limb ability through timed and functional tasks. It has 17 items, ranging from 0 to 5 (worse to best). |
Countries
Hong Kong
Contacts
Primary ContactRaymond Tong, PhD
Outcome results
None listed