Modulation of Brain Rhythms in Stroke

Part of paid clinical trials in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Sponsor
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Study ID
NCT07121582
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
45 Years - 80 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Motor Brain Stimulation — OTHER
    For each grip trial (20 grip trials per block), participants will receive visual cues that signify the onset and offset of squeezing. Just prior to the start of the visual cue representing the onset of squeezing, participants will receive a burst of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to their primary motor hotspot region. Motor brain stimulation will involve 3 bursts of 5 pulses/burst with a 20 Hz inter-pulse interval delivered at 90% of their resting or active motor threshold.
  • Visual Brain Stimulation — OTHER
    For each grip trial (20 grip trials per block), participants will receive visual cues that signify the onset and offset of squeezing. Just prior to the start of the visual cue representing the onset of squeezing, participants will receive a burst of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to their ipsilesional occipital cortex region. Visual brain stimulation will involve 3 burst of 5 pulses/burst with a 20 Hz inter-pulse interval delivered at 90% of their resting or active motor threshold.

Study Details

The goal of this research study is to examine communication between brain and muscle in individuals with stroke and determine if applying non-invasive brain stimulation to different parts of the brain improves this communication and performance on a hand squeezing task. The investigators will fit participants with an electroencephalography (EEG) cap and place electromyography (EMG) stickers on participants hand and arm muscles to record brain and muscle activity, respectively. Participants will complete a single research visit lasting approximately 3 hours. During this visit, participants will receive two different types of non-invasive brain stimulation: \[1\] stimulation to the motor part of the brain and \[2\] stimulation to the visual part of the brain. Participants will be randomized so that half will receive stimulation to the motor part of the brain first followed by stimulation to the visual part of the brain second and vice versa. Participants will complete three blocks of hand squeezing trials using the stroke-affected (weak) hand. During the first block of squeezing trials, no brain stimulation will occur. During the second and third blocks, participants will receive stimulation just before each hand squeezing trial. The investigators will record participants' brain and muscle activity during these blocks of hand squeezing trials. Additionally, participants will also complete screening tests and exams looking at mood, motor function, and cognition.

Key Dates

Start date
Dec 1, 2025
Status verified
Feb 2026
Primary completion
Jan 31, 2027
Completion
Jan 31, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
20 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
OTHER

Arms

  • Experimental: Motor then Visual Brain Stimulation
    Following the first block of 20 grip/squeeze trials completed without brain stimulation, participants will complete a second and third set of blocks where non-invasive brain stimulation just before each grip trial will occur. Participants randomized to the "motor then visual brain stimulation" arm will receive stimulation to the motor part of their brain first followed by non-invasive brain stimulation to the visual (occipital) part of the brain. A 10-15 min participant break will separate the delivery of motor and visual brain stimulation (i.e., second and third blocks).
  • Experimental: Visual then Motor Brain Stimulation
    Following the first block of 20 grip/squeeze trials completed without brain stimulation, participants will complete a second and third set of blocks where non-invasive brain stimulation just before each grip trial will occur. Participants randomized to the "visual then motor brain stimulation" arm will receive stimulation to the visual part of their brain first followed by non-invasive brain stimulation to the motor part of the brain. A 10-15 min participant break will separate the delivery of visual and motor brain stimulation (i.e., second and third blocks).

Primary Outcome Measure

Corticomuscular Coherence Change [ Time Frame: Immediately (within 5 minutes) before and after (within 5 minutes) each stimulation block. ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Bondurant HallChapel HillNorth Carolina27514
Jessica M Cassidy, PT, DPT, PhD
[email protected]
919-843-5774

Find similar trials in Chapel Hill, NC

By condition
Stroke
By specialty
NeurologyBrain disorders
By research site
Bondurant Hall· Chapel Hill, NC

Related Studies