Brain stimulation to improve motor learning after stroke (V1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on motor learning after stroke: A pilot study
IRAS ID
122530
Contact name
Di Newham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Research summary
Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and even after rehabilitation many people are left dependent on others for activities of daily living. Rehabilitation of movement after stroke requires re-learning of movement patterns that have been disrupted due to the brain injury, i.e. motor learning. There is some evidence that a safe and painless brain stimulation technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) can be used to improve motor learning and increase function of the affected arm and hand after stroke. However, there are a number of ways in which TDCS can be applied and the best way is currently unknown. It can be used to i) increase activity of the hemisphere directly affected by the stroke, ii) decrease activity of the hemisphere not directly affected by the stroke or iii) both simultaneously. The aim of this phase I/pilot study is to determine which method of applying TDCS is most effective at improving the rate of motor learning after stroke.
15-30 people who have had a stroke will receive 20 minutes of TDCS while performing a computer based motor learning task, over 4 sessions. The motor learning task involves moving a computer mouse with the affected hand to targets on a computer monitor which light up in a specific order. 25 repetitions of the movement sequence will be performed during each training session. We will measure reaction time, speed of movement and accuracy to show how quickly and how well people are learning the sequence during the brain stimulation.
The results of this phase I/pilot study will help us to determine the most effective method for using TDCS and help guide the development of a further study to test the effect of TDCS with physiotherapy on upper limb function after stroke.
REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0965
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jul 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion