Improving Measurement and Treatment of Post-stroke Neglect
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
This study examines how to best assess and treat post-stroke neglect. This study will examine the preliminary effects of an innovative intervention (repetitive task-specific practice + transcranial direct current stimulation) for individuals with neglect. This study will also determine whether items from various neglect assessments can be combined to establish a more comprehensive neglect measure.
Description
It is very common for stroke survivors to have difficulty attending to one side of their body or space (neglect). Stroke survivors with neglect not only demonstrate impairments in attention but they also experience motor impairment. These individuals also have an imbalance in excitation in the brain. This study will examine the preliminary effects of non-invasive brain stimulation (transcranial direct current stimulation, tDCS) combined with arm rehabilitation training (repetitive task-specific practice, RTP) for individuals with neglect following stroke. The investigators will examine the eff…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke 3 months post stroke. * Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity (FMA-Upper Extremity) score between 20-56/60 * Inducible motor evoked potential (MEP) of the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) on the paretic stimulation (TMS) * Demonstrate the presence of unilateral neglect (Virtual Reality Lateralized Attention Test score \<18) Exclusion Criteria: * History of cortical hemorrhagic stroke * Presence of any MRI, TMS, tDCS risk factors including: * history of seizures * history of brain tumor * hardware in skull or spine (e.g. coils, clips) * implan…
Interventions
- DeviceSham tDCS
Sham tDCS will be delivered for 30 minutes in conjunction with repetitive task-specific practice for the arm/hand. tDCS is a form of noninvasive brain stimulation. Electrodes will be placed on the scalp but in the sham condition they will not deliver direct current (2mA). Sham tDCS will be delivered for 30 minutes in conjunction with repetitive task-specific practice for the arm/hand. Repetitive task-specific practice (RTP). Participants will practice using their paretic arm/hand to complete functional movements during the 30 minute train
- DeviceActive tDCS
Sham tDCS will be delivered for 30 minutes in conjunction with repetitive task-specific practice for the arm/hand. tDCS is a form of noninvasive brain stimulation. Electrodes will be placed on the scalp but in the sham condition they will not deliver direct current (2mA). Sham tDCS will be delivered for 30 minutes in conjunction with repetitive task-specific practice for the arm/hand. Repetitive task-specific practice (RTP). Participants will practice using their paretic arm/hand to complete functional movements during the 30 minute train
Location
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PAPittsburgh, Pennsylvania