Northwestern University
This study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging to map neural activity throughout the central nervous system during a shoulder abduction task to characterize what motor pathways are being used post-stroke.
Nearly 85% of stroke survivors experience significant unilateral impairment in upper extremity motor control, typically caused by damage to the corticospinal (CST) and corticoreticular (CRT) tracts (i.e., the corticofugal tracts). Alternative neural pathways, such as the contralesional cortico-reticulospinal tract (CRST), can be recruited to achieve movement of the affected arm and hand, but may have undesirable consequences. For example, the diffuse, bilateral branching of reticulospinal neurons can produce abnormal muscle co-activations (synergies) in the paretic limb, and involuntary mirror…
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged at least 18y * Able to perform shoulder abduction task (confirmed during screening and initial examination) * Safe to undergo MRI * Able to follow visual instructions using MRI-compatible vision correction goggles * No brainstem or cerebellar lesions * No severe concurrent medical problems * Cognitive/attentional capacity to focus on a task * Able to communicate in English or Spanish Additional inclusion criteria for stroke participants: * Have sustained only one unilateral subcortical, ischemic lesion in the territory supplied by the Middle Cerebral Artery…
Individuals will be visually cued to perform short, unilateral, isometric shoulder abduction tasks. A visual display will provide real-time feedback of the shoulder abduction torque, to help the participant target a predetermined torque level.
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