Investigating the Effects of Transcranial Stimulation to Advance Stroke Rehabilitation

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Stroke, Upper Limb Function

In brief

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has the potential to boost rehabilitation after stroke by creating a 'pro-plastic' environment, where the brain is more adaptable in response to movement (motor) training. However, responses to classical NIBS protocols are highly variable. Movement-related changes in specific brain rhythms have previously been shown to be related to recovery of hand/arm function after a stroke. The investigators propose to use NIBS to target movement-related activity in the beta band (13-30Hz) within the motor cortical regions of the brain. The investigators will use a type of NIBS called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), which uses a sinusoidally-varying electrical current where the stimulation frequency is determined to be relevant to the underlying brain rhythms of interest, and the stimulation timed to coincide with specific phases of the hand/arm movement. The primary aim is to investigate whether beta-tACS improves upper limb movement in stroke survivors.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06842095

Run by

University of Oxford

People needed

60

Starts

2025-02-01

Expected to finish

2027-02-28

Last updated by the study team

2025-03-07

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study.
• Aged 18 years or above.
• Clinical diagnosis of stroke affecting the upper limb, with sufficient ability to perform the upper limb reaching task.
• At least 3 months post-stroke and discharged from inpatient care.

You may not qualify if…

• Inability to follow task instructions.
• Other neurological condition affecting movement (e.g. Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis).
• Standard contraindications to non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS, tACS). including (but not limited to) the presence of intracranial metallic or magnetic hardware, seizures, pregnancy, and the presence of a pacemaker or other stimulators/implants.
• Insufficient verbal and written English to comprehend the study and provide informed consent.

Where it is running

• Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB) — Oxford, United Kingdom (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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