BCI With Virtual Reality for Stroke Rehabilitation: A Crossover Study

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Stroke

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate if training sessions of motor imagery associated with brain-computer interface and motor observation through virtual reality (MI-VR-BCI) can help to improve arm and hand recovery after a stroke. The main questions to answer are: * Can adding MI-BCI-VR sessions improve upper limb movement? * Can it help stroke survivors perform daily activities more easily? * Does this type of training improve brain activity and connections related to movement? Researchers will compare this type of intervention with motor imagery associated with a standard brain-computer interface intervention (MI-BCI) to see if there are added effects to upper limb function, activity and brain connections. Participants will : * Perform two intervention periods in a random order: one with MI-VR-BCI training sessions and other with MI-BCI training sessions. Each period will involve 3 weekly sessions of training, during 6 weeks, with the intervention periods being separated by 3 weeks. * Complete four assessment sessions: one at the beginning and another at the end of each intervention period.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07374276

Run by

Technical University of Lisbon

People needed

12

Starts

2026-01-05

Expected to finish

2027-03-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-02-03

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Clinical diagnosis of stroke confirmed by neuroimaging, with resulting upper limb hemiparesis.
• Time since stroke between 6 and 24 months at the time of selection.
• Sufficient cognitive ability to understand and follow the intervention procedures.
• Spasticity score <3 on the Modified Ashworth Scale in upper limb muscle groups.
• Adults aged 18 to 80 years.
• Ability to remain seated for approximately 2 hours.
• Motivation to participate and capacity to provide informed consent.
• Undergoing conventional rehabilitation therapy during the study period.

You may not qualify if…

• Severe communication difficulties preventing comprehension or execution of instructions.
• Skin lesions, allergies, or metal implants in the cephalic region, or history of craniectomy, that hinder electrode placement or interfere with EEG signal acquisition.
• Concomitant neurological or musculoskeletal conditions affecting upper limb motor function.
• Other neurological, musculoskeletal, or psychiatric conditions that may compromise participation or study outcomes (e.g., major depression, severe visual impairment, photosensitive epilepsy, frequent vertigo or dizziness).
• Upper limb impairment due to a previous stroke.

Where it is running

• Centro de Medicina de Reabilitação de Alcoitão — Alcabideche, Lisbon District, Portugal (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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