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Brain state–dependent stimulation boosts functional recovery following stroke
Author(s) -
MrachaczKersting Natalie,
Stevenson Andrew J. T.,
Jørgensen Helle R. M.,
Severinsen Kåre Eg,
Aliakbaryhosseinabadi Susan,
Jiang Ning,
Farina Dario
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.25375
Subject(s) - interquartile range , stroke (engine) , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation , neurology , neuromodulation , primary motor cortex , motor cortex , stimulation , rehabilitation , stimulus (psychology) , physical therapy , neuroscience , psychology , mechanical engineering , engineering , psychotherapist
Objective Adjuvant protocols devised to enhance motor recovery in subacute stroke patients have failed to show benefits with respect to classic therapeutic interventions. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of a novel brain state–dependent intervention based on known mechanisms of memory and learning that is integrated as part of the weekly rehabilitation program in subacute stroke patients. Methods Twenty‐four hospitalized subacute stroke patients were randomly assigned to 2 intervention groups: (1) the associative group received 30 pairings of a peripheral electrical nerve stimulus (ES) such that the generated afferent volley arrived precisely during the most active phase of the motor cortex as patients attempted to perform a movement; and (2) in the control group, the ES intensity was too low to generate a stimulation of the nerve. Functional (including the lower extremity Fugl–Meyer assessment [LE‐FM; primary outcome measure]) and neurophysiological (changes in motor evoked potentials [MEPs]) assessments were performed prior to and following the intervention period. Results The associative group significantly improved functional recovery with respect to the control group (median [interquartile range] LE‐FM improvement = 6.5 [3.5–8.25] and 3 [0.75–3], respectively; p = 0.029). Significant increases in MEP amplitude were seen following all sessions in the associative group only ( p ≤ 0.006). Interpretation This is the first evidence of a clinical effect of a neuromodulatory intervention in the subacute phase of stroke. This was evident with relatively few repetitions in comparison to available techniques, making it a clinically viable approach. The results indicate the potential of the proposed neuromodulation system in daily clinical routine for stroke rehabilitation. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:84–95.