Neural Mechanisms of Motor Recovery With Technology Assisted Training

Study Description: This study will investigate the neural mechanisms of technology-assisted-training for post-stroke hemiparesis by using functional near-infrared-spectroscopy (fNIRS). Patients with hemiparesis affecting the arm will be brought in for 3 weeks of technology-assisted-training while having fNIRS recordings of their brain activity. Analysis of these brain activation patterns will help determine what areas of the brain are necessary to respond to this type of training. Objectives: 1) to investigate brain network activity changes that occur during technology-assisted-training and 2) to determine the baseline residual brain network connectivity required for patients to respond to robot-assisted-training. Endpoints: The study will evaluate increases in cortical connectivity between bilateral primary motor areas, angular gyrus and parietal operculum to test the hypothesis that cortical connectivity in these areas will positively correlate with improvement in technology-assisted-assessments. The study will also assess baseline connectivity of the angular gyrus and parietal operculum to sensorimotor networks to test the hypothesis that cortical connectivity in these areas will predict reductions in arm motor impairments that occur with technology-assisted-training. Study Population: Patients of either gender with chronic (at least 6 months or more) hemiparesis of the arm caused by a single unilateral stroke will be recruited from Baltimore city and the surrounding counties.