Back to Clinical Trials
N/ARecruiting

Mapping Corticoreticulospinal Motor Control in Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke

Sponsored by Northwestern University

About this study

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 movements (associated reactions) between limbs. Together, these effects create stereotypical movement patterns post-stroke, and there is growing interest in novel \"anti-synergy\" interventio…

Where this study is enrolling

Who can participate

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 (confirmed by clinical or radiological reports) at least one year prior to participation in this project
  • ✓Paresis confined to one side, with moderate-to-severe motor impairment of the upper limb (Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer score between 10 and 45).

Exclusion criteria

  • ✕MRI contraindications
  • ✕Severe claustrophobia
  • ✕Pregnant women
  • ✕Prisoners
  • ✕Vulnerable populations
  • ✕Diagnosis/history of:
  • ✕multiple sclerosis
  • ✕brain tumor
  • ✕brain radiation
  • ✕traumatic brain injury
  • ✕dementia
  • ✕Parkinson's disease
  • ✕Concurrent enrollment in an intervention study
  • ✕Concurrent use of medications known to suppress central nervous system activity

Only the research team can confirm whether you qualify. The intake questionnaire is the best way to find out.

Completing a questionnaire on Clinably does not enroll you in a clinical trial or confirm your eligibility. Only the research team can determine whether you qualify to participate. These results are based on the information you provide and are intended to help you start a conversation with the research team.

Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.