Neurofeedback for Stroke Rehabilitation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Use of Real-Time fMRI and a Mobile EEG System to Provide Neurofeedback to Stroke Patients to Promote Neural Plasticity for Motor Rehabilitation.
IRAS ID
117729
Contact name
Heidi Johansen-Berg
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Clinical Trials and Research Governance
Research summary
Previous research using real-time, functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) has shown that participants could modulate the activation of the brain when provided with real-time feedback of the level of activation (see Weiskopf, 2012 for review). The current research will examine whether stroke patients can modulate the activation of the motor areas of the brain while performing or imagining simple hand movements and whether the modulation of motor area activation has any effect of behavioural measures of motor function and neural plasticity. Following baseline testing, participants will train by performing the motor task while trying to modulate the activation in the motor areas of the brain (e.g. motor cortex, supplementary motor area). Following training, fMRI and/or EEG will be recorded to detect functional and connectivity changes in the brain and behavioural assessments will again be recorded.
There will be four phases to the study. For Phase 1 and 2, participants will receive neurofeedback through rtfMRI with a single and four training sessions in Phase 1 and 2 respectively. For Phase 3 and 4 of the study participants will receive neurofeedback from a mobile EEG system. Phase 3 will consist of a single session and Phase 4 will consist of either 4 or 10 sessions depending on group.
Patients will be recruited through recommendation of their consultant physicians, the Stroke Research Network, and the Chronic Stroke Patient Panel at the Cognitive Neuropsychology Centre as well as through leaflets from the stroke inpatients and outpatients clinics at the OUHT. The study is funded by the European Commission.
REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0020
Date of REC Opinion
22 May 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion