Exploring Cerebellar Inhibition of the Motor Cortex in Stroke Patients

Exploring Cerebellar Inhibition of the Motor Cortex in Stroke Patients

The past 10 years of research in post stroke patients have shown certain types of rehabilitation can help neuronal plasticity of the brain. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be used to monitor this plasticity by mapping the brain's function (measuring brain activity). Recent research suggests that TMS can be used for both prognosis (determining future function) and to determine what type of rehabilitation therapy will work best after stroke. The purposes of this research study are to: 1) determine changes in cerebellar activity after motor cortical stroke 2) compare changes in recovery of motor function with changes in cerebellar - motor cortex connections; 3) determine the ability of TMS to "predict" functional outcome after stroke. The primary hypotheses are: 1) functional recovery will be correlated with TMS changes (as measure of motor threshold (MT), intracortical inhibition, cerebellar cerebral inhibition (CBI), motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and recruitment curves; 2) baseline TMS will predict future functional outcomes.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be used to monitor this plasticity by mapping the brain's function (measuring brain activity). Recent research suggests that TMS can be used for both prognosis (determining future function) and to determine what type of rehabilitation therapy will work best after stroke. The purposes of this research study are to: 1) determine changes in cerebellar activity after motor cortical stroke 2) compare changes in recovery of motor function with changes in cerebellar - motor cortex connections; 3) determine the ability of TMS to "predict" functional outcome after stroke. The primary hypotheses are: 1) functional recovery will be correlated with TMS changes (as measure of motor threshold (MT), intracortical inhibition, cerebellar cerebral inhibition (CBI), motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and recruitment curves; 2) baseline TMS will predict future functional outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• one sided ischemic stroke confirmed by radiology
• adults

Exclusion Criteria:

• brainstem stroke
• cerebellar stroke
• seizure with the recent stroke
• any history of uncontrolled seizure
• pregnancy or planning on getting pregnant during the next year
• recent history (past year) of alcohol and drug abuse (due to lack of follow up) Other criteria include TMS exclusions: aneurysm clips, previous surgery over motor cortex, open craniotomy.