Post-stroke Motor Rehabilitation Using Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy-based Brain-computer-interface

Portable Method of Motor Rehabilitation Using Functional Near-InfraRed Spectroscopy- Based Brain-computer-interface to Augment Post-stroke Recovery (fNIRS-PROMOTE- Recovery)

Chronic stroke survivors suffering from weaknesses or movement difficulties in their hand/arm are provided a system to aid in at-home rehabilitation for 6 weeks. This rehabilitation system includes a headband that measures and provides feedback from the brain during rehabilitation, together with tablet-based software. Throughout the 6 week rehabilitation period (as well as in a follow-up session 1 month afterwards) several assessments are taken to understand the effect of this rehabilitation on participant's movement abilities, as well as their brain activity.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 - 90 years
• 6 months - 5 years since most recent stroke
• Upper-extremity Fugl-Meyer motor function (FMA-UE) score ≤56
• Able to follow simple commands
• Fluency in English
• Not currently receiving therapy for the upper extremity

Exclusion Criteria:

• Visual impairment that would interfere with visualization of the therapy interface (score >0 on the visual subscale of the NIH stroke scale)
• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Score ≥10
• History of significant physical disability prior to most recent stroke
• Open wounds on the scalp
• Unable or unwilling to remove hair braids or head coverings which interfere with the Axem Home device efficacy.
• Inability to follow training instructions for at-home BCI system.