Simultaneous Recording of Cognitive and Motor Functions After Stroke

Simultaneous Recording of Cognitive and Motor Functions After Stroke : Dissociation of Motor and Cognitive Deficits

Aim: To assess whether a cognitively demanding dual-task has greater impact on manual dexterity in chronic stroke patients than in healthy subjects.

Methods: A visuomotor force-tracking task, combining grip force and oculomotor recordings, will be applied in chronic stroke patients with mild-moderate hemiparesis without clinical cognitive impairments and in age-comparable healthy subjects. The dual-task includes avoiding visual distractors and mental addition of numbers. Dual-task effect is calculated as difference in force control accuracy (dual minus single-task) and as difference in saccade rate (addition of numbers minus visual distractors).

Inclusion Criteria:

• > 18 years old
• First symptomatic stroke more than 3 months ago
• Box and blocks test score < 52
• Mini Mental State Examination Test > 25

Exclusion Criteria:

• Psychiatric disease
• Risk of Pregnancy
• History of previous stroke
• Disability that may interfere with the performance of tasks