title: Potential determinants of efficacy of mirror therapy in stroke patients--A pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mirror therapy (MT) was found to improve motor function after stroke. However, there is high variability between patients regarding motor recovery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The following pilot study was designed to identify potential factors determining this variability between patients with severe upper limb paresis, receiving MT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven sub-acute stroke patients with severe upper limb paresis participated, receiving in-patient rehabilitation. After a set of pre-assessments (including measurement of brain activity at the primary motor cortex and precuneus during the mirror illusion, using near-infrared spectroscopy as described previously), four weeks of MT were applied, followed by a set of post-assessments. Discriminant group analysis for MT responders and non-responders was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six out of eleven patients were defined as responders and five as non-responders on the basis of their functional motor improvement. The initial motor function and the activity shift in both precunei (mirror index) were found to discriminate significantly between responders and non-responders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In line with earlier results, initial motor function was confirmed as crucial determinant of motor recovery. Additionally, activity response to the mirror illusion in both precunei was found to be a candidate for determination of the efficacy of MT.
authors.affiliation: MEDIAN Klinik Berlin-Kladow, Kladower Damm, Berlin, Germany.|Departments of Educational Science and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee, Berlin, Germany.|Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.affiliation: MEDIAN Klinik Berlin-Kladow, Kladower Damm, Berlin, Germany.|Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morkisch
authors.affiliation: MEDIAN Klinik Berlin-Kladow, Kladower Damm, Berlin, Germany.|Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fritzsch
authors.affiliation: Berlin NeuroImaging Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany.|Department of Machine Learning, BERLIN Institute of Technology, Marchstraße, Berlin, Germany.|Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehnert
authors.affiliation: Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany.|Berlin NeuroImaging Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinbrink
authors.affiliation: Departments of Educational Science and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niedeggen
authors.affiliation: MEDIAN Klinik Berlin-Kladow, Kladower Damm, Berlin, Germany.|Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dohle
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010291:Paresis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Mirror therapy; fNIRS; motor recovery; precuneus; stroke