title: Ipsilesional anodal tDCS enhances the functional benefits of rehabilitation in patients after stroke.
abstract: Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can boost the effects of motor training and facilitate plasticity in the healthy human brain. Motor rehabilitation depends on learning and plasticity, and motor learning can occur after stroke. We tested whether brain stimulation using anodal tDCS added to motor training could improve rehabilitation outcomes in patients after stroke. We performed a randomized, controlled trial in 24 patients at least 6 months after a first unilateral stroke not directly involving the primary motor cortex. Patients received either anodal tDCS (n= 11) or sham treatment (n= 13) paired with daily motor training for 9 days. We observed improvements that persisted for at least 3 months post-intervention after anodal tDCS compared to sham treatment on the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) but not on the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer (UEFM) score. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed increased activity during movement of the affected hand in the ipsilesional motor and premotor cortex in the anodal tDCS group compared to the sham treatment group. Structural MRI revealed intervention-related increases in gray matter volume in cortical areas, including ipsilesional motor and premotor cortex after anodal tDCS but not sham treatment. The addition of ipsilesional anodal tDCS to a 9-day motor training program improved long-term clinical outcomes relative to sham treatment in patients after stroke.
authors.affiliation: Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Allman
authors.affiliation: Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Ugwechi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Amadi
authors.affiliation: Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Anderson M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.affiliation: Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.affiliation: Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Filippini
authors.affiliation: Oxford Centre for Enablement, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK.
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kischka
authors.affiliation: Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Charlotte J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Stagg
authors.affiliation: Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. heidi.johansen-berg@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Johansen-Berg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation