An interventional study of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) in Cerebral Vascular Accident, sponsored by The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 21 Years to 90 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-10-31.
Sponsored by The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Recent studies showed that a non-invasive, low-intensity brain stimulation called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can effectively increase motor neuron excitability in the brain and therefore promotes functional recovery after stroke. Thus, the overall purpose of this research project is to examine the effect of brain stimulation on motor skill learning in stroke survivors.
The specific aims and hypotheses are:
Aim 1: To explore the trends of locomotor skill acquisition in stroke survivors after anodal tDCS (a-tDCS, real brain stimulation), stroke survivors after sham tDCS (s-tDCS), and stroke with no brain stimulation (control; CON). Hypothesis (Aim 1): Stroke participants who receives a-tDCS will show a faster rate of learning a locomotor task compared to stroke participants who receive s-tDCS and stroke participants with no brain stimulation.
Aim 2: To explore different trends of stimulation-induced improvements in learning capacity and neural activities between three groups: stroke group, healthy young group, and healthy older group. Hypothesis (Aim 2): Healthy young adults will have a greater degree of stimulation-induced improvements in learning capacity and neural excitation compared to older adults and stroke participants.
Aim 3: To explore the trends of functional improvements post a-tDCS in stroke survivors. Hypothesis (Aim 3): Stroke participants who receives a-tDCS will show a greater improvements in functional performances compared to stroke participants who receive s-tDCS and stroke participants with no brain stimulation.
Aim 4: To explore the accumulated, longitudinal trends of a four-week visuomotor stepping training in conjunction with brain stimulation on treadmill walking training and gait improvements for persons with chronic stroke. Hypothesis (Aim 4): Stroke participants who receives a-tDCS will show a greater degree of gait improvements compared to stroke participants who receive s-tDCS and stroke participants with no brain stimulation.
7,286 studies on the registry are indexed under Stroke; 2,007 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 70 is above the median of 50 across 5,369 interventional studies indexed under Stroke.
Browse Stroke studies →The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston is the lead sponsor of 251 studies on the registry; 38 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
To explore the trends of locomotor skill acquisition in stroke survivors after anodal tDCS (a-tDCS, real brain stimulation), stroke survivors after sham tDCS (s-tDCS), and stroke with no brain stimulation (control; CON).
Combination Product: anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS)
Compare stimulation-induced improvements in learning capacity between three groups: stroke group, healthy young group, and healthy older group.
Combination Product: anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS)
To explore functional improvements (gait performance, brain neural activation) between a-tDCS, s-tDCS, and control groups.
Combination Product: anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS)
To explore the accumulated, longitudinal trends of a four-week visuomotor stepping training in conjunction with brain stimulation on treadmill walking training and gait improvements for persons with chronic stroke.
Combination Product: anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS)
Stroke participants will be randomly assigned into one of three groups: anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS), sham tDCS (s-tDCS), or control groups (i.e. no brain stimulation). Young and older healthy adults will be randomly assignments into a-tDCS or s-tDCS groups. Stroke participants in each group will receive a four-week of the assigned brain stimulation combined with visuomotor stepping training and treadmill training
Mean change from baseline in stepping motor control after a single brain stimulation and locomotor learning session.
stepping motor control will be quantified by the time (seconds) that each participant takes to initiate a forward step onto a visual target displayed on the wall screen
Time frame: 0 minute, 30 minutes, and 24 hours a single brain stimulation session
Mean change from baseline in gait performances after a single brain stimulation and locomotor learning session.
Gait performances will be quantified by gait speed (meters/second) during ground walking tests
Time frame: 0 minute, 30 minutes, and 24 hours a single brain stimulation session
Mean change from baseline in brain neuronal network activations after a single brain stimulation and locomotor learning session.
The neuronal activations will be quantified by oxygen consumption changes locally detected by surface infrared diodes.
Time frame: 0 minute, 30 minutes, and 24 hours a single brain stimulation session
Mean change from baseline in brain neuronal activations after a single brain stimulation and locomotor learning session.
The neuronal activations will be quantified by peak-to-peak electrical signals detected by surface electromyographic (EMG) electrodes on leg muscles after transcranial magnetic stimulations
Time frame: 0 minute, 30 minutes, and 24 hours a single brain stimulation session
Mean change from baseline in stepping motor control after a four-week brain stimulation combined with visuomotor stepping training and treadmill walking training
stepping motor control will be quantified by the time (seconds) that each participant takes to initiate a forward step onto a visual target displayed on the wall screen
Time frame: Day 1, Day 7, Day 30, Day 90 post a four-week brain stimulation combined with visuomotor stepping and treadmill walking training
Mean change from baseline in gait performances after a four-week brain stimulation combined with visuomotor stepping training and treadmill walking training
Gait performances will be quantified by gait speeds (meters/second) during ground walking tests
Time frame: Day 1, Day 7, Day 30, Day 90 post a four-week brain stimulation combined with visuomotor stepping and treadmill walking training
Mean change from baseline in brain neuronal network activations after a four-week brain stimulation combined with visuomotor stepping training and treadmill walking training
The neuronal activations will be quantified by oxygen consumption changes locally detected by surface infrared diodes
Time frame: Day 1, Day 7, Day 30, Day 90 post a four-week brain stimulation combined with visuomotor stepping and treadmill walking training
Mean change from baseline in brain neuronal activations after a four-week brain stimulation combined with visuomotor stepping training and treadmill walking training
The neuronal activations will be quantified by peak-to-peak electrical signals detected by surface electromyographic (EMG) electrodes on leg muscles after transcranial magnetic stimulations
Time frame: Day 1, Day 7, Day 30, Day 90 post a four-week brain stimulation combined with visuomotor stepping and treadmill walking training
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The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston