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Understanding Brain Stimulation for Motor Function in Stroke and Healthy Aging

This observational study is looking at how a type of brain stimulation called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) affects movement. Researchers want to understand if the timing of TMS, based on your brain's natural electrical rhythms (oscillations), can make it work better. The goal is to improve treatments for people who have had a stroke and have difficulty moving their arms and hands. You might be able to join if you are a healthy adult aged 18 or older, or if you are an adult aged 18 or older who has had a stroke at least six months ago. The study will measure how responsive your brain's motor pathways are to TMS at different points in these brain rhythms. This will be measured over a period of 6 years.

Study design
This is an observational study with a planned enrollment of 114 participants, including healthy adults and stroke patients.
What's involved
You will have up to 5 visits. At the first visit, you will have a medical history review and a physical exam.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary endpoint, measuring brain responsiveness, will be assessed at 6 years.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT03288220

Influence of Brain Oscillation-Dependent TMS on Motor Function

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 18+Observational
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
~114 participants
Updated 2026-07-14 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
We will study if corticospinal excitability varies across different sensorimotor alpha EEG waveform oscillation phases in healthy older adults and chronic stroke patients with weakness in one or both arms.
Measured over 6 years

Conditions

Healthy
Stroke
Normal Physiology
Aging

Explore related trials

HealthyStroke

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Maryland1

Study leadership

  • Leonardo G Cohen, M.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Who to contact

Catherine L Blumhorst, C.R.N.P.
[email protected]
(301) 451-1335
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Healthy younger adults:
Ages 18 years to less than 50 years. (18 to 49)
Willingness/ability to provide informed consent.
Ability to induce a motor evoked potential in the muscle target of the upper extremity, as evaluated during the TMS Screening.
Healthy older adults:
Age 50 and over
Willingness/ability to provide informed consent.
Ability to induce a motor evoked potential in the muscle target of the upper extremity, as evaluated during the TMS Screening.
Stroke patients:
Age 18 and over.
Unilateral or bilateral upper limb paresis with the ability to voluntarily contract a finger, hand, wrist, or elbow muscle in the affected arm(s).
Stroke onset \> 6 months prior to participation.
Intact M1 sufficient to induce motor evoked potentials in the affected upper extremity following ipsilesional TMS, as evaluated during the TMS Screening.
Willingness/ability to provide informed consent.
If the investigator feels the individual s capacity to provide informed consent is questionable, the NIH Human Subjects Protection Unit (HSPU) will be requested to determine the individual s ability to consent.

Exclusion

Healthy younger and older adults:
Presence of severe neurological or medical disorder (e.g., Parkinson s disease or multiple sclerosis).
History of seizures.
Chronic use of antipsychotic drugs (e.g., chlorpromazine or clozapine), tri-cyclic or other anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, or prescription stimulants.
TMS contraindications, such as:
Pacemaker, implanted pump, stimulator, cochlear implant, or metal objects inside the eye or skull.
Diagnosed severe hearing loss.
Current pregnancy.
Staff from our section.
Stroke patients:
Presence of severe neurological or medical disorder, other than stroke (e.g., Parkinson s disease or multiple sclerosis).
History of brainstem stroke.
History of seizures.
Chronic use of antipsychotic drugs (e.g., chlorpromazine or clozapine), benzodiazepines, or prescription stimulants.
TMS contraindications, such as:
Pacemaker, implanted pump, stimulator, cochlear implant, or metal objects inside
Diagnosed severe hearing loss.
Current pregnancy.
Staff from our section.

What this trial measures

  • We will study if corticospinal excitability varies across different sensorimotor alpha EEG waveform oscillation phases in healthy older adults and chronic stroke patients with weakness in one or both arms.6 years

    For both experiments, the primary outcome measure is corticospinal excitability. Exploratory outcome measures include MEP amplitude variability, and TMS-induced oscillations