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Brain Connections for Arm Movement After Stroke

This study is looking at how the brain controls arm movement after a stroke. Researchers will use Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a device that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, while participants make reaching movements with a robotic arm. The goal is to understand how different brain areas work together before and after a stroke, and when these areas are most affected by TMS. This information could help doctors develop better treatments for stroke patients. You may be able to join if you are 45-90 years old, speak English, and are medically stable. If you've had a stroke, it needs to be a specific type affecting one side of your body. The main goal is to measure how far your arm moves immediately after TMS.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 76 participants, including those who have had a stroke and healthy volunteers.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary measurement for this study is taken immediately (within 2 seconds) after stimulation.

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

NCT04286516

Brain Connections for Arm Movement After Stroke

Recruiting
NAAges 45–90InterventionalTreatment
VA Office of Research and Development
~76 participants
Updated 2026-06-02 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Path length
Measured over Immediate (within 2 s after stimulation)

Conditions

Stroke
Brain Disease
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases

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Stroke

NCT04286516

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaniastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • George F. Wittenberg, MD PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA

Who to contact

Amy Boos
[email protected]
(412) 648-4179
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Be 45-90 years of age
Have adequate language and neurocognitive function to participate in training and testing
Be medically stable to participate in the study
Be English speaking
Be 45-90 years of age
Clinically defined, unilateral, hemiparetic stroke with radiologic exclusion of other possible diagnosis
Stroke onset at least 6 months before enrollment
Subcortical stroke (ex: internal capsule, deep white matter of posterior frontal lobe)
Present with mild to moderate arm dysfunction
Be medically stable to participate in the study
Be English speaking

Exclusion

Unable to give informed consent
Have a serious complicating medical illness that would preclude participation
Contractures or orthopedic problems limiting range of joint motion in the potential study arm or other impairments that would interfere with the study activities
Visual loss such that the subject would not be able to see the test patterns on the robot computer monitor
Unable to comply with requirements of the study
Enrollment in another greater-than-minimal risk study
Presence of medical condition or implant that prevents safe administration of TMS or MRI
Pregnancy

What this trial measures

  • Path lengthImmediate (within 2 s after stimulation)

    Movement path length in centimeters from KINARM system during the one second reaching period. (units: cm)