Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Effects of Transcranial DC Stimulation Coupled With Constraint Induced Movement Therapy on Motor Function in Stroke Patients
Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether noninvasive brain stimulation associated with motor learning offers an additional benefit than motor learning alone in patients with stroke.

The investigators hypothesis is that active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) will induce a greater motor function improvement as compared with sham tDCS combined with CIMT.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* stroke with at least slight deficit

Exclusion Criteria:

* epilepsy
* contraindication to tDCS and/or to fMRI
* presence of metal in the head
* unability to understand / complete behavioural tasks
* chronic intake of alcohol or recreative drugs
* major health condition
* presence of pacemaker
* pregnancy
B: Inclusion Criteria:

All subjects must be between the ages of 18-90 and must not be pregnant.

Additional Entry criteria for Stroke subject enrollment:

1. First-time clinical ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident - evidenced by a radiological (or physician's) report;
2. Weakness, defined as score of less than 55 (out of 66) on arm motor Fugl-Meyer (FM) scale
3. Stroke onset \>6 months prior to study enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Significant pre-stroke disability;
2. Major depression, as defined by Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) scale grater then or equal 17 if needed (history of depression before the stroke);
3. Any substantial decrease in alertness, language reception, or attention that might interfere with understanding instructions for motor testing;
4. Excessive pain in any joint of the paretic extremity (not applicable to severe stroke subjects);
5. Contraindications to single pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) (TMS will be used to measure cortical excitability) such as metal head implants

   * history of seizures
   * unexplained loss of consciousness
   * metal in the head
   * frequent or severe headaches or neck pain
   * implanted brain medical devices.
6. Contraindications to tDCS

   * metal in the head
   * implanted brain medical devices
7. Advanced liver, kidney, cardiac, or pulmonary disease;
8. A terminal medical diagnosis consistent with survival \< 1 year;
9. Coexistent major neurological or psychiatric disease as to decrease number of confounders;
10. A history of significant alcohol or drug abuse in the prior 6 months;
11. Use of carbamazepine and amitriptyline;
12. Subjects may not be actively enrolled in a separate intervention study targeting stroke recovery and
13. Subjects may not have already received constraint induced motor therapy and/or tDCS treatment for stroke;
14. History of epilepsy before stroke (or episodes of seizures within the last six months).
15. Subjects with global aphasia and deficits of comprehension
16. Pregnancy
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* single symptomatic stroke more than 3 months ago with hand/arm weakness
* able to perform required tests and provide consent
* Age 18-80
* Modified Ashworth scale \<3
* range of motion functional at shoulder elbow wrist and hand

Exclusion Criteria:

* more than one symptomatic stroke in middle cerebral artery territory or bilateral involvement
* severe medical or psychiatric conditions, drug abuse, seizure disorder
* pregnancy/breast feeding
* subarachnoid hemorrhage, lobar hemorrhage
* patients who can not have tDCS (prior head surgery, pacemakers, metallic implants in the head etc)
* patients taking antiadrenergic medications
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Subacute stroke (within 1-4 weeks post stroke)
* Acute hemiparesis (Fugl-Meyer Stage \< IV) with single thromboembolic non-hemorrhagic infarction documented by a neurologist
* Aged 18-79

Exclusion Criteria:

* Absence of voluntary movement (Fugl-Meyer Stage \< III)
* Head injury or the presence of intracranial metal or intracranial lesions
* History of cranial irradiation
* History of epilepsy
* Presence of a pacemaker
* Taking anticonvulsant or neuroleptic medication
* Substance abuse
* Inability to understand instructions

Answer: B