Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: N/A
Brief Summary: After stroke a limited motor recovery in the paretic upper limb accounts for a large proportion of the disabling sequelae. Only about 15% of those with initial complete upper limb paralysis after stroke recover functional use of their impaired arm in daily life.

The aim of this study is to test the effects of tDCS combined with upper extremity robot-assisted therapy on stroke survivors.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Males and females subjects. Age \> 18 years.
* Diagnosis of first ischemic stroke
* Impairment of the upper limb
* Trunk control defined in the Trunk-Control Test (TCT), with a score \> 50.

Exclusion Criteria:

* anyone who does not have adequate understanding of verbal or written information in Italian sufficient to complete any test
* Impaired cognitive functioning: score less than 24 on the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE)
* contraindications to single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)(TMS will be used to measure cortical excitability): presence of a history of epilepsy, frequent headaches or neck pain, implantable devices (ventriculoperitoneal shunts, pacemakers, intrathecal pumps, intracranial metal implants)
* Contraindications to tDCS: intracranial metal implants that can be stimulated, incorrectly positioned or over-heated by the electric current
* Neurological or psychiatric pathology
* severe cardio-pulmonary, renal, hepatic diseases
* Pregnancy
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study.
* Male or Female, aged 18-85
* At least one month post ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke or brain damage to the right hemisphere
* Diagnosis of neglect confirmed by evidence of neglect on at least one of the tests in the battery of neglect tests administered during the Recruitment Interview

Absolute contraindications to participation in any part of the study:

* Anyone who does not have adequate understanding of English, sufficient to give informed consent
* Limited verbal communication in the form of dysphasia
* Any person who has a history of drug abuse as the data collected may be influenced by their condition
* Any person who has a history of dementia or any other psychiatric illness as the data collected may be influenced by their condition

Absolute contraindications to participation in the tDCS part of the study:

* Anyone who has a previous personal history of epilepsy, seizures, febrile convulsions as a child or recurrent fainting fits will be excluded from the tDCS part of the study
* Any metallic implant in the neck, head, or eye that is situated within the path of the tDCS current, and anyone with any implanted electrical devices, would be excluded as there is a risk of heating with tDCS
* Pregnant women are excluded as a precaution as there are no data on the effect on maternal tDCS or MRI on the foetus

Absolute contraindications to participation in the MRI part of the study:

* People who suffer from claustrophobia will be excluded from the MRI part of the study if they state they are unable to tolerate the scanner environment
* Anyone with a metal implant or implantable device that is found to be unsafe or unknown for MRI following investigations by named researchers and staff radiographers would be excluded.
* Pregnant women are excluded as a precaution as there are no data on the effect on maternal tDCS or MRI on the foetus

Potential contraindications to participation in the tDCS part of the study:

* Participants on some prescription medications such as anti-depressants or pain medication may be excluded as they may be at an increased risk of seizure
* Individuals who have a family history of epilepsy or seizure may be excluded as this may increase the individual's personal risk of susceptibility to seizures

Potential contraindications to participation in the MRI part of the study:

• An individual with a previous history of a surgical procedure may be excluded, depending on whether a metallic implant was used in their operation and whether the MRI-safety status of the implanted materials can be adequately assessed after requesting the medical/surgical notes (with patient consent) and/or post-surgical imaging and consulting with the staff radiographers who are legally responsible for determining participant safety in advance of any scanning.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients suffering from the consequences of a stroke in the medial cerebral artery, during the sub-acute phase (4-24 weeks after onset)
2. Age between 18-75 years
3. Hospitalised in rehabilitation Hospital Hof Ter Schelde
4. Capable of understanding and giving informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Cerebellum or brainstem lesions
2. Recently multiple lesions and older lesions which are manifested clinically.
3. History of severe substance abuse (alcohol, drugs, benzodiazepines)
4. Cardiac disease that in the opinion of the clinician precludes participation in the trial (severe dyspnea in rest, severe rhythm disturbances, etc)
5. History of epileptic insults, not caused by the stroke
6. Severe organic co morbidity
7. Psychiatric disorders or history of psychiatric disorders
8. Pace maker / internal defibrillator
9. Pregnancy
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* ischemic stroke causing arm weakness within 5-15 days
* no other neurological or psychiatric disease, who are able to perform study tasks

Exclusion Criteria:

* patients younger than 18 or older than 80 years
* patients with more than one disabling stroke
* Patients with bilateral motor impairment
* Patients with poor motivational capacity, history of severe alcohol or drug abuse
* Patients with severe language disturbances, particularly of receptive nature
* Patients with serious cognitive deficits (defined as equivalent to a MMS score of 23 or less)
* Patients with severe uncontrolled medical problems (e.g., seizures, progressive stroke syndromes, severe rheumatoid arthritis, active joint deformity of arthritic origin, active cancer or renal disease, end-stage pulmonary or cardiovascular disease, or a deteriorated condition due to age or others),
* Patients with unstable thyroid disease
* Patients with increased intracranial pressure
* Patients with unstable cardiac arrhythmia
* Patients with contraindication to TMS or tDCS stimulation (pacemaker, an implanted medication pump, a metal plate in the skull, or metal objects inside the eye or skull, patients who had a craniotomy, skin lesions at the site of stimulation)
* Patients who are not available for follow-up at 3 and 12 months
* Pregnancy
* Patients with contraindication to MRI will not participate in MRI

Answer: A