Operant Conditioning for Rehabilitation After Stroke

The purposes of this study include:

1. To test if multiple upper extremity muscles represented within a discrete primary motor cortex site reflect existing muscle synergies after stroke.
2. To test if altered muscle synergies and intermuscular coordination are malleable to motor evoked potential conditioning that induces corticospinal plasticity for the targeted muscle, wrist extensor carpi radialis

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disabilities in the U.S., which can markedly impact the function of the upper extremity (UE). One of the major UE motor impairments is abnormal intermuscular coordination, which leads to impaired post-stroke function and life participation. Also, relatively little is understood about how stroke affects the corticospinal innervation of multiple UE muscles, visualized as multi-muscle motor evoked potentials (MEPs) to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the primary motor cortex (M1), and its association with intermuscular coordination and impaired UE motor function in stroke. Some studies have shown that improvement in corticospinal excitability for the affected limb may be able to improve intermuscular coordination and enhance motor function recovery after stroke. Operant conditioning is a method that can be used to produce not only targeted plasticity but also wider beneficial plasticity in multiple spinal/supraspinal pathways. Recent studies have shown that MEP operant up-conditioning can increase the corticospinal excitability for the targeted muscle in people with SCI in the UE and lower extremity (LE) and in the LE of multiple sclerosis.

For the aim 1 of the project, MEPs elicited by TMS will be applied at the hot spot for the wrist ECR. EMG signal from 15 UE muscle will be collected simultaneously during isometric force generation tasks. This aim will enroll 10 age-matched (age of 40-75 yo) healthy adult and 10 adult (age of 40-75 yo) stroke survivors. Each participant will have a single measurement session.

For the aim 2 of the project, 4 randomized out of 10 stroke survivors will perform operant conditioning method of the wrist ECR; also, assessment of the intermuscular coordination, UE Fugl-Meyer (FM), and Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) will be performed. Participants will have three visits per week for 10 weeks for training session. Finally, to test retention of the intervention effect, they will perform two assessment sessions one and three months after finishing the training.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion criteria for aged matched healthy group

* Male or female whose age range between 40 and 75
* no known neurological injuries

Exclusion criteria for aged matched healthy group

* have an orthopedic disorder involving upper limbs;
* have a history of any neurologic disease;
* have any history of epilepsy of the potential participants and/or their family members;
* had an adverse reaction to TMS;
* are unable to consent;
* are pregnant.

Inclusion criteria for stroke group

* male or female hemiparetic chronic stroke survivors;
* age ranging between 40-75 year;
* with single unilateral ischemic or hemorrhagic middle cerebral artery stroke;
* neurologically stable for \>6 months;
* have an expectation that current medication will be maintained without changes for at least 3 months. Stable use of anti-spasticity medication (e.g., baclofen, diazepam, tizanidine) is accepted;
* with moderate-to-severe impairments (FMA\<45/66);
* with weak wrist extension (i.e., \<4 by manual muscle strength test);
* eligible to receive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and extensor carpi radialis (ECR) motor evoked potential (MEP) must be present in the more affected arm;
* without severe spasticity (Modified Ashworth (MA) \<4);
* have not received botulinum toxin on the impaired arm within 3 months.

Exclusion criteria for stroke group

* have an orthopedic disorder involving upper limbs;
* have no measurable MEP elicited in the ECR;
* unable to produce any voluntary ECR EMG activity;
* cognitive impairment sufficient to interfere with informed consent or successful completion of the protocol (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score \< 26);
* a history of another neurologic disease;
* a history of vertigo;
* a history of vestibular or cochlear dysfunction;
* have a history of convulsion or a seizure;
* anesthesia of joint position sense in upper limbs;
* are pregnant or have a chance that they might be (self-reported);
* have metal in the brain/skull (except titanium; e.g. splinters, fragments, clips, etc.);
* have cochlear implants;
* have an implanted neurostimulator (DBS, epidural/subdural, VNS);
* have a cardiac pacemaker or intracardiac lines or metal in the body;
* have a medication infusion device;
* are taking any medications to treat mental illness;
* have spinal or ventricular derivations;
* had an adverse reaction to TMS.