A Study Exploring Brain Activity in Relation to Sensory Arm Impairments in the Early Stages of Stroke

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This clinical study is organized for people with stroke often experience difficulties with their sensation in their upper limb. New technologies may be able to help these important problems. However, there is currently not enough knowledge about how the brain recovers in people with sensory impairments in their arm and hand. Using a non-invasive technique of recording brain activity, known as electroencephalography (EEG), brain activity in combination with somatosensation of the hand will be measured. Therefore, the purpose of this study will be to analyse brain activity in relation to somatosensory impairments after stroke during the first two weeks after stroke.

Official Title
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Neural Correlates of Upper Limb Somatosensory Impairments and Recovery in the Acute Phase After Stroke: an EEG Investigation

Conditions
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Stroke

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: Electroencephalography


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Participants will be recruited during the first 2-3 days post-stroke. They should have: a first-ever unilateral, supra-tentorial stroke, as defined by Wold Health Organisation; admission to the acute hospital, deficit in distal pinprick somatosensory measured by Rivermead assessment of somatosensory performance (score of ≤4) and/or motor impairment measured by Fugl Meyer Assessment (score of ≤12 out of 14), the age of > 18 years and the ability to provide informed consent. Healthy adults will also be recruited and they should have: no history of sensory impairments in their hands the age of > 18 years and the ability to provide informed consent.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Diagnostic Test: Electroencephalography|EEG is a device to measure brain activity via surface electrodes|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sensory Evoked Potential Latency | EEG measurement | First 2 weeks post-stroke | 
| Sensory Evoked Potential Amplitude | EEG measurement | First 2 weeks post-stroke | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fugl Meyer Assessment | Upper limb motor impairment measurement | First 2 weeks post-stroke | 
| Wolf Motor Function Test | Upper limb activities measurement | First 2 weeks post-stroke | 
| Perceptual Threshold of Touch | Light touch of the palmar surface of index finger | First 2 weeks post-stroke | 
| Erasmus modified Nottingham Sensory Assessment | Measures somatosensation of the upper limb and hand | First 2 weeks post-stroke | 
| Nottingham Sensory Assessment | Measures stereognosis | First 2 weeks post-stroke | 
| Montreal Cognitive Assessment | Measures cognition | First 2 weeks post-stroke | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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upper limb, recovery, somatosensory, impairment, electroencephalography, acute phase