Magnetic Brain Stimulation and Computer-based Motor Training for Rehabilitation After Stroke

Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences24 enrolled

Overview

The goal of the present clinical trial is to explore whether an innovative technology-based approach can help individuals who have had a stroke and can no longer move their hands with ease. Our approach consists of a combination of two technologies: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). The former entails the application of magnetic fields over the head to stimulate the brain preparing it for a better ability to produce movement. The latter consists of measuring brain activity to personalize a type of computer-based training that is designed to increase communication between the brain and the muscles.

Aims of the study: 1. to provide preliminary evidence of the effect of rTMS (repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) on brain-computer interface (BCI)-mediated plasticity on individuals with hemiparesis after stroke 2. Measure adherence and withdrawal rates of the present protocol for informing a future large-scale randomized controlled trial The active stimulation (rTMS) consists of an intermittent theta burst (iTBS) protocol whereas the placebo condition encompasses rTMS stimulation delivered with a Sham coil (Sham). Procedures: The study will entail 25 sessions. The study is composed of six different types of sessions in a crossover design: 1. Screening session (day 1): Includes the informed consent form signature, enrollment and BCI calibration 2. Before-treatment and after-treatment sessions (day 2, 13, 14 and 25) include the recording of EEG and MRI data, as well as the application of tests and questionnaires for evaluation of motor function 3. Daily visit with blood draw sessions (days 3, 12, 15 and 24): consist of the delivery of active or sham rTMS followed by BCI training preceded and followed by a blood draw. 4. Daily visit sessions without a blood draw (days 4 to 11 and 16 to 23): consist of the delivery of active or sham rTMS followed by BCI training. After a screening session (day 1), the clinical study begins. The period I of the study begins with a before-treatment session (day 2). Then, the intervention (rTMS or sham followed by BCI training) is delivered during 10 daily visits over a 2-week period excluding weekends (days 3 to 12). Within the daily visits, there are 2 daily visits with blood draws (days 3 and 12) and the rest do not include any blood draws (days 4 to 11). Then, an after-treatment session takes place (day 13). After period I, a washout period of 4 weeks takes place. No measurements or training are required during this time. In Period II of the study, the session flow is repeated except for the screening session. Therefore, period II includes a before-treatment session (day 14), 10 daily visits (days 15 to 24), with 2 daily visits that include blood draws (days 15 and 24), and an after-treatment session (day 25). Research questions: 1. Does rTMS promote better motor recovery after BCI training in comparison to sham? 2. Can rTMS propitiate stronger effects on neural physiology after BCI training in comparison with sham? 3. Is there an association between behavioral and physiological changes after the proposed intervention? 4. What is the adherence and withdrawal rate and reason for withdrawal of the proposed study design and procedures? 5. Is there an association between brain structures associated with motor function at baseline and the changes observed after rTMS? 6. Can applying rTMS have a better effect on self-perceived motor performance in daily activities in comparison to Sham? 7. Are serum molecular markers of plasticity and neural turnover modulated by rTMS? Hypotheses: 1. A higher increase in motor performance will be observed after the rTMS-BCI in comparison with sham-BCI. The motor performance will be assessed as Fugl-Meyer Assessment for upper extremity score as the primary outcome measure; and as the Jebsen Taylor hand function test and BCI accuracy as the secondary outcome measures 2. Higher physiological changes will be observed after rTMS-BCI in comparison with sham-BCI. The electrophysiological changes will be assessed as Motor evoked potentials, as primary outcome measured; and as motor-related cortical potentials, Event-Related Desynchronization and functionalMagnetic Resonance Imaging changes as secondary outcome measures 3. Behavioral and physiological changes will be associated 4. Changes in structural MRI will be associated with behavioral outcome measures after rTMS-BCI and sham-BCI. Structural MRI will be assessed as Fractional Anisotropy changes, as a primary outcome measure; and voxel-based morphometry as a secondary outcome measure 5. Individuals will have a higher perceived improvement in activities of daily living, measured as higher scores in the Upper extremity motor activity log (UE-MAL) and the first and last items of the Stroke impact scale (SIS) questionnaire after rTMS-BCI in comparison with sham-BCI 6. The increase in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) will be higher after rTMS-BCI in comparison with after sham-BCI and an association between BDNF levels and behavioral markers of motor recovery will exist As an exploratory analysis, the investigators will inspect preliminary evidence of the effects of the stimulation by verifying changes in serological markers of neuronal plasticity and turnover.

Interventions

Active rTMSDEVICE

The Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation will consist of placing a figure-of-eight shape coil of wire over the head of the participants. Then, a brief electric current will pass through the coil, inducing a magnetic field capable of stimulating neurons located beneath the coil. For the active coil, the maximal stimulation intensity is reached beneath the center of the coil. In the present study, the intermittent theta-burst protocol will be implemented. This protocol is expected to modulate the excitability of the brain, priming it for a stronger activation of the motor-related brain areas engaged during brain-computer interface-based training. The structural MRI of each participant will be used to guide neuronavigation towards ipsilesional motor areas.

Sham rTMSDEVICE

To implement a placebo stimulation, a sham coil will be used to deliver the same stimulation protocol. The sham coil is identical in dimensions and weight to the active coil but produces a diminished magnetic field. For the sham coil, the stimulation intensity is minimal beneath the center of the coil, the same area with the highest intensity during stimulation with an active coil. The structural MRI scan of each participant will be used to guide neuronavigation towards the same area where the active stimulation was applied.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 80 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosis of a subcortical stroke at least 6 months before the initiation of the trial and confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography 2. Present moderate to severe hemiparesis in an upper limb 3. Language comprehension as well as visual and auditory perception sufficient to engage in Brain Computer Interface training 4. Age from 20 to 80 years old 5. Clear consciousness and stable vital signs 6. Eligible for MRI, EEG, BCI and TMS methods Exclusion Criteria: 1. Drug abuse or recent changes in medications that may alter the central nervous system when the measurements begin or during the measurements (e.g., benzodiazepines, serotoninergic and dopaminergic agents) 2. History of seizure 3. Bone, joint and muscle diseases 4. Peripheral neuropathy or other neurological or psychiatric diseases (including, tinnitus, migraine, or mood disorders with the exception of minimal, mild, and moderate depression, reflected as a Beck depression scale score lower than 29). 5. Strong cognitive deficits (including speech, attention, hearing, vision, sensation or intelligence deficits) reflected as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score lower or equal to 24 6. Lesions in the upper extremities 7. Bone, joint and muscle diseases 8. Severe spasticity (higher than 3) or pain in the upper limb and affecting wrist extension 9. Contraindications of undergoing TMS examinations: history of seizures, history of epilepsy, unclear unconsciousness, migraines or metals on the head 10. Contraindications for MRI: metals in the body, metallic prosthetics or claustrophobia 11. Participation in other interventional trials using BCI or rTMS within less than 6 months ago 12. Participation in another interventional clinical trial 13. Suspected lack of compliance 14. Pregnant or nursing women

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Motor-evoked potential (MEP) parameters

An MEP is the electromyography response to a single TMS pulse delivered over the motor cortex, over the representation of multiple muscles. MEP changes will be evaluated with a mixed effects model. mixed-effects model. The model will consider the Patient, Period, Treatment (stimulation type) and Session number. The Period\*Treatment interaction will be verified to detect carry-over effects. The investigators expect to observe a main effect of Treatment and Session number.

Time frame: Measured two times per day, at the days: 3-12 and 15-24. The first measurement is performed immediately before the rTMS-BCI intervention and the second immediately after the rTMS-BCI intervention.

Fugl-Meyer upper extremity assessment of sensorimotor function

Quantitative evaluation of motor, balance, sensation and joint functions. The sums of values recorded before and after the stimulation periods will be fed into an unpaired sample t-test to evaluate carryover effects whereas the differences observed between recordings before and after the stimulation will be fed into an unpaired sample t-test for the evaluation of initial evidence of the effect of rTMS.

Time frame: Measured one time at day, at the days: 2, 13, 14, and 25.

Event-related desynchronization (ERD)

Electroencephalography (EEG) will be recorded during a cued motor task. This data will be used to calculate event-related de-synchronization, defined as the difference in signal power in the miu (8-12 Hz) and beta bands (13-30 Hz) between a baseline period prior to the cue and a post-cue period. Changes in ERD will be evaluated with permutation-based statistics.

Time frame: Measured one time per day, at the days: 2, 13, 14, and 25.

Secondary Outcomes

Brain-Computer Interface accuracy

Ratio of correct trials over the total number of trials, as a proxy of performance during brain-computer interface based training. BCI accuracy will be evaluated with a mixed-effects model. mixed-effects model. The model will consider the Patient, Period, Treatment (stimulation type) and Session number. The Period\*Treatment interaction will be verified to detect carry-over effects. The investigators expect to observe a main effect of Treatment and Session number.

Time frame: Measured one time per day, at days 3-12 and days 15-24.

Task-related functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (t-fMRI)

fMRI will be acquired during a motor task. The fMRI acquired during the task will be used to evaluate blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes after the active stimulation over the motor areas: premotor cortex (PMC), motor cortex (M1), supplementary motor area (SMA), cerebellum and basal ganglia; and this change will be compared with the change after placebo stimulation. In addition, the investigators will explore whether changes in BOLD signal in areas involved in BCI training can be observed after active stimulation, reflecting a potential enhancement of BCI effects. Changes in fMRI will be evaluated with a mixed-effects model in a whole-brain analysis.