A Functional MRI Study: Assessing Brain Function in Post Stoke Patients

Inclusion Criteria (Healthy Cohort): Able and willing to provide informed consent. Men and women ≥18 and \<85 years of age. Subject must be right hand dominant. Subject should not have any physical limitations of either upper extremity (e.g., fracture, joint deformity, severe spasticity/contracture, wounds, skin breakdown, lymphedema, etc.) Inclusion Criteria (Treatment Cohort): Able to and willing to provide informed consent. Legally authorized representatives (LARs) will not be allowed to consent on behalf of the subject. Men and women ≥18 and \<85 years of age. First single acute ischemic stroke with an onset date within 14 days (± 7 days from onset) of enrollment (time of informed consent) into the study. Mild to moderate acute ischemic stroke defined as NIHSS score of 3 to 15. Measurable weakness of one upper extremity without complete paralysis (detectable movement in at least 3 fingers). Subject must be right hand dominant. Subject should not have any physical limitations of either upper extremity (e.g., fracture, joint deformity, severe spasticity/contracture, wounds, skin breakdown, lymphedema, etc.) Exclusion Criteria: Coma, inability to cooperate with the study based on impaired level of consciousness or confusion. Known neurological deficit prior to stroke (including but not limited to previous stroke, MS, Parkinson's disease). Physical limitations of the weak upper extremity (e.g., fracture, joint deformity, severe spasticity/contracture, wounds, skin breakdown, lymphedema, etc.) Any contraindication to the imaging required per the protocol. Complete middle cerebral artery infarction based on imaging. Carotid artery stenosis \>50% of the normal diameter segment (diameter stenosis, compared to the angiographically normal proximal or distal segment). Subjects has a known history of substance abuse (drug) or alcohol dependence, or lacks the ability to comprehend or following instructions, or for any reason, in the opinion of the investigator, would be unlikely or unable to comply with study protocol requirements. If female, subject is pregnant at the time of enrollment or planning to become pregnant during the trial period. Subject has any other acute or chronic condition that the investigator believes will adversely affect the ability to interpret the data or will prevent the subject from completing the trial procedures. Currently participating in another interventional clinical trial. (Observational clinical trial participation is allowed for study enrollment.)