Functional MRI in Stroke Following TDCS and Brain-Computer Interface-Assisted Motor Imagery Rehabilitation

Irvin Teh¹, Cuntai Guan², Kai Keng Ang², Kok Soon Phua², Ling Zhao³, Chang Wu Chen³, Effie Chew³

We investigated the imaging outcomes of a novel approach combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with robot-assisted motor imagery and brain-computer interface (MI-BCI) therapy to facilitate motor recovery in chronic stroke patients with upper limb impairment. fMRI data showed reduced activation in bilateral SM1, PMC and SMA and increased activation in the SMA, contralateral SM1, ipsilateral PMC and PPC during a calibrated hand squeeze task of the unaffected and affected hand respectively. These findings were consistent with our transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) data, and present evidence of training-induced cortical plasticity that underscore its therapeutic potential to chronic stroke rehabilitation.