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Not yet recruiting NCT07605039

Structural Mechanisms of Dual-Target tDCS in Stroke Hemiparetic Hand

No phase Interventional Stroke

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: tDCS, Sham tDCS.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Stroke. Basic parameters: 30 years — 75 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

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Official title

Multimodal MRI-Based Study of the Structural Mechanisms Underlying Interhemispheric Network Reorganization Induced by Dual-Target tDCS in Stroke Hemiparetic Hand

Overview

This is a single-center, randomized, single-blind study investigating the effects of dual-target transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with task-oriented functional electrical stimulation on upper limb recovery in patients with non-acute post-stroke hemiplegia. A total of 56 participants will be recruited and randomly assigned (1:1) to the dual M1 tDCS group or sham stimulation group. The intervention is delivered five times per week for four weeks, with 20 sessions in total. Multimodal MRI (T1W, T2W, and DTI) will be used to assess structural and network-level reorganization of sensorimotor pathways, including the corticospinal tract, in response to tDCS. The primary outcome is the Broetz hand function score, evaluated at baseline, post-intervention, and six-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the upper extremity (FMA-UE) and multimodal MRI-derived measures of white matter integrity. This study aims to elucidate the structural constraints underlying sensorimotor network lateralization and to identify responder and non-responder profiles based on corticospinal tract damage, providing mechanistic insight into individualized tDCS-based neurorehabilitation after stroke.

Interventions

  • Device tDCS
    Bilateral M1 high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) at 2 mA for 20 minutes per session, delivered five times per week for 4 weeks (total 20 sessions). Electrodes are placed over the left and right primary motor cortices. Each session is combined with task-oriented hand rehabilitation exercises targeting the affected upper limb. This intervention is designed to modulate interhemispheric sensorimotor network reorganization and promote hand function recovery after stroke.
  • Device Sham tDCS
    Bilateral M1 sham HD-tDCS: electrodes placed identically to the active group, with current ramped up and down for 10 seconds at the start and end of each 20-minute session, without sustained stimulation. Sessions are also combined with task-oriented hand rehabilitation exercises. This sham intervention serves as a control to evaluate the efficacy of active tDCS on interhemispheric network reorganization and hand function recovery.

Primary outcome measures

  • Broetz Hand Function Score [Time frame: Baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1, after 4 weeks), 6-month follow-up (T2)]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosed with stroke according to the "Diagnostic Criteria for Major Cerebrovascular Diseases in China, 2019", confirmed by cranial CT or MRI.
  • First-ever unilateral subcortical stroke (involving the corona radiata, basal ganglia, thalamus, internal capsule, etc.).
  • Age 30-75 years.
  • Right-handed prior to stroke onset.
  • Stroke onset ≥ 2 weeks.
  • Hemiplegic hand function at Brunnstrom Stage I-III.
  • Written informed consent provided by the patient or legally authorized representative.

Exclusion criteria

  • Any contraindications to MRI.
  • History of other neurological disorders or substance abuse.
  • Unstable conditions or rapidly progressive/malignant diseases, e.g., severe atrial fibrillation.
  • Severe skin allergies.
  • Inability to cooperate with basic communication or assessments, such as severe aphasia.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single blind
Primary purpose
Treatment

Study locations

Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07605039 · MQ2025041 · MQ2025041

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗