Exploring the Neural Substrates of Proximal and Distal Bimanual Motor Skill Learning Through Robotics and Multimodal Brain Imaging

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how stroke affects the ability to learn motor skills involving both hands, focusing on the early phase after stroke before brain reorganization occurs. The study aims to identify which brain areas are important for learning bimanual motor skills, and whether damage to motor, sensory, or brain pathways causes specific difficulties in these skills. This study also compares stroke patients with healthy individuals to better understand the effects of stroke on motor learning. Participants will train for three consecutive days using two robotic devices: the REAplan4 rehabilitation robot for proximal arm movement skills and the Dextrain Manipulandum4 for finger movement skills. Patients are randomly assigned to one of two versions of a serious game called Circuit on the REAplan4 robot to assess different aspects of bimanual motor skill learning. Training includes practicing speed and accuracy in moving a cursor with both arms and performing complex finger movement sequences with both hands. During the study, participants will undergo brain MRI scans to analyze brain lesions and white matter integrity related to motor skill learning. Clinical tests will assess motor, sensory, and cognitive functions. The main outcomes measured include changes in speed/accuracy trade-off, coordination, force, error rates, and dexterity from the first to the third day of training. This comprehensive evaluation helps researchers understand how different brain areas affect recovery of coordinated hand movements after stroke.

Bimanual Motor Skill Learning in Acute Stroke