The potential of imagination and artificial afference in stroke rehabilitation

We present a novel rehabilitation strategy based on LTP-like plasticity applied to 13 chronic stroke patients. Patients attended 3 sessions where they were asked to attempt a simple dorsiflexion task 50 times while the generated movement potentials (MRCP) were recorded using scalp electrodes. A single peripheral nerve stimulus was applied to the common peroneal nerve timed to arrive during the most negative peak of the MRCP. Motor evoked potentials, quantified prior to and following the interventions increased significantly (80%), as did the functional tasks (8% in 10m walk test and 18% in the foot tapping task).