Customized Cortical Stimulation Therapy in the Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients

Inclusion Criteria:

- The ability to provide informed consent

- Ages 50 to 80 years old

- Male or female

Stroke Patients

- One cerebral ischemic infarction less than 1 month affecting the primary motor output
system of the hand at a cortical (M1) level as defined by magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) of the brain

- Paresis of the hand for more than 3 days after their cerebral infarction

- Extension of the wrist (medical research council scale for assessment of muscle power
score of at least 3 and greater than 10 degrees) at the time of the enrollment into
the study

Healthy Subjects

- Normal MRI of the brain

- Normal neuropsychological testing

- Normal neurological examination

Exclusion Criteria:

Stroke Patients

- Neurological disorders other than stroke

- Aphasia that prevents following instructions or inability to communicate effectively
with the study team

- Dementia

- Moderate or severe depression

- Contraindication to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and/or MRI

- Use of central nervous system (CNS) active drugs that block plasticity

Healthy Subjects

- Neurological Disease

- Psychiatric Disease

- Use of CNS active drugs

- Contraindication to TMS