The disabilities caused by stroke are due to the damaged parts of the brain. Traditional occupational therapy helps physically the patients to regain lost functions. However, what if we try to directly train the brain?

Here is the story of Mr. D in a rehabilitation institute in Chicago. Last year, an innovative trial wascarried on to help patients to regain their motor function. This trial actually investigated the cortical stimulation, which used a small electrode to provide low-level stimulation to the brain when activated during intensive occupational therapy.

The novel combination may help the brain develop new circuit of information (pathways) that bypass stroke-damaged brain tissue. These newly established pathways then permanently can take over some of the functions previously performed by the damaged part of the brain.

In practice, cortical stimulation involves surgically implanting a small electrode under the patient participant’s skull, and above the part of the brain where is responsible for motor function. A small battery-powered stimulator is inserted under the skin, just below the collar bone; it triggers the electrode, which is connected through a lead to the electrical stimulator. It is activated only during therapy when the therapist waves a hand-held device over the stimulator.
The surgical implantation takes about 90minutes, during which time patient participants are under general anaesthesia. Mr. D said he had no major complaints of pain after surgery and he went home the next day.

After the occupational therapy is completed, the implanted electrode and stimulator are surgically removed while the patient is under general anaesthesia, but progress made during the treatment remains.

Doctors said that compared to stroke patients who received only traditional therapy, those who also receive cortical stimulation had more improvement both immediately and long-term. Mr. D said that since completing the research, he had been able to do almost everything he could before his stroke – However, not everyone who participates in the research has such a positive outcome, and this therapy is only suitable for those who have moderate movement disorder after a stroke.

On the other hand, the theory in this trial appears to be promising. It shows that an adult’s brain can continue to develop in response of a stimulus and try to fix the problems. That is called “neuroplasticity”, and will be focus of one of our upcoming issue.

Source:
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, USA