Effects of cortical stimulation on skilled motor functions in chronic stroke patients

Background and Hypothesis: There is no universally accepted strategy to promote recovery of function after chronic stroke, a leading cause of long-term motor disability among adults. In healthy volunteers is has been demonstrated that cortical stimulation enhances motor functions (Buetefisch et al. J. Neurophys. 2004, Nitsche et al. Cogn. Neuroscience 2003). Furthermore, evidence from animal data supports the view that cortical stimulation of the affected hemisphere might improve motor functions (Teskey et al. Neurol Res. 2003). It is therefore conceivable that cortical stimulation to the motor cortex of the aff…