Neurofeedback Intervention for Reading Deficits in Subacute Stroke

Purpose

The overall goal of this project is to advance a biologically-based approach to treatment of reading disorders after stroke, which will expand the limits of cognitive rehabilitation. Using a novel brain imaging technique, called real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback combined with right hand motor imagery, this project will re-instate brain activity in the left language-dominant hemisphere. Stroke patients will practice modulating their own brain activity using fMRI neurofeedback signal and will select the most effective mental strategies that help them maintain brain activation patterns associated with better reading recovery.

Conditions

  • Stroke
  • Dyslexia, Acquired

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 80 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • First-ever left-hemisphere stroke < 3 months prior to study recruitment or healthy volunteer - Age: 18 - 80 years old - Fluent and literate in English prior to stroke - Reading deficits, defined as >3 errors on the Paragraphs test (subtests VIII, IX) of the Reading Comprehension Battery for Aphasia-2nd ed. (RCBA-2) in keeping with the healthy control accuracy criterion of 86-100% correct.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Inability to consent or complete study tasks - Inability to undergo MRI (e.g., pregnancy, non-MRI compatible implants, claustrophobia) - A history of prior neurological disease (e.g., brain tumor, Alzheimer's disease)

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Participants are randomly assigned to one of 2 groups
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Masking Description
Participants will be masked to the nature of real-time fMRI neurofeedback they will receive: contingent or non-contingent.

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Motor Imagery and Contingent Neurofeedback (NFB) 		This group will receive real-time fMRI NFB on the bases of participant's own brain activity
  • Behavioral: Motor Imagery and Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback
    Survivors of left-hemisphere stroke (<10 weeks post-stroke) or healthy volunteers will use right-hand motor imagery coupled with fMRI neurofeedback to help them re-engage the left hemisphere by shifting brain activation leftward relative to the initial left-right asymmetry. Following group assignment, participants will perform a motor imagery task and complete 3 sessions of motor imagery and reading tasks in the MRI scanner over 3 weeks. During the MRI sessions they will receive real time neurofeedback about how well they are engaging the left side of their brain compared to the right side. They will also practice the same task for 30 min a day as homework using the most effective motor imagery strategy that worked for them in the MRI scanner.
Sham Comparator
Motor Imagery and Non-contingent Neurofeedback (NFB) 		This group will receive group will receive fMRI NFB based on another participant's brain activity
  • Behavioral: Motor Imagery and Sham fMRI Neurofeedback
    Survivors of left-hemisphere stroke (<10 weeks post-stroke) or healthy volunteers will practice right-hand motor imagery coupled with sham fMRI neurofeedback. As the experimental group, participants will perform a motor imagery task and complete 3 sessions of motor imagery and reading tasks in the MRI scanner over 3 weeks. However, during the MRI sessions they will receive sham neurofeedback on the basis of another participant's brain activity. Like the experimental group, they will also practice the same task for 30 min a day as homework.

Recruiting Locations

Kessler Foundation
West Orange 5106298, New Jersey 5101760 07052
Contact:
Olga Boukrina, Ph.D.
9733243587
oboukrina@kesslerfoundation.org

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Kessler Foundation

Study Contact