Exploring Motor Learning in Acute Stroke Through Robotics

The acute phase of stroke is characterized by an enhancement of neural plasticity which supports rapid motor recovery. It is unclear whether acute stroke patients can acquire new motor skills with their affected upper limb. The aims of this research program are: 1. To test the capacity of acute stroke patients (\< 21 days) to learn and retain a complex unimanual motor skill. 2. To explore whether acute stroke to different brain regions (quantified with brain MRI) induces specific deficits in motor skill learning. 3. To compare acute stroke patients with healthy individuals and with chronic stroke patients.

ACUTE STROKE PATIENTS: Inclusion Criteria: * acute stroke (\> 21 days) * aged 18-90 years * with a stroke lesion on brain imaging Exclusion Criteria: * " classical " contre-indication to MRI (non-MR-compatible pacemaker, pregnancy, non-MR-compatible implanted devices, claustrophoby, etc ...) * difficulty in understanding or executing commands * drug/alcohol abuse * severe aphasia / cognitive deficits interfering with study * inability to voluntarily move the affected arm (i.e. complete paralysis of the arm) * multiple strokes / dementia / psychiatric condition PATIENTS WITH TRANSIENT GLOBAL AMNESIA: Clinical diagnosis, criteria of Hodge \& Warlow (1990): * Anterograde amnesia observed by a witness * No alteration of consciousness or loss of identity * Cognitive dysfunction limited to amnesia * Lack of focused neurological deficit or argument for a comitiality * Absence of head trauma * Symptom resolution within 24 hours * Possible existence of vegetative symptoms Inclusion criteria: * Transient global amnesia * 8-90 years old * Be able to perform 3 consecutive sessions on a rehabilitation robot Exclusion criteria: * Severe aphasia / cognitive deficits interfering with study * Psychiatric disorders * Alcohol / drug addiction * Exclusion criteria related to MRI HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS: Inclusion Criteria: • 18-90 years Exclusion Criteria: * medical history with a previous stroke/neurological deficit * drug/alcohol abuse * psychiatric condition/ dementia CHRONIC STROKE PATIENTS: Inclusion Criteria: * chronic stroke (\>6 months) * aged 18-90 years * with a stroke lesion on brain imaging Exclusion Criteria: * difficulty in understanding or executing commands * drug/alcohol abuse * severe aphasia / cognitive deficits interfering with study * inability to voluntarily move the affected arm (i.e. complete paralysis of the arm) * multiple strokes / dementia / psychiatric condition