Participants are being asked to participate in a research study conducted by Shih-Chiao Tseng, PT, Ph.D. at Texas Woman's University. This research study is to determine whether low-intensive brain stimulation can enhance learning of a leg movement task. The investigators also want to know if brain stimulation can improve the nerve function and walking performance. Our goal is to understand any relationship between brain stimulation and overall movement control improvement. Participants have been invited to join this research if they have had a stroke before or they are healthy adults aged 21 years or older. Research evidence shows stroke can induce permanent brain damage and therefore may cause a person to have trouble learning a new task. This in turn may significantly impact the recovery of motor function in stroke survivors. In addition, the investigators also want to know how a healthy person learns this new leg task and see if her/his learning pattern differs from a stroke survivor. This study comprises two phases: Phase I study investigates short-term effects of brain stimulation on leg skill learning and only requires two visits to TWU. The total time commitment for Phase I study will be about 6.5 hours, 3.5 hours on the first visit and three hours on the second visit; Phase II study is an expanded version of Phase I study to investigate long-term effects of brain stimulation on leg skill learning and requires to complete 12 visits of exercise training paired with brain stimulation over a four-week period and additional one visit for follow-up test. The total time commitment for Phase II study will be about 20 hours, a total of 18 hours for 12 exercise training sessions and two hours for a follow-up test. The investigators hypothesize that people with chronic stroke will show a slower rate of acquiring this leg skill as compared to healthy adults. The investigators also hypothesize that co-applying brain stimulation with 12 sessions of exercise training will enhance skill learning of this leg task for people with chronic stroke and this 12-session exercise program may exert beneficial influences on the nerve function and leg muscle activation, and consequentially improve motor control for walking.
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Changes in stepping reaction time (Phase I)
Timeframe: Measure changes in the reaction time before, immediately after (i.e. within a minute), and 30 minutes after a single session of brain stimulation.
Changes in stepping reaction time (Phase II)
Timeframe: Measure changes in reaction time before training, up to 24 hours after the completion of a 12-session training program, and one week after the completion of a 12-session training program.
Changes in walking performance (Phase I)
Timeframe: Measure changes in the walking speed before, immediately after (i.e. within a minute), and 30 minutes after a single session of brain stimulation.
Changes in walking performance (Phase I)
Timeframe: Measure changes in the step length symmetry before, immediately after (i.e. within a minute), and 30 minutes after a single session of brain stimulation.
Changes in walking performance (Phase II)
Timeframe: Measure changes in the walking speed before training, up to 24 hours after the completion of a 12-session training program, and one week after the completion of a 12-session training program.
Changes in walking performance (Phase II)
Timeframe: Measure changes in the step length symmetry before training, up to 24 hours after the completion of a 12-session training program, and one week after the completion of a 12-session training program.
Changes in nerve function (Phase I)
Timeframe: Measure changes in the nerve function before, immediately after (i.e. within a minute), and 30 minutes after a single session of brain stimulation.
Changes in nerve function (Phase II)
Timeframe: Measure changes in the nerve function before training, up to 24 hours after the completion of a 12-session training program), and one week after the completion of a 12-session training program.