Brain stimulation tested for motor recovery after first ischemic stroke
Tests personalized brain stimulation in adults recovering from a first ischemic stroke.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Individual Alpha Frequency-Based rTMS for Post-Stroke Motor Recovery: Efficacy and Neurophysiological Mechanisms
Key facts
- Where
- Douliu, TaiwanSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults who had a first ischemic stroke 2 to 12 weeks ago and have trouble moving. It tests a personalized brain stimulation (IAF-based rTMS) against a sham (placebo) stimulation.
- Age
- Over 18 years
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- First ischemic stroke confirmed by brain MRI, with an infarct in the cortex or below it and movement problems. Within 2 to 12 weeks after stroke onset. NIHSS 5-20, or FMA-UE 20-50, or FMA-LE 15-25. Clear consciousness. Fully independent in daily life before the stroke (full pre-stroke Barthel Index score).
- Earlier treatment
- Must not have had rTMS treatment after this stroke. Must have had stable treatment before the trial, or a physician must judge that conventional rehabilitation did not work well enough.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic transformation) or an unstable condition
- Epilepsy, family history of epilepsy, or current anti-epileptic drugs
- Pacemaker, cochlear implant, or other metal or implanted devices that do not go with rTMS
- Pregnancy
- Medicines that may lower the seizure threshold, such as tricyclic antidepressants
Read by machine on 13 November 2026.
Where in Taiwan
- Department of neurology, National Taiwan Univeristy Hospital Yunlin branchDouliu, TaiwanContact: Jhih-Yong YangNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- National Taiwan University Hospital
- Trial code
- NCT07498777
- Record updated
- 27 March 2026
- Original description
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a personalized brain stimulation technique, Individual Alpha Frequency (IAF)-based rTMS, for motor function recovery in adult patients with a first-ever ischemic stroke.Read full original descriptionShow less
Individual Alpha Frequency-Based rTMS for Post-Stroke Motor Recovery: Efficacy and Neurophysiological Mechanisms
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a personalized brain stimulation technique, Individual Alpha Frequency (IAF)-based rTMS, for motor function recovery in adult patients with a first-ever ischemic stroke.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Does IAF-based rTMS improve upper and lower limb motor recovery better than a sham (placebo) stimulation? 2. How does this personalized stimulation affect brain wave activity (cortical oscillatory dynamics) as measured by EEG?
Researchers will compare active IAF-based rTMS with a sham stimulation control in a crossover design to see if the active treatment leads to better clinical motor outcomes and beneficial changes in brain activity.
Participants will:
1. Be randomly assigned to one of two sequences: receiving two weeks of active IAF-rTMS followed by two weeks of sham stimulation, or vice versa. 2. Attend 30-minute brain stimulation sessions, targeted at the motor cortex, 5 days a week for a total of 4 weeks. 3. Undergo clinical motor function assessments (including NIHSS, FMA-UE, and FMA-LE) and EEG recordings at three time points: at baseline, after 2 weeks, and at the end of the 4-week study.
Inclusion: Age >18; First ischemic stroke patient, confirmed by brain MRI; Has not received repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment after this stroke episode; Cortical, subcortical infarction with motor impairment; Baseline ADL intact (Full score of pre-stroke Barthel Index); Clear consciousness and with the ability to understand and cooperate with the study; NIHSS 5-20, or FMA-UE 20-50, or FMA-LE 15-25; Within 2 to 12 weeks after stroke onset; Participants had received stable treatment prior to the trial or were evaluated by a physician as having an inadequate response to conventional rehabilitation therapy.
Exclusion: Known previous peripheral nerve injury or peripheral neuropathy on the affected side that impairs mobility; Patients currently using anti-epileptic drugs; Unstable condition; Stroke primarily caused by cancer-related hypercoagulability or autoimmune diseases (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome); Individual history of epilepsy; Presence of cardiac pacemakers, cochlear implants, drug delivery pumps, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, implanted neurostimulators, or other metal objects in the body. This also includes patients who have undergone cranioplasty or have other implanted devices incompatible with rTMS; Use of tricyclic antidepressants or other medications that may lower the seizure threshold; Family history of epilepsy; Patients with brain injuries that may affect the seizure threshold; Patients who develop sleep disorders during the course of rTMS treatment; Patients with severe heart disease or patients with uncontrolled migraines caused by increased intracranial pressure; Hemorrhagic transformation in the brain; Pregnancy; Multiple sclerosis patient; Severe alcoholism; Hamilton Depression Rating Scale suicide item score ≥ 2; Patients with skin lesions or damage at the intended site of stimulation.