Scientific title:
A randomised double-blind test of TMS intervention on unilateral neglect
Institution:
University of Birmingham
Principal investigator:
Professor Glyn Humphreys
Region:
Grant value:
£208,059
Research ID:
TSA 2010/03
Research area:
Start date:
Tuesday 1 March 2011
End date:
Friday 1 January 2016
Duration:
4 years 10 months
Status:
Closed
Year awarded:
2010

Problems in attention can affect around 45% of survivors following stroke in the right side of the brain and are associated with poor recovery of brain function. This project will provide the most detailed examination to date, of whether problems in attention after stroke can be decreased through direct brain stimulation.

There is some evidence that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can help treat problems that stroke survivors have with attention. A group given TMS to the non-affected side of the brain will be compared with a control group to assess whether this leads to an improvement in attentional functions. Any wider improvements in other cognitive abilities such as sustained attention, memory, anxiety and depression and in everyday living activities, will also be tested.

Alongside the behavioural measures, we will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the brain changes linked to the recovery of attentional functions.

If improvements in brain function are observed using a TMS intervention compared to the control group, then the TMS procedure could be adopted into clinical rehabilitation practice.

What do the researchers hope to do?

A group given TMS to the non-affected side of the brain will be compared with a control group to assess whether this leads to an improvement in attentional functions. Any wider improvements in other cognitive abilities such as sustained attention, memory, anxiety and depression and in everyday living activities, will also be tested.

Alongside the behavioural measures, we will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the brain changes linked to the recovery of attentional functions.

If improvements in brain function are observed using a TMS intervention compared to the control group, then the TMS procedure could be adopted into clinical rehabilitation practice.