Plasticity in the motor system related to therapy-induced improvement of movement after stroke

NEUROPLASTICITY might play a beneficial role in the recovery of function af ter stroke but empirical evidence for this is lacking thus far. Constraint- induced (CI) therapy was used to increase the use of a paretic upper extrem ity in four hemiparetic stroke patients. Dipole modeling of steady-state mo vement-related cortical potentials was applied before and after training an d 3 months Inter. The source locations associated with affected hand moveme nt were unusual at follow-up because activation of the ipsilateral hemisphe re was found in the absence of mirror movements of the unaffected hand. Thi s long-term change may be considered as an initial demonstration of large-s cale neuroplasticity associated with increased use of the paretic limb alte r application of CI therapy. NeuroReport 10:807-810 (C) 1999 Lippincott Wil liams & Wilkins.