Deep brain stimulation in the motor thalamus to help muscle control after stroke
Deep brain stimulation of the motor thalamus to improve cortico-spinal control of muscles after stroke
This research uses targeted deep brain stimulation in the motor thalamus to strengthen brain-to-muscle signals for people with lasting weakness after stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235829 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will map the motor thalamus in monkeys to find the exact spots that connect to motor cortex and muscles. They will then test and optimize stimulation settings in anesthetized animals to identify patterns that boost cortical motor output. After that, the team will test those settings in awake monkeys with chronic stroke to see if movement and muscle control improve. The goal is to use these animal findings to guide future human treatments for persistent post-stroke weakness.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal future candidates would be people with moderate to severe, lasting limb weakness after stroke who have not regained function with standard rehabilitation.
Not a fit: People with only mild weakness, those who are not surgical candidates, or whose motor pathways are extensively destroyed by the stroke are less likely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could restore stronger brain-to-muscle signaling and improve arm or hand movement for people with chronic motor weakness after stroke.
How similar studies have performed: Deep brain stimulation is an established treatment for movement disorders like Parkinson's and tremor, but using motor thalamus stimulation specifically for post-stroke motor recovery is experimental with promising animal data and limited human evidence.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pirondini, Elvira — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Pirondini, Elvira
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.