Understanding how people learn and use movements after a stroke
Official title: Investigating a dual-pathway framework for praxis
Funded at Albert Einstein Healthcare Network · NIH-11015032 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people who have had a stroke can learn to copy movements and use tools again, especially those who struggle with these skills due to a condition called limb apraxia, with the goal of finding better ways to help them regain their independence in daily activities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein Healthcare Network NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2021 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $388,496 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS115862-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11015032 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced a left-hemisphere stroke and are facing challenges with limb apraxia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had a stroke or do not exhibit symptoms of limb apraxia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how individuals learn to imitate movements and use tools, which are essential for performing daily activities, especially after experiencing a stroke. It focuses on patients with limb apraxia, a condition that affects the ability to perform skilled actions, often leading to increased dependence on caregivers. By exploring the cognitive and motor processes involved in these abilities, the research aims to develop a new theoretical framework that could improve rehabilitation strategies. The study combines insights from cognitive and motor neuroscience to better understand how patients can regain their functional independence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved rehabilitation techniques that enhance recovery and independence for stroke survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding cognitive-motor interactions, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wong, Aaron L — Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
- Study coordinator: Wong, Aaron L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding why the weaker arm isn’t used after stroke
This grant studies why many stroke survivors don’t use their affected arm in daily life even when they can move it, aiming to find clues that could guide better rehabilitation.
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Virtual reality treatment for phantom leg pain
This project uses virtual reality sessions that show and move a virtual leg to try to reduce phantom leg pain and develop a home version patients can use.
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Understanding why stroke survivors don't use their affected arm
This study is looking into why some stroke survivors can move their affected arm but don’t use it, and it aims to understand the reasons behind this so that better rehabilitation methods can be developed to help them.
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Using virtual reality to treat phantom leg pain in amputees
This study is looking at how well virtual reality can help people who have phantom limb pain after an amputation, and it’s for anyone dealing with that kind of pain; participants will try either a special VR treatment or a standard VR pain relief option to see which works better, while also using advanced imaging to le
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Improving speech abilities for people with aphasia through practice techniques
This study is looking to help people with aphasia, which is a language problem that can happen after a stroke, by having them practice speaking along with a model speaker to see if it can improve their speech even after the practice ends.
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.