Bifocal Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Targeting the Frontoparietal Network in Stroke Patients

NARecruitingINTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment

20

Participants

Timeline

Start Date

February 3, 2025

Primary Completion Date

August 31, 2026

Study Completion Date

August 31, 2026

Conditions
StrokeHand FunctionsCerebrovascular DiseaseBrain Diseases
Interventions
DEVICE

In-phase-tACS

21 minutes and 30 seconds of bifocal stimulation at 3 mA peak-to-peak per field, targeting the aIPS and PMv of the lesioned hemisphere. The stimulation is delivered at 24 Hz with the waveforms of both fields aligned in phase. A 10-second ramp-up at the beginning and a 10-second ramp-down at the end are included to ensure participant comfort. The protocol is administered using the Starstim® device with gel-based electrodes, each with a π cm² surface area.

DEVICE

Out-of-phase-tACS

21 minutes and 30 seconds of bifocal stimulation at 3 mA peak-to-peak per field over the aIPS and PMv of the lesioned hemisphere at 24 Hz. In this condition, the waveforms of the two fields are shifted by 180°, creating an out-of-phase stimulation pattern. A 10-second ramp-up and ramp-down are included, and the protocol is administered using the Starstim® device with gel-based electrodes, each with a π cm² surface area.

DEVICE

Sham -tACS

21 minutes and 30 seconds of stimulation mimicking the setup of active tACS, with an initial 10-second ramp-up followed by a 10-second ramp-down. The remainder of the session is stimulation-free. This protocol is administered using the Starstim® device and gel-based electrodes with a π cm² surface area, maintaining the same setup as the active conditions to ensure comparability.

Trial Locations (1)

20246

RECRUITING

Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg

All Listed Sponsors
collaborator

Technical University of Twente

OTHER

lead

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

OTHER