Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Objective. We assessed the effects of bilateral extradural motor cortex stimulation (ECS) to areas of maximal functional MRI (fMRI) activation in a male patient with plegic stroke by using multiple sequential 1-month blocks of stimulation with single-blind design in a tertiary referral hospital. Measurements. Assessments included the European Stroke Scale, Fugl-Meyer scale, and Barthel Index at baseline and at the end of each stimulation period, in a blinded fashion, over 1 year, and GABA ligand SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) pre- and post-stimulation. ⋯ Contralateral stimulation had mixed effects to the affected arm and leg. Conclusion. ECS may modestly boost rehabilitation effects in a chronic stroke patient, with a differential effect of ipsilateral vs. contralateral stimulation.