The effects of robot assisted rehabilitation combined with gamma-frequency neuromodulation on motor performance in acute stroke patients

• Grant number: 25/24458-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: January 15, 2026
• End date: January 14, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Gabriela Castellano
• Grantee: Camila de Paula de Lima
• Supervisor: Timothy Carroll
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin (IFGW). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Queensland, Brisbane (UQ), Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/08802-0 - Neuromodulation combined with other neurotechnologies and evaluation of the somatosensory functionality, BP.PD

Abstract

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, often resulting in persistent sensorimotor impairments due to disrupted communication along afferent-efferent pathways. Rehabilitation strategies that enhance brain functional connectivity are critical for motor recovery. Electroencephalography (EEG) provides a non-invasive means to assess neural connectivity and cortical responses, including event-related potentials (ERPs), which correlate with motor improvements. Emerging evidence suggests that combining robotic-assisted rehabilitation with neuromodulation techniques, such as 40 Hz audiovisual stimulation, may enhance motor recovery by promoting cortical reorganisation and functional connectivity. This study aims to investigate the effects of 40 Hz audiovisual stimulation combined with robotic rehabilitation on kinematic performance and brain connectivity in acute stroke patients. Twenty adult patients will be randomly assigned to receive either closed-loop 40 Hz stimulation or sham control while performing error-detection motor tasks using a robotic arm. EEG recordings and kinematic data will be collected to assess neural and motor outcomes. Closed-loop audiovisual stimulation will be individually tailored based on real-time ERP measures, and 3D kinematic reconstructions will quantify movement asymmetries and improvements. Longitudinal analyses using mixed-effects regression and ANOVA will evaluate treatment effects on functional connectivity, ERP amplitude and duration, and motor function. This study will provide mechanistic insights into how combined neuromodulation and robotic rehabilitation strategies can optimise post-stroke recovery and inform future clinical interventions.