Zapping the brain with precision electricity may supercharge hand rehab after spinal injury
NCT ID NCT05589415
First seen Jul 24, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026
Summary
This trial tests whether a focused form of brain stimulation called high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) can improve arm and hand function in people with cervical spinal cord injury. Participants receive either HD-tDCS or conventional stimulation during rehabilitation sessions over four weeks. The study measures changes in strength, sensation, and hand dexterity to see if the more targeted electrical field leads to greater recovery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) delivered through a cap with five small electrodes
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a more effective way to enhance rehabilitation and improve arm and hand function after spinal cord injury.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with only 24 participants, so results may not apply widely. The improvement from stimulation may be modest or absent.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Harlingen, Texas, 78550, United States
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