Brain implant may offer hope for stroke pain – but who will it help?

This study tests whether motor cortex stimulation – a device that sends mild electrical pulses to the brain's movement area – can reduce chronic pain after a stroke that affects the thalamus. Participants who do not get relief from standard pain treatments will have electrodes temporarily implanted. If pain drops by at least half during a two-week trial, they receive a permanent implant. The study also uses brain scans to look for patterns that might predict who responds well, aiming to personalize this therapy.