Mind over paralysis: can thinking about walking reboot the brain?

NCT ID NCT07732868

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION Knowledge-focused Sponsor: José Gabriel da Silva Figueiredo Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 29, 2026 · Last updated Jul 30, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether a virtual reality brain-machine interface can help people with spinal cord injury regain function. Participants imagine moving their legs while wearing an EEG cap and VR headset, receiving sensory feedback. The goal is to understand how the brain's communication patterns change during this therapy and whether those changes relate to real-world improvement.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: a virtual reality-based brain-machine interface protocol with sensory feedback and optional exoskeleton
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a new rehabilitation approach for spinal cord injury that harnesses the brain's ability to adapt.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small study with only 20 participants. It focuses on measuring brain changes, not on proving clinical improvement, so the rehabilitation benefits remain uncertain.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

paraplegia spinal cord injury

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ABLE BODIED PARAPLEGIA, SPINAL SPINAL CORD INJURY TRAUMATIC SPINAL CORD INJURIES

Contacts and locations

Locations

Centro de Reabilitação do Norte (CRN) Dr. Ferreira Alves, Unidade Local de Saúde de Gaia/Espinho

Vila Nova de Gaia, 4405-565, Portugal
Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro

Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal

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