Zapping the brain to heal after stroke: a new personalized approach

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Must be 18 years or older * Must have had a stroke that resulted in paresis confined to one side. The use of a wheelchair or other assisting devices are not exclusionary. * Must have substantial motor impairment of the paretic upper limb * Absence of severe wasting or contracture or significant sensory deficits in the paretic upper limb * Absence of severe concurrent medical problems (e.g. cardiorespiratory impairment) * Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Score of 8-50 based on assessment performed during the baseline visit. * Must have had either MRI or CT of the brain performed at Carle as part of their stroke care. Imaging may have been performed either during the diagnostic work-up for stroke or as follow-up after diagnosis. The most recent images from either MRI or CT will be collected for this study. * Capacity to provide informed consent and participate in English (Since this study is a clinical trial and the team is yet to provide the translation service at this stage, the study is restricted to those who can consent and participate in English only). * Must be willing and able to perform study procedures Exclusion Criteria: * Self-reported sensitive skin or adhesive allergy as assessed by the tDCS Safety Screening Questionnaire * Has a cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator or an implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy device * Has metal implants in the head and/or brain * Presence of muscle tone abnormalities and motor or sensory impairment in the non-paretic limb * Presence of severe muscle wasting or contracture or significant sensory deficits in the paretic upper limb * Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study period * History of epilepsy, febrile convulsion, recurrent fainting spells or unexplained recurring headaches * Current use of illicit/recreational drugs * Currently undergoing anti-malarial treatment. (Note: participants can be considered for study participation after ant-malarial treatment has been discontinued) * Has known adverse reaction to TMS or tDCS