Study of Hemodynamic Markers of Upper Extremity Motor Dysfunction in Stroke Patients Using Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)

The aim of the study was to explore potential pathways for recovery and adaptation of the motor cortex by examining cerebral blood flow characteristics and hemodynamic markers analyzed by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in patients with hemiparesis after stroke. Participants in the study performed a simple stimulus-response task several times with one healthy and one paralyzed limb at different stages of basic rehabilitation. A group of healthy, age-matched volunteers participated in the same experiment to verify the stroke-related changes. The researchers recorded fNIRS signals, muscle activity using electromyography, and heart activity using electrocardiography.