Anodal Contralesional tDCS Enhances CST Excitability Bilaterally in an Adolescent with Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy: A Brief Report

Authors

Rodrigo G. Delatorre, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Ellen N. Sutter, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Samuel T. Nemanich, Marquette UniversityFollow
Linda E. Krach, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
Gregg Meekins, University of Minnesota
Timothy Feyma, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
Bernadette T. Gillick, University of Minnesota

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2023

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Source Publication

Developmental Neurorehabilitation

Source ISSN

1751-8423

Abstract

Hemiparetic cerebral palsy (HCP), weakness on one side of the body typically caused by perinatal stroke, is characterized by lifelong motor impairments related to alterations in the corticospinal tract (CST). CST reorganization could be a useful biomarker to guide applications of neuromodulatory interventions, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), to improve effectiveness of rehabilitation therapies. We evaluated an adolescent with HCP and CST reorganization who demonstrated persistent heightened CST excitability in both upper limbs following anodal contralesional tDCS. Results support further investigation of targeted tDCS as an adjuvant therapy to traditional neurorehabilitation for upper limb function.

Comments

Accepted version. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, Vol. 26, No. 3 (April 2023): 216-221. DOI. © 2023 Taylor & Francis. Used with permission.