Clinical and experimental evidence, including our own work, demonstrates that the adult post-stroke brain undergoes time-limited critical periods of heightened neuroplasticity, during which intensive neurorehabilitation yields greater motor recovery than standard care.
Our scientific focus
In this research program, we investigate the biological mechanisms underlying post-stroke critical periods in humans. Our goal is to understand why recovery is more responsive early after stroke, how this responsiveness evolves in time, and how it can be productively engaged by neurorehabilitation.
This study examines inhibitory control of neuroplasticity during the months following stroke. We study how inhibitory signaling evolves over time after stroke, and how it interacts with intensive motor training to support or constrain recovery. Rather than treating the brain as a static substrate for therapy, we treat it as a dynamic system whose responsiveness changes over weeks and months.
This study examines inhibitory control of neuroplasticity during the months following stroke. We study how inhibitory signaling evolves over time after stroke, and how it interacts with intensive motor training to support or constrain recovery. Rather than treating the brain as a static substrate for therapy, we treat it as a dynamic system whose responsiveness changes over weeks and months.
Methodological approaches
A central strength of this project is its integrated, longitudinal design coupled with multimodal neurophysiology allowing us to characterize plasticity using complementary approaches.
Multimodal neurophysiology: We combine established and emerging methods to capture distinct aspects of inhibitory function and network dynamics, including transcranial magnetic stimulation based measures of synaptic inhibition and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to probe extra synaptic inhibition post stroke. Each method indexes a different facet of inhibition allowing us to move beyond single-measure interpretations and toward a more complete mechanistic picture.
Longitudinal, within-subject clinical trial design: Participants are studied repeatedly across the subacute and later post-stroke periods. This design enables us to track natural trajectories of neurophysiological change, identify time-sensitive shifts in brain state associated with heightened plasticity, and relate neural dynamics to behavioral recovery over time.
Longitudinal, within-subject clinical trial design: Participants are studied repeatedly across the subacute and later post-stroke periods. This design enables us to track natural trajectories of neurophysiological change, identify time-sensitive shifts in brain state associated with heightened plasticity, and relate neural dynamics to behavioral recovery over time.
Experience-dependent manipulation: Rather than observing brain states in isolation, we pair neurophysiological measurements with intensive, goal-directed motor training delivered during the critical period. This allows us to test how salient experience interacts with brain state.
Real-world behavioral measurement: In addition to standardized clinical assessments, we quantify real-world upper extremity use using high-resolution wearable sensing and machine learning–based classification, providing sensitive measures of functional change beyond the clinic.
Real-world behavioral measurement: In addition to standardized clinical assessments, we quantify real-world upper extremity use using high-resolution wearable sensing and machine learning–based classification, providing sensitive measures of functional change beyond the clinic.
Looking ahead
By clarifying how brain state dynamics shape post-stroke neuroplasticity, this work lays the foundation for future studies aimed at modulating plasticity through targeted neuromodulation, or pharmacological approaches. Ultimately, our goal is to move stroke recovery toward a framework that is mechanistically grounded, and clinically actionable.