Stroke Recovery


The first area of research, led by Heidi Johansen-Berg, Charlotte Stagg and Jacinta O'Shea, aims to develop neurorehabilitation approaches using the non-invasive brain stimulation method, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).  The study aims to develop a novel rehabilitation strategy for motor and neglect impairments following stroke. This could lead to changes in clinical practice and improvements in patient outcome.

The second area of research is led by Dr Anne Aimola Davies and focuses on the role of anosognosia in recovery following stroke. Anosognosia is defined as unawareness of, or failure to acknowledge, motor impairments. Factors in the aetiology of anosognosia include impairments of attention, sensation, and cognition. Anosognosia has been shown to interfere with patients’ willingness to participate in, and their capacity to benefit from, rehabilitation. It is thus a complex phenomenon associated with poor functional recovery. The overall aim of the project is to develop a rehabilitation-oriented assessment procedure for anosognosia, which will lead to improved clinical treatment programs that are tailored to each patient’s strengths, deficits, and residual functions.