Cortical brain stimulation: a potential therapeutic agent for upper limb motor recovery following stroke.

There is emerging interest in the use of cortical electrical stimulation as a novel physical agent for the treatment of upper limb motor impairment after stroke. Evidence from animal models suggests that both motor learning and cortical stimulation alter intracortical inhibitory circuits and can facilitate long-term potentiation and cortical remodeling. This article reviews current research on the physiology and use of cortical stimulation animal models and in humans with stroke related hemiplegia. Both transcranial cortical stimulation techniques and targeted epidural cortical stimulation are discussed in detail.