StrokeESTCORMNCT03342534

Effect of tDCS on Brain Organization and Motor Recovery

A study testing DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany) in people with Stroke, run by Adrian Guggisberg at 2 sites in Switzerland.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record

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Trial summary

Neurological deficits and motor disorders are extremely common after stroke. Physical therapies can improve the autonomy of these patients, but despite an intensive stationary neurorehabilitation, severe deficits often persist. Complementary therapies that could improve recovery would therefore be very welcome. Read more about this study

Who is it for?: Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for: Stroke
What is being tested?: DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany)
Type of treatment: Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?: Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people: 36 participants
Where: 2 sitesSwitzerland
Study dates: 13 Nov 2017to 30 Sep 2024
Phase: Interventional
Are there results?: None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

Ages 18 years and older
All sexes
No healthy volunteers
Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
≤ 4 weeks after stroke onset
Paresis of upper limb with Fugl-Meyer score between 15 and 55 at study entry
Capable of participating during treatment sessions of 30-60 minutes
Informed consent obtained

Who cannot join

Incapacity to understand study information or task instructions during trial.
New additional stroke during rehabilitation
Reduced vigilance or delirium
Severe language deficits
Preexisting affection of an upper limb
Severe spasticity or dystonia

Show all 13Show fewer

Severe co-morbidities (e.g., traumatic, rheumatologic, neurodegenerative disease)
Pregnancy
Pacemaker
Skull breach
History of seizures or epilepsy
Metallic object in the brain
Other contraindication to non-invasive brain stimulation

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

Switzerland2 sites

Universitäre Neurorehabilitation, Inselspital
Bern, 3010
Division of Neurorehabilitation, University Hospital of Geneva
Geneva, Canton of Geneva, 1211

Other trials in Switzerland

About this study

Official title: Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Brain Organization and Motor Recovery After Stroke

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) induces, in a non-invasive way, a transient inhibitory or excitatory neuromodulation of certain cerebral regions. An increasing number of studies show that this modulation of brain activity can improve motor functions in patients with brain lesions and increase the effect of physical therapies. However, the "optimum" configuration of tDCS and the induced effects remain to be characterized and investigated.

The investigators therefore propose to carry out a study including a pilot phase in order to determine the most efficient tDCS setup. The optimum setup of of the pilot phase will be compared to a placebo condition in a multicentric main study.

Conditions: Stroke
Being tested: DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany)
Medical subject headings: Stroke

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany)Device
A current of 2 mA will be applied for 20 minutes, 3 times per week during 2 weeks, except for the sham tDCS arm.

Study groups in NCT03342534
Study group	Role	What they receive
Anodal tDCS	Active comparator	The anode is placed over the primary motor cortex of the stroke affected hemisphere, the cathode over the contralesional supraorbital front of the patient. Receives: Device: DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany)
High definition (HD) anodal tDCS	Active comparator	A single HD anode is placed over the primary motor cortex of the stroke affected hemisphere, 4 HD cathodes are placed over the affected hemisphere around the anode. Receives: Device: DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany)
Bihemispheric tDCS	Active comparator	The anode is placed over the primary motor cortex of the stroke affected hemisphere, the cathode over the primary motor cortex of the contralesional hemisphere. Receives: Device: DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany)
Sham tDCS	Sham comparator	The electrodes are placed as in one of the active arms, but only a ramp up current is applied during 30 seconds and then switched off. This induces similar sensations for the patients, but no change in excitability. Receives: Device: DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

Change in upper extremity Fugl-Meyer score, after intervention
Scale range 0-66 points, higher values indicate better outcome. Assessed by qualified physical or occupational therapists
Measured: Difference between the week before the intervention and the week after intervention

Secondary outcomes (2)

Change in EEG functional connectivity, after intervention
EEG functional connectivity between ipsilesional motor cortex and the rest of the brain, as computed from high-density EEG recordings. Continuous measure. Higher values indicate better outcome.
Measured: Difference between the week before the intervention and the week after intervention
Change in amplitude of motor evoked potentials, after intervention
Motor evoked potentials are obtained with single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. Continuous measure expressed in microvolts, more microvolts indicate better outcome.
Measured: Difference between the week before the intervention and the week after intervention

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

13 Nov 201730 Sep 2024

First posted17 Nov 2017
Study start13 Nov 2017
Primary completion30 Apr 2024
Study completion30 Sep 2024

Why it stopped: End of funds before obtaining the planned number of patients.

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Other trials for StrokeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase N/A
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: Triple blind
Who is masked: Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment: 36 participants (actual)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03342534
Sponsor's protocol ID: CRSII5-170985A
Acronym: ESTCORM
Status last verified: Jun 2025
First submitted: 6 Nov 2017
Last updated: 11 Jun 2025
Results posted: No
Data monitoring committee: No
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No

Want to know more?

The sponsor has not listed a contact. The official record may have more details.

Talk to your doctor first and take this page with you. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

Questions to ask the study team

What is the study trying to find out?
What would I need to do, and how often would I visit?
Could I receive a placebo instead of the treatment?
What are the possible risks and benefits for me?
Will it cost me anything? Are travel or time paid for?
Can I keep seeing my own doctor during the study?
What happens when the study ends?

See locations

Not yet recruiting
Temporal Interference Stimulation for Upper-Limb Motor Recovery in Early Subacute Stroke
Acute Ischemic Stroke
RecruitingObservational study
ELATE Study: Evaluating Large-vessel Acute Thrombectomy in Extended Time Window
Acute Ichemic Stroke
Recruiting
Web-Based Tele-Rehabilitation Using Action Observation and Mirror Therapy for Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Stroke, Upper Extremity Paresis
Recruiting
Early Motor-Cognitive Integrative Training on Cognitive and Motor Performance in Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid Aneurysm Hemorrhage
Not yet recruiting
Selective Intra-Arterial Hypothermia After Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion
Acute Ischemic Stroke, Basilar Artery Occlusion

All Stroke trials

Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Brain Organization and Motor Recovery After Stroke
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03342534
Acronym / sponsor ID: ESTCORM / CRSII5-170985A
Conditions: Stroke
Study type: Interventional
Recruitment status: TerminatedReason stopped: End of funds before obtaining the planned number of patients.
Enrolment: 36 participants (actual)
Lead sponsor: Adrian GuggisbergUniversity, hospital or other
Collaborators: University Hospital, Geneva, Clinique Romande de Readaptation, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Study start: 13 Nov 2017 (actual)
Primary completion: 30 Apr 2024 (actual)
Study completion: 30 Sep 2024 (actual)
First posted: 17 Nov 2017 (actual)
Results: Not posted in the source record

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

Study design

Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: Triple blind (participant, care provider, outcomes assessor)
Number of arms: 4

Arm	Type	Receives
Anodal tDCS	Active comparator	Device: DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany)The anode is placed over the primary motor cortex of the stroke affected hemisphere, the cathode over the contralesional supraorbital front of the patient.
High definition (HD) anodal tDCS	Active comparator	Device: DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany)A single HD anode is placed over the primary motor cortex of the stroke affected hemisphere, 4 HD cathodes are placed over the affected hemisphere around the anode.
Bihemispheric tDCS	Active comparator	Device: DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany)The anode is placed over the primary motor cortex of the stroke affected hemisphere, the cathode over the primary motor cortex of the contralesional hemisphere.
Sham tDCS	Sham comparator	Device: DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany)The electrodes are placed as in one of the active arms, but only a ramp up current is applied during 30 seconds and then switched off. This induces similar sensations for the patients, but no change in excitability.

Who may qualify

Ages: 18 years and older
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Not accepted
Age groups: Adult, Older adult

Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)

Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
≤ 4 weeks after stroke onset
Paresis of upper limb with Fugl-Meyer score between 15 and 55 at study entry
Capable of participating during treatment sessions of 30-60 minutes
Informed consent obtained

Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)

Incapacity to understand study information or task instructions during trial.
New additional stroke during rehabilitation
Reduced vigilance or delirium
Severe language deficits
Preexisting affection of an upper limb

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Interventions

Intervention	Type	Arms
DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany)A current of 2 mA will be applied for 20 minutes, 3 times per week during 2 weeks, except for the sham tDCS arm.	Device	Anodal tDCS, Bihemispheric tDCS, High definition (HD) anodal tDCS, Sham tDCS

Primary outcome

Change in upper extremity Fugl-Meyer score, after intervention
Time frame: Difference between the week before the intervention and the week after intervention
Scale range 0-66 points, higher values indicate better outcome. Assessed by qualified physical or occupational therapists

2 secondary outcomes

Change in EEG functional connectivity, after intervention
Time frame: Difference between the week before the intervention and the week after intervention
Change in amplitude of motor evoked potentials, after intervention
Time frame: Difference between the week before the intervention and the week after intervention

Results and safety

The study was stopped early (reason given: End of funds before obtaining the planned number of patients.). Results are not available in the source record.

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 Jun 2025.

Related trials for Stroke

Not yet recruiting
Temporal Interference Stimulation for Upper-Limb Motor Recovery in Early Subacute Stroke
Acute Ischemic Stroke
RecruitingObservational study
ELATE Study: Evaluating Large-vessel Acute Thrombectomy in Extended Time Window
Acute Ichemic Stroke
Recruiting
Web-Based Tele-Rehabilitation Using Action Observation and Mirror Therapy for Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Stroke, Upper Extremity Paresis
Recruiting
Early Motor-Cognitive Integrative Training on Cognitive and Motor Performance in Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid Aneurysm Hemorrhage
Not yet recruiting
Selective Intra-Arterial Hypothermia After Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion
Acute Ischemic Stroke, Basilar Artery Occlusion

Referral and contact

AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.

Adrian G Guggisberg, MD principal investigator

University of Geneva, Switzerland

José Millán, PhD study director

University of Texas at Austin

2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing DC-stimulator (Neuroconn, Germany) in people with Stroke, run by Adrian Guggisberg at 2 sites in Switzerland.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study was stopped early (reason given: End of funds before obtaining the planned number of patients.). Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in upper extremity Fugl-Meyer score, after intervention (time frame: Difference between the week before the intervention and the week after intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03342534.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Jun 2025.