Unimanual Versus Bimanual Motor Skill Learning in Acute and Chronic Stroke (MLAS6)

September 14, 2026 updated by: Pr Yves Vandermeeren, MD, PhD, University Hospital of Mont-Godinne

Comparison of Unimanual Versus Bimanual Motor Skill Learning (Proximal and Distal) After Stroke by Means of Robotics (REA²Plan® and Dextrain®) and Multimodal Brain Imaging (VLSM, DTI, NODDI, DIAMOND)

To test the capacity of healthy individuals, chronic and acute stroke patients to learn and retain a complex unimanual or bimanual motor skill, trained on the neurorehabiliation robot REAplan® et the Dextrain® device. The goals are (1) to compare head-to-head bimanual versus unimanual motor learning (in the proximal and distal upper limb, UL) during the acute - early subactue stage of stroke with robotics and (2) to identify the neural substrates associated with (and deficits in) unimanual versus bimanual motor control (proximal and distal) after stroke by means of multimodal brain imaging.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Over 3 consecutive days, healthy individuals, acute and chronic stroke patients (1) will be evaluated and (2) will train on the neurorehabiliation robot REAplan® and Dextrain® device.

They will practice a task on the robot REAplan® (unimanual or bimanual version), requiring movements with the affected arm (unimanual version) and complex, coordinated movements with both arms (bimanual version). They will practice another task on the Dextrain® device, also in unimanual and bimanual version.

In addition, several standardized clinical scales and tests will be used to evaluate overall motor-sensory-cognitive functions (clinical tests, questionnaires, ...)

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
200

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

STROKE PATIENTS

Inclusion Criteria:

  • acute stroke (between day 2 and day 21 post-stroke) or chronic stroke (>6 mois)
  • aged 40-90 years
  • with a single demonstrated stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) lesion on brain imaging

Exclusion Criteria:

  • [for acute paitents] "classical" contre-indication to MRI (non-MR-compatible pacemaker, pregnancy, non-MR-compatible implanted devices, claustrophobia, etc ...)
  • difficulty in understanding or executing commands
  • drug/alcohol abuse
  • severe aphasia/cognitive deficits interfering with study
  • inability to complete the tasks (i.e. full paralysis of the arm)
  • multiple stroke/dementia/psychiatric condition

HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 40-90 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • "classical" contre-indication to MRI (non-MR-compatible pacemaker, pregnancy, non-MR-compatible implanted devices, claustrophobia, etc ...)
  • medical history with a previous stroke/relevant neurological deficit
  • drug/alcohol abuse
  • psychiatric condition/dementia
  • having already used the robotic devices

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Bimanual tasks
Training on the REAplan® robot with a serious game based on proximal motor skill learning (MSkL) with the bimanual version of the Circuit task and training on the Dextrain® Manipulandum with a serious game based on the distal MSkL with a bimanual version of the Targeting task.
Device: REAplan®
motor skill learning with the REAplan® rehabilitation robot, to be performed with one or two arms
Device: Dextrain® Manipulandum
motor skill learning with the Dextrain® Manipulandum dexterity tool to be performed with on or two hands
Experimental: Unimanual tasks
Training on the REAplan® robot with a serious game based on proximal motor skill learning (MSkL) with the unimanual version of the Circuit task and training on the Dextrain® Manipulandum with a serious game based on the distal MSkL with a unimanual version of the Targeting task.
Device: REAplan®
motor skill learning with the REAplan® rehabilitation robot, to be performed with one or two arms
Device: Dextrain® Manipulandum
motor skill learning with the Dextrain® Manipulandum dexterity tool to be performed with on or two hands

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
bi-Force, bimanual force measured by the REAplan® robot
Time Frame: change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3)
bimanual forces, forces exerted in the wrong direction by each arm (Newtons)
change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3)
Unimanual/bimanual Speed/Accuracy Trade-off (SAT/bi-SAT) measured by the REAplan® robot
Time Frame: Change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3) and transfer from Day 3 to Day 1 on the untrained mode
Unimanual/bimanual Speed/Accuracy Trade-off: mathematical computation of the relationship between speed and accuracy, in arbitrary units (SAT = speed (cm/s)/error (cm²).C, where C=1cm.s)
Change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3) and transfer from Day 3 to Day 1 on the untrained mode
bimanual Coordination factor (bi-CO) measured by the REAplan® robot
Time Frame: change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3)
bimanual Coordination factor, mathematical measure of the phase coherence between speeds of both arms
change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3)
Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), bimanual root mean square error measured by the Dextrain® Manipulandum
Time Frame: change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3) and transfer between Day 3 and Day 1 on the untrained mode
tracking error between the optimal trajectory between 2 targets and the actual trajectory
change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3) and transfer between Day 3 and Day 1 on the untrained mode
bimanual Coordination factor (bi-CO) measured by the Dextrain(R) Manipulandum
Time Frame: change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3)
bimanual Coordination factor, mathematical measure of the phase coherence between speeds of both hands
change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3)
Hold time measured by the Dextrain® Manipulandum
Time Frame: change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3) and transfer between Day 3 and Day 1 on the untrained mode
The amount of time the cursor remains inside the target zone
change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3) and transfer between Day 3 and Day 1 on the untrained mode

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Voxel-based Lesion Symptom Mapping (VLSM)
Time Frame: Baseline
Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI)
Baseline
Shoulder Abduction Finger Extension (SAFE) test
Time Frame: Day 1
A prognostic determinant of the function of the hemiparetic upper limb (UL) after a stroke. For each of the 2 subitems, the range is 0-5. A score of 5 means normal power. A score of 0 means no contraction possible.
Day 1
Modified Ashworth Scale (mAS)
Time Frame: Day 1
clinical measure of spasticity. For each of the 8 subitems, the range is 0-4. A higher score means a higher level of spasticity
Day 1
Coactivation measured by the Dextrain Manipulandum
Time Frame: change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3) and transfer between Day 3 and Day 1 on the untrained mode
binary measure of unasked fingers activated above the force threshold
change between baseline (Day 1) and after training (Day 3) and transfer between Day 3 and Day 1 on the untrained mode
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
Time Frame: Baseline
Fractional Anisotrophy, Mean/Axial/Radial Diffusivity
Baseline
Fugl Meyer Upper Extremity (FMA-UE)
Time Frame: Day1
Tests impairments of the upper limb after stroke. Range: 0-66. A higher score means less impairment
Day1
Box and Block test
Time Frame: Day1
Measures unilateral gross dexterity by moving as many small wooden blocks as possible from one side to the other side of the box within 60 seconds. The task is performed seperately with each hand. Score range: 0-150 for each hand. The score corresponds to the number of blocks successfully transferred in one minute. A higher score indicates better gross manual dexterity and upper-limb function.
Day1
Purdue Pegboard Test
Time Frame: Day1
Measures the fingertip dexterity and gross movement of the hand, fingers and arm. 4 different subtasks
Day1
Oxford Cognitive Screen
Time Frame: Day2
A first-line, stroke-specific and domain-specific cognitive screening tool, inclusive for patients with aphasia and neglect. Domains assessed: Language, Praxis, Number, Memory, Spatial and Controlled Attention. It provides a cognitive profile showing both preserved and impaired abilities
Day2
Key WAIS IV
Time Frame: Day2
A paper-pen test to asses processing speed and working memory.
Day2
Fatigue Visual Analog Scale
Time Frame: Every days, mean of the three days
A psychometric response scale which can be used in questionnaires. It is a measurement instrument for subjective characteristics or attitudes that cannot be directly measured. When responding to a VAS item, respondents specify their level of agreement to a statement by indicating a position along a continuous line between two end-points. Range : 0- 10. A higher score means a higher level of fatigue.
Every days, mean of the three days
Intrinsic Motivation Inventory
Time Frame: Day 3
The Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) is a multidimensional measurement device intended to assess participants' subjective experience related to a target activity in laboratory experiments
Day 3

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University Hospital of Mont-Godinne

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Yves Vandermeeren, MD, PhD, UCLouvain IoNS

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 18, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2031

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 8, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 14, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • B039201938990 - part 6

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Data Management Plan REDCap

IPD Sharing Time Frame

The data will become available during the beginning of the study and for 10 years.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Login user of the Hospital of CHU UCL Namur - Site Godinne

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • ANALYTIC_CODE
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings