Efficacy and Circuit Mechanisms of Noninvasive Brain-Computer Interface Therapy for Upper-Extremity Motor Function in Patients With Ischemic Stroke (BRACING)

November 6, 2026 updated by: Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing

This prospective, single-center, single-arm exploratory clinicaltrial will enroll participants with upper-extremity dysfunction after chronicischemic stroke. A total of 38 participants are planned. All enrolled participants will receive noninvasive brain-computer interface (BCI)-controlled exoskeleton training for 4 weeks, once daily, 5 days per week. Upper-extremity motor function will be assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and other measures. The study aims to: (1) preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of noninvasive BCI-controlled exoskeleton training in promoting upper-extremity motor recovery after chronic ischemic stroke; and (2)use multimodal neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques to clarify the regulatory role of the reward-motor circuit in BCI-induced motor learning and functional recovery, and to explore key neural biomarkers and predictive models associated with treatment response.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet 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.

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.
38

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 Locations

  • China
    • Beijing Municipality
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China, 100037
        • Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University
        • Contact:

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

18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • First-ever unilateral supratentorial ischemic stroke.
  • Stroke onset at least 1 year previously, with stable neurological function duringthe preceding 3 months(increase in total NIHSS score≤2 points).
  • Age ≥18 and≤75 years.
  • Any sex.
  • Unilatera FMA-UE score of 10-45.
  • Able to understand simple motor instructions and complete a motor-imagery task; no clinically significant cognitive impairment, defined as MoCA>20 or MMSE>24
  • Sitting balance grade I-II,with the ability to maintain a seated position formore than 15 minutes.
  • Sufficient comprehension and communication ability, willingness to participate,and signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous stroke, ischemic or hemorrhagic.
  • Bilateral,cerebellar, or brainstem lesions.
  • Severe upper-extremity spasticity(Modifed Ashworth Scale score≥3).
  • Unhealed fracture, osteoporosis, joint dislocation, or another condition affecting joint movement.
  • Severe depression(Beck Depression Inventory score≥17).
  • Marked hemispatial neglect or severe visuospatial impaiment.
  • Any MRl contraindication.
  • Current participation in another clinical trial.
  • Other important comorbidities,such as traumatic brain injury, ankylosing spondylitis, malignant tumor, neurodegenerative disease, epilepsy, multiplesclerosis, severe infection, unstable angina, or severe arrhythmia.
  • Pregnancy or breast feeding, or inability to use appropriate contraception during the trial.

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

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: BCI-induced Group

Patients with upper-extremity dysfunction after ischemic stroke.
Device: BCI system together with the active-passive exoskeleton training system

All eligible patients with upper-extremity dysfunction after chronic ischemic stroke will receive the study treatment once daily, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks.

The intervention uses the BCI system together with the active passive exoskeleton training system. The clinical management platform will be used for participant enrollment, assessment, treatment planning, and data archiving.

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
The difference between the FMA-UE score at the end of treatment and the baseline FMA-UE score
Time Frame: Day 90 after training.

The FMA-UE total score ranges from 0 to 66, with higher scores indicating better upper-extremity motor function.
Day 90 after training.

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
The difference between the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) at the end of treatment and the baseline.
Time Frame: Day 90 after training.

The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) total score ranges from 0 to 57, with higher scores indicating better upper-extremity functional ability.
Day 90 after training.
The difference between the Motor Status Scale (MSS) at the end of treatment and the baseline.
Time Frame: Day 90 after training.

The Motor Status Scale (MSS) total score ranges from 0 to 82, with higher scores indicating better upper-extremity motor function.
Day 90 after training.
The difference between the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) at the end of treatment and the baseline.
Time Frame: Day 90 after training.

The Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) total score ranges from 49 to 245, with higher scores indicating better stroke-specific quality of life.
Day 90 after training.
The difference between Stroke Rehabilitation Motivation Scale, 7-item version (SRMS-7) at the end of treatment and the baseline.
Time Frame: Day 90 after training.

The Stroke Rehabilitation Motivation Scale, 7-item version (SRMS-7), total score ranges from 7 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater rehabilitation motivation.
Day 90 after training.
The difference between Apathy Evaluation Scale-Selfrated (AES-S) at the end of treatment and the baseline.
Time Frame: Day 90 after training.

The Apathy Evaluation Scale-Self-rated (AES-S) total score ranges from 18 to 72, with higher scores indicating greater apathy and a worse outcome.
Day 90 after training.
The difference between Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) at the end of treatment and the baseline.
Time Frame: Day 90 after training.

The Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) total score ranges from 18 to 108, with higher scores indicating greater pleasure and less anhedonia.
Day 90 after training.
The difference between Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) at the end of treatment and the baseline.
Time Frame: Day 90 after training.

The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) total score ranges from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety severity and a worse outcome.
Day 90 after training.
The difference between Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) at the end of treatment and the baseline.
Time Frame: Day 90 after training.

The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) total score ranges from 0 to 52, with higher score.
Day 90 after training.
The difference between fMRI/sMRI measures of structural and functional brain changes at the end of treatment and the baseline.
Time Frame: Day 90 after training.

EEG and fNIRS measures depend on the prespecified electrophysiological or hemodynamic metric.
Day 90 after training.
The difference between EEG and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measures at the end of treatment and the baseline, including decoding accuracy, cortical activation, and brain-network topology
Time Frame: Day 90 after training.

EEG and fNIRS measures depend on the prespecified electrophysiological or hemodynamic metric.
Day 90 after training.

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Incidence of Adverse events
Time Frame: From baseline through the Day 90 follow-up visit.
From baseline through the Day 90 follow-up visit.

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.
Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing

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 (Estimated)

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.
October 31, 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.
October 31, 2027

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.
October 31, 2028

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).
October 21, 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.
November 6, 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.
November 9, 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.
November 9, 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.
November 6, 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.
October 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.
  • BCI-Stroke

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

The Steering Committee will consider on a case-by-case basis requests for data sharing.

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.

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