Neuroanatomical and Neurophysiological Basis of Motor Recovery Associated With Treatment of Recent Stroke Using Amphetamine and Physical Therapy

The purpose of this study is to determine if administration of dextroamphetamine (amph) linked with customarily used Rehabilitation Medicine accelerates motor recovery after stroke. Additionally, if motor recovery occurs, this study will allow identification of the brain regions activated in association with this recovery.

Techniques used will include longitudinal rating of motor function, neuro-imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance tomography (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Patients will be assigned to one of the two groups: amph linked with PT, and placebo linked with PT. Every patient will receive the standard of care PT. Motor recovery will be evaluated in the two groups. If motor recovery is accelerated in any of the groups, then neuroimaging and neurophysiological data will allow identification of areas and networks in the brain associated with this recovery.

This is a Phase II study with potential major impact on how stroke patients are treated.