Music Rhythm-Intervention Targeting Attention in Stroke: A Neuropsychological and Electrophysiological Quasi-randomized Study.

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, with attention deficits being among the most common and functionally debilitating cognitive impairments. This quasi-randomized study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a rhythm-based intervention in enhancing attention among individuals with stroke. he study will be conducted at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, with stroke participants in the early sub-acute phase (7 days to 3 months post-stroke), aged 18–55 years, with first-ever anterior circulation strokes confirmed by CT/MRI. Age- and education-matched healthy controls will also be recruited. In Phase I, stroke patients will be compared with healthy controls on attention tasks using behavioral and EEG/ERP methods. In Phase II, stroke patients will be assigned to either a rhythm-based intervention group or an active control group (audiobook/story listening), each undergoing 15 sessions over three weeks. Primary outcomes include measurement of various attention domains, measured through computerized tasks and EEG indices. Secondary outcomes include assessment of various neuropsychological functions (including executive functions) and functional outcomes in stroke. Findings are expected to establish rhythm training as a novel, cost-effective adjunct to cognitive rehabilitation in stroke, with potential broader applicability across neurological conditions