Rehabilitation robotics: stimulating restoration of arm function after stroke

A cerebrovascular accident, or stroke, is major cause of mortality or permanent disability. Stroke can be defined as a neurological deficit due to damage to the blood supply of the brain. A stroke causes a destruction of brain tissue in areas that are subjected to blood deprivation. This can result in a variety of sensory, motor, cognitive and psychological symptoms. A longer-term mechanism involved in neurological recovery is neural plasticity, meaning that brain activity and cortical representations of motor actions change during recovery. Processes involved in cortical reorganization can include activation of previously inactive neurons, facilitation of alternative networks, and collateral sprouting. These processes allow for the development of new paths for neural communication, to circumvent those that were damaged by the stroke.