Table 1.

Main inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Inclusion criteria for study entry

(i) Age ≥ 18 years   (ii) Diagnosis of stroke 11–26 weeks prior  (iii) Residual arm motor deficit (ARAT < 52 or 9-hole peg test score > 25% longer than with unaffected hand)  (iv) Preserved voluntary movements in distal upper extremity (≥5-degree range of motion in affected index metacarpophalangeal joint or wrist)

Exclusion criteria for study entry

(i) Contraindication to MRI   (ii) Severe cognitive impairment  (iii) Concurrent diagnosis affecting arm/hand function  (iv) Arm motor status not at stable plateau (>3-point difference on Fugl-Meyer scale between the two baseline assessments)

Exclusion criteria applied at time of data analysis

(i) Excessive head motion during fMRI (either pre- or posttreatment scan)   (ii) Posttreatment scan could not be obtained (e.g., claustrophobia or patient lost to follow-up)