This document summarizes a study being conducted as part of Finland's Mind and Body research program. The study is investigating changes in brain function as stroke patients recover using novel brain imaging methods. Researchers from Aalto University and Helsinki University Central Hospital are collaborating with medical device company Elekta to study patients and develop new rehabilitation techniques. The results so far indicate that most changes in the brain occur within the first four weeks of recovery. The researchers hope to use these methods to develop more personalized rehabilitation programs and treatment comparisons to improve recovery outcomes for stroke patients.

1. Changes in brain function during www.salwe.fi
recovery of stroke patients
Mind and Body is a SalWe programme that promotes close interaction between companies and
basic and applied research groups. A project, as part of the programme, is studying changes in
brain functioning during the recovery of stroke patients. Novel methods for treatment and
rehabilitation are developed on the results achieved in the study.
Stroke is one of the most common causes of perma- also important to understand neural mechanism of
nent disability among the adult population of indus- recovery from stroke”, she continues.
trialised countries. Each year as many as 15 million
people suffer a stroke; in Finland the number is about In the Mind and Body Programme, Helsinki University
15,000. Central Hospital (HUCH) and Aalto University are co-
operating with health care company Elekta to study
“New methods for mapping brain activity are giving how patients recover from a stroke. Elekta develops
us a more complete picture of which different areas and manufactures MEG equipment used in brain im-
of the brain are involved in controlling human move- aging.
ment and how the functional networks change after
brain infarction,” says Research Professor Kiti Müller “Development of novel recording and analyzing tech-
of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. “It is niques and their application to clinical studies re-
SalWe - Strategic Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation in Health and Well-being

2. quire state-of-the-art equipment and multidisciplinary tive methods to monitor the effect of treatment on
approach that are achieved in our collaboration brain physiology and e.g. cognitive functions that will
effort between HUCH, Aalto University and Elekta. aid in adjusting rehabilitation programmes as recovery
Department of Neurology of Helsinki University Cen- advances,” Kiti Müller adds.
tral Hospital is a world leader in treating acute stroke
and receives stroke victims from a wide area. We are For some stroke patients, innovative rehabilitation
combining these two major elements in our research methods can help to restore the ability to work, par-
project: top-class imaging skills and eminent clinical tially or completely depending on the severity of the
experience,” says project leader Nina Forss, a neurolo- stroke and the demands of the job.
gist who heads the clinical brain research at Aalto
University. Fruitful research cooperation
Müller believes that Finland’s Strategic Centres for
Tactile perception matters Science, Technology and Innovation have created a
“We’ve been exploring the changes in sensory and framework that accelerates the transfer of research
motor cortex functions in stroke patients recovering findings into practical use.
from acute paralysis of one hand,” Nina Forss explains.
“Projects of basic and applied research can be linked
“In stroke, major effort is generally focused on retrain- together into a single functional entity. The commer-
ing the motor cortex but, from the perspective of the cial partner is represented by R&D staff, generally
hand functions, sensory perception and its integration people with scientific training, who can see how the
to motor plans are at least as important as the recov- research data can be applied practically via product
ery of the motor cortex. Our research looks at how the development. The researchers are exposed to business
sensory nervous system recovers over time and how realities and the companies learn directly what high-
this affects the regaining of normal hand function.” quality scientific research requires. It’s an excellent
thing that Finland wants to invest in R&D based on
Promising study results high-quality research.”
The programme has also explored the timing of correc-
tive measures. Its results indicate that all significant
changes in sensory and motor cortices take place in More information
the first four weeks after a stroke.
Nina Forss
“We hope in the future to be able to use this meth- associate professor
clinical neurologist
odology to compare the usefulness of treatments. We
Helsinki University Central Hospital,
may even, one day, be able to extend the time window Department of Neurology
of optimal brain plasticity, using drugs and other in- Aalto University, Brain Research Unit
terventions.” nina@neuro.hut.fi
Kiti Müller
Better rehab outcomes research professor
“Information on brain functions forms the basis for “The brain at work” Research Programme leader
Institute of Occupational Health
the development of more personalized rehabilitation
kiti.muller@ttl.fi
models and tools. We are also seeking for new objec- +358 40 507 7432
SalWe - Strategic Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation in Health and Well-being