BBC News NI health correspondent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A man who had a stroke is taking part in a new Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) study in the hope it may help him regain some movement in his arm and hand.<\/p>\n People who have had a stroke are being invited to participate in the research, which aims to explore whether a wireless, brain-powered computer game can help them regain movement in their arms.<\/p>\n Neuroscientist Dr. Kathy Ruddy said participants will be asked to wear a simple headset that reads brain activity while they imagine moving their affected arm.<\/p>\n Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability in Northern Ireland with up to 80% of survivors experiencing arm or hand weakness.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n About 3,000 people are admitted to hospital each year having experienced a stroke, with 39,000 stroke survivors recovering at home, many of whom require support.<\/p>\n Once a keen guitarist, 67-year-old Rodney Hamilton, had a stroke at the age of 46 and lost movement in his arm and hand.<\/p>\n The Dundonald man told BBC News NI he misses the music. <\/p>\n He said the experience of playing the video games has been very enjoyable and he is hoping that more people who have experienced a stroke will join the QUB study.<\/p>\n “I would encourage others to take part in the project,” he told BBC News NI.<\/p>\n “It’s very, very good.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n After having a stroke people can find day-to-day tasks, including getting dressed, cooking or writing, extremely difficult.<\/p>\n The team at QUB has said the research is giving hope to those who’ve survived a stroke but are limited due to their movement or speech being affected.<\/p>\n Survivors can be supported by different types of rehabilitation, including through playing games.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dr Ruddy said brains are adaptable and through a process called neuroplasticity, other parts of the brain can take over lost functions.<\/p>\n The team are looking for about 50 people who have suffered a stroke to take part and use the headsets.<\/p>\n “The brain signals are picked up and used to control a computer game,” Dr Ruddy explained.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n “This form of ‘motor imagery’ activates the same brain areas as real movement and it may help keep these body parts healthy and active after a stroke, even when actual movement isn’t yet possible.”<\/p>\n The project is being funded by Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke.<\/p>\n Dr Ruddy said by “incorporating different types of neural signals into brain-controlled games, the team can train human participants to modify specific aspects of their neurophysiological function”.<\/p>\n Stroke survivors, carers and healthcare professionals are invited to come along to an event at Riddel Hall in Stranmillis on Thursday 7 August from 11:00 BST until 15:00 to find out more about the research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The FAST acronym (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) is a test to quickly identify the three most common signs of stroke.<\/p>\n Source: Stroke Association<\/b><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"BBC](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/bf6d\/live\/fcc170a0-71f4-11f0-a178-03cc5fabe4bc.jpg.webp\")
BBC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20250728-162205-9b8a2dcb37-web-2.26.0-8\/grey-placeholder.png\")
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Queen’s University Belfast<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nHow does the study work?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Queen’s University Belfast<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nHow to identify a stroke<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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