Visual feedback (VF) is applied to recover motor skills after stroke. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of VF remain unclear, limiting its optimal use in clinical practice. We previously reported that the effect of neural mechanisms triggered by VF is reflected in the upperlimb at the level of the control structure (the set of synergies/corresponding activation coefficients used to perform a task). Here, we hypothesize that VF may facilitate the transfer of superior motor programs stored in the dominant hemisphere to optimize the nondominant arm’s motor control. In order to test this hypothesis we have quantified the intermanual transfer (IMT) of the dominant control structure to the nondominant arm during the execution of a complete set of standard rehabilitation routines. We demonstrate that IMT is the main mechanism by which VF increases interlimb similarity and we show that the magnitude of IMT can be up to 75% in neurologically intact subjects. Thus, this study provides sound physiological evidence to encourage the use of VF in stroke rehabilitation.

Peer Reviewed