Investigating Central Contributions to Fatigue Using Non-invasive Brain Stimulation

The goal of this interventional study is to understand the contribution of the central components to the manifestation of neuromuscular fatigue in stroke survivors. The study will include adults with a first-ever stroke in the subacute phase.

The main question it aims to answer:

• How does the brain activity contribute to the manifestation of neuromuscular fatigue in stroke survivors?

Researchers will compare stroke participants receiving active vs sham tACS in a single session before the fatiguing contractions to determine whether central changes can influence fatigue onset/progression.

Participants will:

* Perform repeated leg muscle contractions until fatigue while seated in an experimental setup * Receive either active or sham tACS for 20 minutes before the fatiguing contractions. * Wear non-invasive sensors to record brain activity (EEG) and muscle activity (EMG) during the task * Complete the study during a single experimental session in which fatigue-related changes will be measured throughout the task