{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T13:53:38Z","timestamp":1772632418291,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772582400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Neurol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying upper limb motor recovery after stroke remains a significant challenge in rehabilitation research. It has been proposed that individuals who show no motor-evoked potential (MEP) response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and are thus classified as MEP negative (MEP\u2212) have limited potential for recovery in part due to damage of the corticospinal pathway. In this study, we investigate how individuals categorized as MEP\u2212 with TMS respond to stimulation of the corticospinal pathway at a subcortical level. We describe the methodology for eliciting MEPs by using cervicomedullary electrical stimulation (CMEP) in post-stroke individuals with severe upper limb hemiparesis. MEP status (+\/\u2212) of the more affected arm was assessed using TMS and cervicomedullary electrical stimulation in stroke survivors with severe upper extremity hemiparesis. While most of the participants were classified as MEP\u2212, all individuals were categorized as CMEP+ in the biceps brachii, extensor carpi radialis, and first dorsal interosseous muscles. Importantly, we report the first testing of CMEPs in a small cohort of individuals with stroke. This technique is feasible in this population and has potential for application in clinical translation settings. Our findings provide a foundation for future studies to replicate and expand upon this approach, enabling the exploration of new hypotheses related to post-stroke rehabilitation and recovery.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2026.1722620","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T07:01:24Z","timestamp":1772607684000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Cervicomedullary motor evoked responses in individuals with severe chronic hemiparesis post-stroke: a feasibility study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Carley L. P.","family":"Butler","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Arms and Hands Lab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab","place":["Chicago, IL, United States"]},{"name":"Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University","place":["Chicago, IL, United States"]},{"name":"Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University","place":["Evanston, IL, United States"]},{"name":"Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital","place":["Hines, IL, United States"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Aditya","family":"Dutt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University","place":["Downers Grove, IL, United States"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Carolee J.","family":"Winstein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California","place":["Los Angeles, CA, United States"]},{"name":"Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California","place":["Los Angeles, CA, United States"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Monica A.","family":"Perez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Arms and Hands Lab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab","place":["Chicago, IL, United States"]},{"name":"Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University","place":["Chicago, IL, United States"]},{"name":"Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University","place":["Evanston, IL, United States"]},{"name":"Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital","place":["Hines, IL, United States"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mary Ellen","family":"Stoykov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Arms and Hands Lab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab","place":["Chicago, IL, United States"]},{"name":"Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University","place":["Chicago, IL, United States"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"480","DOI":"10.1177\/1747493017714176","article-title":"Biomarkers of stroke recovery: consensus-based core recommendations from the stroke recovery and rehabilitation roundtable","volume":"12","author":"Boyd","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int J Stroke"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"310","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nicl.2016.09.015","article-title":"Are we armed with the right data? 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