Efficacy of Music-Based Telerehabilitation After Stroke

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a music-based telerehabilitation intervention implemented at home works to treat different kinds of neurological deficits caused by stroke. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1) Can the music intervention improve recovery of cognitive, verbal, motor, and emotional deficits after stroke, 2) can the music intervention enhance structural and functional recovery of the brain, and (3) how different demographic, musical, and clinical background factors affect the way the music intervention works. Researchers will compare the music intervention to standard (usual) care to see if the music intervention works to treat the deficits caused by stroke. Subjects are stroke patients who will participate either in the music intervention 5 times/week for 10 weeks in addition to standard care or receive standard care only. During the trial, the subjects will undergo neuropsychological testing and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) three times: at baseline (before the intervention), at 3-month stage (immediately after the intervention), and at 6-month stage (3 months after the intervention).

Inclusion Criteria: * Left or right hemisphere stroke which has occurred at least 3 months ago * At least mild cognitive deficit and mild aphasia / upper-extremity hemiparesis caused by the stroke * Age 30-80 years * Finnish-speaking (or bilingual, able to participate in Finnish) * Understands the purpose of the study and is able to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Prior significant hearing or visual impairment * Prior severe psychiatric illness (e.g., schizopheria, bipolar disorder, severe unipolar depression) * Prior severe neurological illness (e.g., brain injury, dementia; can have prior TIA or mild stroke)