Harnessing Neuroplasticity: The Role of Priming in Enhancing Post Stroke Motor Function

Stroke remains a leading cause of disability worldwide, highlighting the need for innovative neurorehabilitation strategies to enhance recovery. Recent advancements emphasize neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to reorganize and form new connections—through targeted interventions. Among these, cortical priming has emerged as a promising approach to enhance neuroplasticity and improve motor recovery post-stroke by modulating brain excitability for optimal motor learning. This review explores the role of cortical priming in stroke rehabilitation, highlighting its ability to enhance neural excitability and plasticity in motor-related brain regions. Various priming techniques, including non-invasive brain stimulation (rTMS, tDCS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), movement-based priming, aerobic exercise, and sensory stimulation, are examined. Despite promising findings, challenges remain in optimizing protocols and addressing individual variability. Future directions focus on biomarker-driven rehabilitation, personalized strategies, and large-scale trials to integrate cortical priming into clinical practice.