A collaborative arts and research project involving stroke survivors, neuroscientists Dr Anna Kuppuswamy and Dr William De Doncker and artist Sofie Layton.

The project explores stroke survivors’ experiences of post-stroke fatigue through artistic media. These have informed final artworks and online showcase entitled, ‘Ensnared: The Inescapable Reality of Fatigue’.

Our overarching aim is to make visible this invisible condition and deepen everyone’s understanding of the physical and emotional challenges involved in tackling post-stroke fatigue in one’s everyday life. Additionally, Dr Kuppuswamy hopes that the artistic expressions will help inform her scientific work.

This project is a collaboration between the Institute of Neurology’s Fatigue group and the Public Engagement team at the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging. 

The Research

Chronic fatigue is a highly prevalent symptom across many diseases irrespective of disease burden. The Effort Lab focuses on neural mechanisms independent of disease pathology, primarily investigating movement related sensory processing. We use a range of techniques from neuroimaging, non-invasive brain stimulation, behavioural paradigms to self-report. Alongside understanding mechanisms, we also develop brain-based therapeutic interventions.