Neuroscience-Informed Psychoeducation in Stroke Publisher

Summary: Can better education support stroke recovery? A chapter suggests clear explanations and family involvement may help coping and rehabilitation. #StrokeRecovery #PatientEducation

Moshayedi P ; Memari A
Source: Progress in Brain Research Published:2026

Abstract

Stroke is a life-altering event that leaves patients and families grappling with profound physical, cognitive, and emotional changes. Traditional medical education—focused solely on the vascular event—fails to address the lived experience of recovery, leaving an explanatory vacuum filled by fear, self-blame, and misunderstanding. Neuroscience-informed psychoeducation (NIPE) bridges this gap by translating principles of neuroplasticity, functional neuroanatomy, and brain network connectivity into accessible, empowering knowledge. This chapter provides a comprehensive framework for implementing NIPE across the stroke recovery continuum. It begins by establishing core neuroscience principles, including the concept of “neurons that fire together, wire together” and the disconnection syndrome model. It then applies these principles to demystify common post-stroke symptoms—from hemiparesis and aphasia to neglect and emotional lability—and extends the model to secondary prevention, linking blood pressure control, glycemic management, smoking cessation, and physical activity directly to brain protection. Action-oriented frameworks, including SMARTER goals and the Spoon Theory for energy management, translate knowledge into daily practice. The chapter emphasizes inclusive family education, effective delivery principles (timing, analogies, multimodal materials, collaborative stance), and strategies for addressing common concerns such as plateaus, depression, and identity loss. Finally, it frames resilience as a cultivable capacity supported by evidence-based psychotherapies and positive psychology interventions. By transforming patients from passive recipients to active partners in their recovery, NIPE fosters agency, hope, and the adaptive neurobiological environment essential for optimal outcomes. Copyright © 2026. Published by Elsevier B.V.