Table 1 Patient selection criteria

• ≥6 months after first-ever stroke (ischaemic, haemorrhagic)

• Previous or current other functional deficits of arm and hand motor function not due to stroke

• Able to sit in a normal chair without armrests and without support of the back rest

• Severe cognitive deficits: Mini-Mental State Examination score ≤20

• Persistent motor deficit of arm and hand confirmed by Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment arm subscale level ≥3 and hand subscale level ≥2 (The difference between both subscales has to be two levels or more.)

• Severe visuospatial disorders (for example, severe visual neglect confirmed by LineBisectionTest)

• Able to score at least 1 on the Box and Block Test (main outcome measure)

• History of epileptic seizures triggered by visual stimuli (for example, television, video games) within the past 6 months