Stroke recovery is often described as relearning life : opening a hand, lifting a cup, buttoning a shirt, finding words, balancing safely, staying motivated through fatigue. Rehab works—but progress can be slow, and many people don’t fully regain the function they want. That’s why researchers are exploring approaches that might support the brain’s recovery machinery  itself—not by replacing therapy, but by helping the brain become more “ready to learn.” One of the most intrig