Table 1 Characteristics of all participants

Age (years)^α

52.53 (15.05)

62.27 (9.68)

0.046^a

Gender (female/male)^β

9/6

7/8

0.714^c

Handedness (right/left)^β

13/2

11/4

0.651^d

NIHSS scores

5 (4.00;8.00)

6 (2.00;8.00)

0.629^b

Onset since stroke (days)

4.00 (3.00;6.00)

4.00 (4.00;9.00)

0.510^b

Lesion area (Cortical to subcortical/subcortical)^β

4/11

3/12

1.000^d

tDCS stimulation side (right brain/left brain)^β

6/9

10/5

0.272^d

Stroke severity by FMA-UE^β

 -No UE capacity (0–22)

6

5

–

 -Poor capacity (23–31)

1

1

–

 -Limited capacity (32–47)

–

2

–

 -Notable capacity (48–52)

–

1

–

 -Full UE capacity (> 53)

8

6

–