WE describe a patient who in 1983 suffered a stroke which resulted in severe hemiplegia and somatosensory loss. His neurological condition remained stable until January 1996, when, because of a myocardial infarction, the patient underwent systemic thrombolytic therapy which led to a remarkable improvement of both motor and somatosensory functions. This finding suggests the existence of 'idling neurons' which remain viable for a long time after stroke, and opens a fascinating window on the therapeutic potential of thrombolytic therapy in chronic stroke patients.