a method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient , comprising assessing a patient &# 39 ; s motor deficits , determining therapeutic goals for the patient , based on the patient &# 39 ; s motor deficits , selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals , performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively , observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks , initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks , stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks , and improving the patient &# 39 ; s motor deficits .