Motor imagery-based brain activity parallels that of motor execution: Evidence from magnetic source imaging of cortical oscillations

• Published in: Brain research 2014-11, Vol.1588, p.81-91
• Main Authors: Kraeutner, Sarah, Gionfriddo, Alicia, Bardouille, Timothy, Boe, Shaun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beta Rhythm; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - physiology; Brain Mapping; Electromyography; Evoked Potentials; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hand - physiology; Humans; Imagination - physiology; Learning - physiology; Magnetoencephalography; Male; Motion Perception - physiology; Motor imagery; Motor learning; Neuroimaging; Neurology; Neuropsychological Tests; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.09.001

Abstract Motor imagery (MI) is a form of practice in which an individual mentally performs a motor task. Previous research suggests that skill acquisition via MI is facilitated by repetitive activation of brain regions in the sensorimotor network similar to that of motor execution, however this evidence is conflicting. Further, many studies do not control for overt muscle activity and thus the activation patterns reported for MI may be driven in part by actual movement. The purpose of the current research is to further establish MI as a secondary modality of skill acquisition by providing electrophysiological evidence of an overlap between brain areas recruited for motor execution and imagery. Non-disabled participants ( N= 18; 24.7±3.8 years) performed both execution and imagery of a unilateral sequence button-press task. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) was utilized to capture neural activity, while electromyography used to rigorously monitor muscle activity. Event-related synchronization/desynchronization (ERS/ERD) analysis was conducted in the beta frequency band (15–30 Hz). Whole head dual-state beamformer analysis was applied to MEG data and 3D t -tests were conducted after Talairach normalization. Source-level analysis showed that MI has similar patterns of spatial activity as ME, including activation of contralateral primary motor and somatosensory cortices. However, this activation is significantly less intense during MI ( p