BACKGROUND: The ability to generate vivid images of movements is variable across individuals and likely influenced by sensorimotor inputs. OBJECTIVES: The authors examined (1) the vividness of motor imagery in dancers and in persons with late blindness, with amputation or an immobilization of one lower limb; (2) the effects of prosthesis use on motor imagery; and (3) the temporal characteristics of motor imagery. METHODS: Eleven dancers, 10 persons with late blindness, 14 with amputation, 6 with immobilization, and 2 groups of age-matched healthy individuals (27 in control group A; 35 in control group B) participated. The Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire served to assess motor imagery vividness. Temporal characteristics were assessed with mental chronometry. RESULTS: The late blindness group and dance group displayed higher imagery scores than respective control groups. In the amputation and immobilization groups, imagery scores were lower on the affected side than the intact side and specifically for imagined foot movements. Imagery scores of the affected limb positively correlated with the time since walking with prosthesis. Movement times during imagination and execution (amputation and immobilization) were longer on the affected side than the intact side, but the temporal congruence between real and imagined movement times was similar to that in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The mental representation of actions is highly modulated by imagery practice and motor activities. The ability to generate vivid images of movements can be specifically weakened by limb loss or disuse, but lack of movement does not affect the temporal characteristics of motor imagery.
BACKGROUND: The ability to generate vivid images of movements is variable across individuals and likely influenced by sensorimotor inputs. OBJECTIVES: The authors examined (1) the vividness of motor imagery in dancers and in persons with late blindness, with amputation or an immobilization of one lower limb; (2) the effects of prosthesis use on motor imagery; and (3) the temporal characteristics of motor imagery. METHODS: Eleven dancers, 10 persons with late blindness, 14 with amputation, 6 with immobilization, and 2 groups of age-matched healthy individuals (27 in control group A; 35 in control group B) participated. The Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire served to assess motor imagery vividness. Temporal characteristics were assessed with mental chronometry. RESULTS: The late blindness group and dance group displayed higher imagery scores than respective control groups. In the amputation and immobilization groups, imagery scores were lower on the affected side than the intact side and specifically for imagined foot movements. Imagery scores of the affected limb positively correlated with the time since walking with prosthesis. Movement times during imagination and execution (amputation and immobilization) were longer on the affected side than the intact side, but the temporal congruence between real and imagined movement times was similar to that in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The mental representation of actions is highly modulated by imagery practice and motor activities. The ability to generate vivid images of movements can be specifically weakened by limb loss or disuse, but lack of movement does not affect the temporal characteristics of motor imagery.
Authors: Martina Gandola; Maurilio Bruno; Laura Zapparoli; Gianluca Saetta; Elena Rolandi; Antonio De Santis; Giuseppe Banfi; Alberto Zerbi; Valerio Sansone; Eraldo Paulesu Journal: Exp Brain Res Date: 2017-07-31 Impact factor: 1.972
Authors: Corina Schuster; Roger Hilfiker; Oliver Amft; Anne Scheidhauer; Brian Andrews; Jenny Butler; Udo Kischka; Thierry Ettlin Journal: BMC Med Date: 2011-06-17 Impact factor: 8.775
Authors: Valentina Tomassini; Paul M Matthews; Alan J Thompson; Daniel Fuglø; Jeroen J Geurts; Heidi Johansen-Berg; Derek K Jones; Maria A Rocca; Richard G Wise; Frederik Barkhof; Jacqueline Palace Journal: Nat Rev Neurol Date: 2012-11-05 Impact factor: 42.937
Authors: Arnaud Saimpont; Francine Malouin; Anne Durand; Catherine Mercier; Franck di Rienzo; Elodie Saruco; Christian Collet; Aymeric Guillot; Philip L Jackson Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-07-02 Impact factor: 4.379