Target-oriented motor imagery for grasping action: different characteristics of brain activation between kinesthetic and visual imagery

Woo Hyung Lee,Hyun Haeng Lee,Yoon Jae Kim,Sungwan Kim,Han Gil Seo,Hyung Seok Nam,Min-Gu Kang,Byung-Mo Oh,Moon Suk Bang,Eunkyung Kim

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-49254-2

Woo Hyung Lee, Hyun Haeng Lee + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49254-2

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Abstract

Motor imagery (MI) for target-oriented movements, which is a basis for functional activities of daily living, can be more appropriate than non-target-oriented MI as tasks to promote motor recovery or brain-computer interface (BCI) applications. This study aimed to explore different characteristics of brain activation among target-oriented kinesthetic imagery (KI) and visual imagery (VI) in the first-person (VI-1) and third-person (VI-3) perspectives. Eighteen healthy volunteers were evaluated for MI ability, trained for the three types of target-oriented MIs, and scanned using 3 T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) under MI and perceptual control conditions, presented in a block design. Post-experimental questionnaires were administered after fMRI. Common brain regions activated during the three types of MI were the left premotor area and inferior parietal lobule, irrespective of the MI modalities or perspectives. Contrast analyses showed significantly increased brain activation only in the contrast of KI versus VI-1 and KI versus VI-3 for considerably extensive brain regions, including the supplementary motor area and insula. Neural activity in the orbitofrontal cortex and cerebellum during VI-1 and KI was significantly correlated with MI ability measured by mental chronometry and a self-reported questionnaire, respectively. These results can provide a basis in developing MI-based protocols for neurorehabilitation to improve motor recovery and BCI training in severely paralyzed individuals.

Highlights

Motor imagery (MI) is a dynamic mental state during which representations of a given motor act are internally rehearsed in working memory without any overt motor output[1]
During MI, increased brain activity is observed at the premotor, supplementary motor, cingulate, parietal cortical areas, basal ganglia, and cerebellum, which are the principal brain areas involved in ME4,5
There was no significant correlation between the average scores of the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ) and the deviation indices of mental chronometry for either visual imagery (VI) (r = 0.064, P = 0.801) or kinesthetic imagery (KI) (r = 0.302, P = 0.224)

Summary

Introduction

Motor imagery (MI) is a dynamic mental state during which representations of a given motor act are internally rehearsed in working memory without any overt motor output[1]. Even though the results of these studies are useful in elucidating the physiologic mechanisms for enhancing the performance of BCIs or the effect of neurorehabilitation, MI tasks only consisted of simple, non-target-oriented MIs such as finger tapping and running. Since both BCIs and neurorehabilitation aim to facilitate functionalities using instruments in daily life, the selection of these tasks may have limited application. Imagery for target-oriented movement, which can be the basis for functional activities of daily living, would be more appropriate than non-target-oriented MI as a task for motor recovery or BCI applications

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