Imagery Modalities Research Articles

The role of mental imagery in pantomimes of actions towards and away from the body.

This study aimed to explore the relationship between action execution and mental rotation modalities. To this end, pantomime gesture (i.e. the mime of the use of an object) was used as its execution relies on imagery processes. Specifically, we tried to clarify the role of visuo-spatial or motor and body-related mental imagery processes in pantomime gestures performed away (AB, e.g. drawing on a sheet) and towards the body (TB, e.g. brushing the teeth). We included an "actual use" condition in which participants were asked to use a toothbrush and make 3, 6, or 9 circular movements close to their mouth (as if they were brushing their teeth) or to use a pencil and make 3, 6, or 9 circular movements on a desk (as if they were drawing circles). Afterwards, participants were asked to pantomime the actual use of the same objects ("pantomime" condition). Finally, they were asked to mentally rotate three different stimuli: hands, faces, and abstract lines. Results showed that participants were faster in AB than TB pantomimes. Moreover, the more accurate and faster the mental rotation of body-related stimuli was, the more similar the temporal duration between both kinds of pantomimes and the actual use of the objects appeared. Instead, the temporal similarity between AB pantomimes and pencil actual use, as well as, the duration of AB pantomime and actual use, were associated with the ability to mentally rotate abstract lines. This was not true for TB movements. These results suggest that the execution of AB and TB pantomimes may involve different mental imagery modalities. Specifically, AB pantomimes would not only require to mentally manipulate images of body-parts in movement but also represent the spatial relations of the object with the external world.

Not all imagery is created equal: A functional Magnetic resonance imaging study of internally driven and symbol driven musical performance imagery

Playing a musical instrument requires fast multimodal sensory-motor processing which can be activated by voluntary access to performance imagery. Musicians use different methods to activate imagery for the purpose of “mental practice”. The aim of the present study was to investigate cortical activation patterns in different methods of mental practice of musical performance. While undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), 7 male oud (fretless lute) players engaged in performance imagery of a pre-memorized short excerpt from mainstream oud repertoire using three common imagery methods (task conditions): From memory (internally driven) 1)eyes closed, 2)eyes open, and while following the musical score (symbol driven). The study design consisted of a four-task 16-epoch block design where the 4th task was an eyes-open rest tasks (EOR) included as a control condition. Each task was repeated four times in a pseudorandomized sequence. The superior temporal gyrus and transvers temporal gyrus (Heschl) were active in the left and right hemispheres in all imagery conditions. The occipital cortex, specifically the fusiform gyrus was active in all three conditions. Symbol driven imagery resulted in less prominent activations in frontal and parietal lobes. The findings suggest that not all imagery modalities activate sensory and motor areas similarly.

Mental Imagery, Optimism, and Self-efficacy: The Role of Imagery Perspective and Imagery Modality in Positive Cognition

This study examined whether using different imagery perspectives and modalities plays a role in the link between vividness of imagining positive events and positive cognition such as optimism, self-efficacy and memory for positive mood. We asked participants to complete self-rating scales of positive cognition and to imagine doing various actions in positive situations from the external and internal perspectives of visual modality and when using kinesthetic modality. We found that vividness of imagining actions in positive situations from an external perspective predicts all positive cognitions: optimism and self-efficacy and memory of positive mood. The vividness of imagining actions in positive situations from the internal perspective of visual modality and kinesthetic imagery predicted only self-efficacy and memory of positive mood but not optimism. We discuss the findings in light of existing theories regarding imagery and positive cognition and suggest several possibilities of using imagery perspective for imagery interventions.

Does hypnotic assessment predict the functional equivalence between motor imagery and action?

Motor imagery is influenced by individual and contextual factors. We investigated whether the psychophysiological trait of hypnotisability modulates its subjective experience and cortical correlates similarly to what was previously shown for head postures mental images.EEG was acquired in 18 high (highs) and 15 low (lows) hypnotizable subjects (Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, A). The experimental conditions were: baseline, a complex arm/hand movement, visual (1st person) and kinesthetic imagery of the movement. After each imagery condition, participants scored the vividness and easeness of their performance and their ability to mantain the requested modality of imagery. Subjective reports, chronometric visual/kinesthetic indices, absolute beta and fronto-central midline alpha powers were analyzed.Findings confirmed earlier reports of better kinestetic imagery ability in highs than in lows and better visual than kinesthetic imagery in lows, as well as smaller restructuring of the cortical activity in highs than in lows, during all tasks. Also, they show that hypnotisability accounts for most of the correlations between brain regions for both alpha and beta changes.Thus, imagined and actual movements were less demanding processes in highs at subjective and cortical levels. Finally, hypnotic assessment assists to plan personalized mental training for neuro-rehabilitation and sports and predict their efficacy.

Visual motor imagery predominance in professional Spanish dancers

Purpose: The main objectives of the study were to analyse the predominant motor imagery modality used by professional Spanish dancers and to compare Spanish dancers’ ability to perform mental motor imagery with that of non-dancers, and to analyse differences between male and female dancers. As a secondary aim, to compare the motor imagery ability between two styles of Spanish dance: classical Spanish dancers and Flamenco dancers.Methods: A total of 74 participants were classified into two groups: professional Spanish dancers (n = 37) and sedentary participants (n = 37). The professional Spanish dancer group was composed of two dance disciplines: flamenco dancers (n = 17), and classical dancers (n = 20).Results: Professional Spanish dancers used predominantly visual imagery modalities over kinesthetics to generate motor imagery, with a moderate effect size (p < .01, d = 0.68). Regarding the ability to generate motor imagery, significant intergroup differences between professional Spanish dancers and sedentary participants were observed in all variables, with a large effect size (p < .05, d > 0.80). Differences were obtained between men and women among non-dancers group (t = −3.34; p = .03; d = 0.5). No differences between Flamenco and classical dancers were observed.Conclusion: Visual motor imagery modality was easier than the kinaesthetic modality in the generation of motor imagery for professional Spanish dancers regardless of the dance style. Spanish dancers had a greater ability to perform motor imagery compared with non-dancer individuals, needing less time to perform these mental tasks. Men non-dancers had a greater ability to generate motor imagery than women. Reinforcing the training of kinaesthetic motor imagery might be useful for professional Spanish dancers.

The comparison of Imagery ability in elite, sub-elite and non-elite swimmers

The ability to generate and control mental images is present in all of us, but it differs from person to person. Therefore, it is important to understand that imagery ability can be changed through training and experimentation, it is not a fixed ability (Cumming &amp; Williams, 2012). The aim of this study is to compare imagery ability in elite, sub-elite and non-elite athletes in a sport which involves closed and continuous motor skills, such as swimming. 79 swimmers (male N = 37; female N = 42) at an average age of 17 took part in this study. In order to assess imagery ability, the Movement Imagery Questionnaire 3 was used, Portuguese version (Mendes et al., 2016). After analysis of the results, these show that in each and every imagery modality, the scores in the three groups differ significantly. In kinesthetic and external visual imagery the elite and sub-elite groups’ scores, although not statistically different from each other, are significantly higher than those of the non-elite group. In internal visual imagery, the differences between all the compared pairs of groups are statistically significant. The elite group got the highest scores, followed by the sub-elite group average scores and finally the non-elite group average scores. According to these results, the conclusion is that athletes with better performance show greater imagery ability and that apparently the external visual imagery proved to be the best intervention method among swimming athletes.

Familiarity and complexity of a movement influences motor imagery in dancers: A cross-sectional study.

The present study aimed to analyze the differences between ballet, contemporary, and flamenco dancers when generating mental motor kinesthetic and visual images of simple and complex movements. A cross-sectional study, including 45 professional dancers (15 flamenco dancers, 15 ballet dancers, and 15 contemporary dancers), was planned. We analyzed the ability to generate mental motor visual and kinesthetic images with the revised movement imagery questionnaire (MIQ-R) and mental chronometry (MC); the real movement execution (RME) chronometry was also measured, using arm and jump movement assessments. ANOVA revealed significant differences between groups regarding the jump movement assessments for the kinesthetic MIQ-R item (F=5.29, P=0.009), for the RME chronometry (F=13.19, P=<0.001), and for the kinesthetic MC (F=9.28, P<0.001). The post-hoc analysis revealed significant differences between flamenco dancers compared with contemporary and ballet dancers for all the variables regarding the jump movement. Flamenco dancers used significantly greater visual than kinesthetic imagery modalities to generate mental motor imagery in the jump movement (P=0.024, d=0.63). No differences were found in the arm movement assessment between groups. Results reveal differences in the ability to generate motor images, specifically the kinesthetic ones, between flamenco dancers and ballet and contemporary dancers. When performing a non-familiar complex movement, dancers predominantly use a visual motor imagery modality, which leads to a longer execution time as well as a longer time for kinesthetic mental motor imagery.

ROLE OF THE MENTAL REPRESENTATION IN ENHANCING MOTOR LEARNING AND PERFORMING GYMNASTIC ELEMENT

The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of three intervention modalities ((a) external visual imagery modality, (b) verbal feedback modality and (c) visualization modality) on the Roll backward to handstand. 42 females’ students (age 20.6 ± 1.3 years) voluntarily took part in this study. Subjects were assigned into three groups according to three learning modalities: mental imagery modality, verbal feedback modality and visualization modality. During the two testing sessions (before and after training sessions), the participant was marked according to the FIG Code of Points. The results thus reveal a significant effect on the training, therefore on the learning of the backward roll followed by a handstand by the method of mental imagery. Thus, the mental imagery seems to be a tool for transmission of knowing and training by excellence making it possible to the students to progress while getting rid of the lack of motivation, organization, implication and work. Moreover, the results gathered following the gymnastic practice also show an improvement of the performance of the first group that had to undergo training by verbal feedback. This supports the idea that the training by the method of verbal feedback improves the technical performance of a gymnastic element. However, the method of training by visualization of a model appears to be the less developed by the participants in comparison with the mental imagery and the verbal Feedback.

The higher the basal vagal tone the better the motor imagery ability.

A positive association between resting state vagal tone and performance of a few cognitive functions has been proposed. Aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between vagal tone and motor imagery (MI), as MI is based on high-level cognitive processes such as attention, working memory and inhibitory control. The experiment consisted of the execution of a motor sequence and of the MI of the same action in the kinesthetic and internal visual modality. Participants with high (High, N=15) and low (Low, N=16) vagal tone at rest, were characterized for imagery and executive functions abilities through the Motor imagery questionnaire and standard cognitive tests (Trail Making test A and B, Digit span and Corsi test). We studied as indices of vagal tone a few variables estimated from heart rate variability: the sroot mean square of successive heart-beat-intervals differences (RMSSD), the high frequency band (HF), the standard deviation 1 of Poincaré plot (SD1). As indices of MI ability we measured the isochrony between real and imagined movements and the reported vividness of imagery. A significantly greater isochrony was observed in Highs than in Lows only for the kinesthetic modality of imagery. Isochrony was not predicted by trait imagery abilities and did not correlate with vividness reports. Also, a reduction of the vagal control, which is the typical autonomic correlate of MI, was observed during both imagery tasks only in Highs. These findings indicate a cross-talk between the cardiovascular control and the proprioceptive representation of movement and reinforce the theory of bi-directional communication between heart and brain.

Advanced methodology for multiple sclerosis lesion exploring: Towards a computer aided diagnosis system

Abstract The exploration and diagnosis of severe neuropathologies is one of the essential tasks that could be reinforced and aided by advanced techniques in medical imagery. Cortex lesions and tumors are examples of pathologies where Magnetic Resonance Imagery modalities are the essential tools for exploration and tracking. Our main added value in this research field was focused on Multiple Sclerosis lesions exploration aiming to offer a clinical computer aided tool capable of helping clinicians during their daily explorations. An automatic method for brain segmentation and Multiple Sclerosis lesion exploration was in fact attentively conceived and tested. Firstly, the brain segmentation was performed using an atlas based Gaussian mixture model, followed by the calculation of a probabilistic lesion map on which an empirical threshold, characterized by a set of constraints, was applied together with a lesion refinement algorithm in order to create a binary lesion mask. The approach was applied to four clinical databases. Compared to various existing methods, the approach showed its efficiency in differentiating normal brain tissues with averages of 0.78 ± 0.04 , 0.85 ± 0.04 and 0.89 ± 0.04 for Dice, sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Besides, it proved the possibility of accurately identifying lesions even in noisy images, and low lesion load, giving averages of 0.75 ± 0.04 , 0.90 ± 0.08 and 0.75 ± 0 . 12 for the previous metrics, respectively. Furthermore, it is able to distinguish between the lesion center and the contiguous dirty white matter, which was carefully validated by clinicians. As a perspective, our approach could be extended to explore other neuropathologies such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases.

Terahertz Amplitude Polynomial Principle Component Regression for Aramid–Basalt Hybrid Composite Laminate Inspection

As an emerging nondestructive diagnostic and monitoring technique, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) imagery is attracting more attention. In this regard, new THz image processing algorithms based on infrared thermography (IRT) concepts are greatly needed, since most IRT imagery modalities are fast for in-line industrial inspection. However, this scenario is difficult due to some physical constraints to be reached, although this idea should be followed to avoid the loss of useful information during image processing. In this paper, a novel THz amplitude polynomial principle component regression (APPCR) algorithm is proposed for the inspection of aramid–basalt hybrid composite laminates. This algorithm segments THz amplitude–frequency curves to simulate heating-up and cooling-down behaviors as in IRT; in addition, it uses an empirical orthogonal functions-based principle component regression modality to simplify the THz image analysis procedure. This experimental and analytical study shows that APPCR can, first, simplify the THz image analysis procedure, and second, enhance image contrast and spatial resolution. A theoretical analysis was conducted as experimental explanation, while the IRT imagery results were used for comparative purposes. In addition, signal-to-noise ratio analysis was used to evaluate quantitatively the image enhancement. Finally, it is possible to conclude that THz is more suitable to inspect transparent or semitransparent materials. Advantages and disadvantages of THz-TDS and IRT are summarized in the text.

Mental Imagery Follows Similar Cortical Reorganization as Perception: Intra-Modal and Cross-Modal Plasticity in Congenitally Blind.

Cortical plasticity in congenitally blind individuals leads to cross-modal activation of the visual cortex and may lead to superior perceptual processing in the intact sensory domains. Although mental imagery is often defined as a quasi-perceptual experience, it is unknown whether it follows similar cortical reorganization as perception in blind individuals. In this study, we show that auditory versus tactile perception evokes similar intra-modal discriminative patterns in congenitally blind compared with sighted participants. These results indicate that cortical plasticity following visual deprivation does not influence broad intra-modal organization of auditory and tactile perception as measured by our task. Furthermore, not only the blind, but also the sighted participants showed cross-modal discriminative patterns for perception modality in the visual cortex. During mental imagery, both groups showed similar decoding accuracies for imagery modality in the intra-modal primary sensory cortices. However, no cross-modal discriminative information for imagery modality was found in early visual cortex of blind participants, in contrast to the sighted participants. We did find evidence of cross-modal activation of higher visual areas in blind participants, including the representation of specific-imagined auditory features in visual area V4.

Hypnotizability influences the cortical representation of visually and kinaesthetically imagined head position

The study investigates the cortical representation of the visual and kinesthetic image of a rotated position of the head in highly (highs) and low hypnotizable individuals (lows) of both gender. Participants were invited to imagine maintaining their head rotated toward one side by seeing their chin aligned with their right shoulder (V, visual imagery), and in a different condition, by feeling tension in their neck muscles (K, kinaesthetic imagery). Vividness of imagery and cognitive effort were reported after each task. Alpha and beta band absolute power was studied. Highs reported higher vividness than lows only for the kinaesthetic modality of imagery. The cortical desyncronization observed during visual and kinaesthetic imagery were different in high females (HM), low females (LF), high males (HM) and low males (LM). In fact, only HF and LM exhibited significant power changes during the kinaesthetic task, whereas visual imagery was associated with cortical desynchronization in all subgroups except HM. The study supports earlier findings of an advantage of highs in kinesthetic imagery, shows an intriguing interaction of hypnotizability and gender, and indicates topographical difference in the four subgroups of participants suggesting differences in underlying generators.

The neural basis of kinesthetic and visual imagery in sports: an ALE meta - analysis.

Imagery is a widely spread technique in the sport sciences that entails the mental rehearsal of a given situation to improve an athlete's learning, performance and motivation. Two modalities of imagery are reported to tap into distinct brain structures, but sharing common components: kinesthetic and visual imagery. This study aimed to investigate the neural basis of those types of imagery with Activation Likelihood Estimation algorithm to perform a meta - analysis. A systematic search was used to retrieve only experimental studies with athletes or sportspersons. Altogether, nine studies were selected and an ALE meta - analysis was performed. Results indicated significant activation of the premotor, somatosensory cortex, supplementary motor areas, inferior and superior parietal lobule, caudate, cingulate and cerebellum in both imagery tasks. It was concluded that visual and kinesthetic imagery share similar neural networks which suggests that combined interventions are beneficial to athletes whereas separate use of those two modalities of imagery may seem less efficient from a neuropsychological approach.

TEP-FDG et pathologies infectieuses

Interests of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) have been demonstrated since many years. FDG physiopathology explains its use for infectious diseases, especially in infective endocarditis, cardiac electronic device infection, and in vascular graft infection, as well as in fever of unknown origin. FDG PET is very interesting to make the diagnostic and for the extension of these infectious diseases, thanks to the whole body acquisition. This synthesis article identifies and illustrates principal indications in this field of this imagery modality.

Kinesthetic Imagery Provides Additive Benefits to Internal Visual Imagery on Slalom Task Performance

Recent brain imaging research demonstrates that the use of internal visual imagery (IVI) or kinesthetic imagery (KIN) activates common and distinct brain areas. In this paper, we argue that combining the imagery modalities (IVI and KIN) will lead to a greater cognitive representation (with more brain areas activated), and this will cause a greater slalom-based motor performance compared with using IVI alone. To examine this assertion, we randomly allocated 56 participants to one of the three groups: IVI, IVI and KIN, or a math control group. Participants performed a slalom-based driving task in a driving simulator, with average lap time used as a measure of performance. Results revealed that the IVI and KIN group achieved significantly quicker lap times than the IVI and the control groups. The discussion includes a theoretical advancement on why the combination of imagery modalities might facilitate performance, with links made to the cognitive neuroscience literature and applied practice.

Towards Rehabilitation Robotics: Off-the-Shelf BCI Control of Anthropomorphic Robotic Arms.

Advances in neural interfaces have demonstrated remarkable results in the direction of replacing and restoring lost sensorimotor function in human patients. Noninvasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are popular due to considerable advantages including simplicity, safety, and low cost, while recent advances aim at improving past technological and neurophysiological limitations. Taking into account the neurophysiological alterations of disabled individuals, investigating brain connectivity features for implementation of BCI control holds special importance. Off-the-shelf BCI systems are based on fast, reproducible detection of mental activity and can be implemented in neurorobotic applications. Moreover, social Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) is increasingly important in rehabilitation robotics development. In this paper, we present our progress and goals towards developing off-the-shelf BCI-controlled anthropomorphic robotic arms for assistive technologies and rehabilitation applications. We account for robotics development, BCI implementation, and qualitative assessment of HRI characteristics of the system. Furthermore, we present two illustrative experimental applications of the BCI-controlled arms, a study of motor imagery modalities on healthy individuals' BCI performance, and a pilot investigation on spinal cord injured patients' BCI control and brain connectivity. We discuss strengths and limitations of our design and propose further steps on development and neurophysiological study, including implementation of connectivity features as BCI modality.

FMRI-based Multivariate Pattern Analyses Reveal Imagery Modality and Imagery Content Specific Representations in Primary Somatosensory, Motor and Auditory Cortices.

Previous studies have shown that the early visual cortex contains content-specific representations of stimuli during visual imagery, and that these representational patterns of imagery content have a perceptual basis. To date, there is little evidence for the presence of a similar organization in the auditory and tactile domains. Using fMRI-based multivariate pattern analyses we showed that primary somatosensory, auditory, motor, and visual cortices are discriminative for imagery of touch versus sound. In the somatosensory, motor and visual cortices the imagery modality discriminative patterns were similar to perception modality discriminative patterns, suggesting that top-down modulations in these regions rely on similar neural representations as bottom-up perceptual processes. Moreover, we found evidence for content-specific representations of the stimuli during auditory imagery in the primary somatosensory and primary motor cortices. Both the imagined emotions and the imagined identities of the auditory stimuli could be successfully classified in these regions.

Brain activation profiles during kinesthetic and visual imagery: An fMRI study

The aim of this study was to identify brain regions involved in motor imagery and differentiate two alternative strategies in its implementation: imagining a motor act using kinesthetic or visual imagery. Fourteen adults were precisely instructed and trained on how to imagine themselves or others perform a movement sequence, with the aim of promoting kinesthetic and visual imagery, respectively, in the context of an fMRI experiment using block design. We found that neither modality of motor imagery elicits activation of the primary motor cortex and that each of the two modalities involves activation of the premotor area which is also activated during action execution and action observation conditions, as well as of the supplementary motor area. Interestingly, the visual and the posterior cingulate cortices show reduced BOLD signal during both imagery conditions. Our results indicate that the networks of regions activated in kinesthetic and visual imagery of motor sequences show a substantial, while not complete overlap, and that the two forms of motor imagery lead to a differential suppression of visual areas.

Brain-based decoding of mentally imagined film clips and sounds reveals experience-based information patterns in film professionals

In the perceptual domain, it has been shown that the human brain is strongly shaped through experience, leading to expertise in highly-skilled professionals. What has remained unclear is whether specialization also shapes brain networks underlying mental imagery. In our fMRI study, we aimed to uncover modality-specific mental imagery specialization of film experts. Using multi-voxel pattern analysis we decoded from brain activity of professional cinematographers and sound designers whether they were imagining sounds or images of particular film clips. In each expert group distinct multi-voxel patterns, specific for the modality of their expertise, were found during classification of imagery modality. These patterns were mainly localized in the occipito-temporal and parietal cortex for cinematographers and in the auditory cortex for sound designers. We also found generalized patterns across perception and imagery that were distinct for the two expert groups: they involved frontal cortex for the cinematographers and temporal cortex for the sound designers. Notably, the mental representations of film clips and sounds of cinematographers contained information that went beyond modality-specificity. We were able to successfully decode the implicit presence of film genre from brain activity during mental imagery in cinematographers. The results extend existing neuroimaging literature on expertise into the domain of mental imagery and show that experience in visual versus auditory imagery can alter the representation of information in modality-specific association cortices.