Imagery Training Research Articles

Spatial interpretability of time-frequency relevance optimized in motor imagery discrimination using Deep&Wide networks

Medical diagnosis and monitoring benefit from exploiting the advantages of motor imagery (MI) training, which highly depends on the proper interpretation of elicited brain activity responses. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) are increasingly used to improve MI classification performance by employing multi-view extracted features (time, frequency, and spatial). However, deep learning gains knowledge from abundant, complex neural models, resulting in poor interpretability assessments. Here, to enhance the understanding of imagined actions, we develop the relevance analysis of topographic time-frequency representation, preserving an adequate classification performance. Namely, to deal better with the subject variability, a 2D feature combination of continuous wavelet transform and common spatial patterns is extracted to feed a Deep&Wide learning model, assessing the relevance of input multi-view representation that contribute the best to the classifier accuracy. We estimate the feature contribution through the information back-propagated across the hidden layers’ weights before predicting the output label. Evaluation, presented in two databases with bi- and four-label MI tasks, proves that the developed Deep&Wide-based relevance analysis reveals insights about the electrodes, time segments, and frequency bands with relevant MI neural responses, favoring explanation of inter and intra-subject variability because of coordination skills.

Immediate Effect of Mental Imagery Training on Accuracy of Basketball Free Throws in Bangladesh

Immediate Effect of Mental Imagery Training on Accuracy of Basketball Free Throws in Bangladesh

Three roads diverged: Transformative self-experience in AMT and GIM

ABSTRACT Introduction: The analytical music therapy (AMT) blended learning program through Molloy College and the Bonny method of guided imagery and music/focused music imagery (GIM/FMI) training through the Therapeutic Arts Institute provide advanced training in music psychotherapy approaches. Both programs require self-experience and supervision prior to working with clients in each respective model. Method: Utilizing the active improvisational method of AMT, as well as the receptive method of GIM in separate, alternating sessions, this article highlights the processes and experiences of pivotal moments as they emerged in both models. Results: At the time of publication, the primary author was moving through self-experience in AMT and also receiving personal GIM sessions and experienced profound, pivotal moments. The insights gained and subsequent life changes that occurred are attributed to alternating and integrating processes in both clinical models. Discussion: The experiences are examined from the perspective of the trainee, the AMT therapist, and the GIM therapist, and symbolic analyses of the improvised music and imagery processes embedded in the respective psychoanalytic and humanistic/transpersonal orientations.

Effects of motor imagery training on lower limb motor function of patients with chronic stroke: A pilot single-blind randomized controlled trial.

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effects of motor imagery training on lower limb motor function of stroke patients. Motor imagery training has played an important role in rehabilitation outcomes of stroke patients. In this pilot randomized controlled trial 32 stroke patients were randomly divided into experimental and control groups from January to June 2017. Patients in both groups received conventional neuro-rehabilitation five times a week in 3-h segments for 6 weeks. Patients in the experimental group underwent an additional 20 min of motor imagery training. Measures were evaluated by motor function of the lower extremity, activities of daily living and balance ability. The outcomes significantly improved by motor imagery training were the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the lower extremity, the Functional Independence Measure dealing with transfers and locomotion, and the Berg Balance Scale. Motor imagery training could be used as a complement to physical rehabilitation of stroke patients. Our findings may be helpful to develop nursing strategies aimed at improving functional ability of stroke patients and thus enhancing their quality of life.

Mental Imagery And Performance Improvement Of Basketball Athletes In The 16-18 Year Age Group

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a relationship between mental imagery and performance improvement of basketball athletes in the 16-18 year age group. This study used quantitative research methods. The research sample consisted of 30 basketball athletes in the Cirebon area using the purposive sampling technique. The research instrument used mental imagery training and an athlete's performance improvement scale developed according to the needs. The result showed the value r count for correlation Mental Imagery with Athlete’s performance improvement was 0.853 > r table 0.361. So it could be concluded that there correlation between mental imagery with Basketball athlete’s performance improvement in the 16 until 18 year age group. The result suggests that the higher the mental imagery, the higher the performance improvement in basketball athletes in the 16 until 18 year age group and vice versa.

Intranasal oxytocin increases state anhedonia following imagery training of positive social outcomes in individuals lower in extraversion, trust-altruism, and openness to experience

Psychological disorders such as major depressive disorder are characterised by interpersonal difficulties and anhedonia. A cognitive mechanism proposed to contribute to the maintenance of these problems is a diminished ability to generate positive mental imagery, especially regarding social interactions. The current study examined whether the effects of social imagery training on social activity and anhedonia could be enhanced with the addition of intranasal oxytocin, and whether these effects might be augmented in persons with a high propensity to engage socially (i.e., high extraversion). University students (N = 111) were randomised to self-administer intranasal oxytocin or placebo, followed by a single session of positive social or non-social imagery training that required participants to imagine 64 positive scenarios occurring in either a social or non-social context, respectively. There were no main effects of imagery type and drug, and no interaction effect on anhedonia and social activity, measured respectively via self-report and a behavioural task. Individuals low in extraversion, trust-altruism, and openness to experience reported significantly more anhedonia after receiving oxytocin relative to placebo, but only following imagery training of positive social outcomes. Results highlight the negative consequences of increasing oxytocin bioavailability after priming social contact in more withdrawn individuals.

Neurophysiological evidence of motor imagery training in Parkinson’s disease: a case series study

AbstractBackground:Motor imagery (MI) has become an increasingly popular rehabilitation tool for individuals with motor impairments. However, it has been proposed that individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PKD) may not benefit from MI due to impairments in motor learning.Objective:This case series study investigated the effects of a 4-week MI training protocol on MI ability in three male individuals with PKD, with an emphasis on examining changes in brain responses.Methods:Training was completed primarily at home, via audio recordings, and emphasized the imagination of functional tasks. MI ability was assessed pre and post-training using subjective and objective imagery questionnaires, alongside an electroencephalographic (EEG) recording of a functional MI task. EEG analysis focused on the mu rhythm, as it has been proposed that suppression in the mu rhythm may reflect MI success and motor learning. Previous research has indicated that mu suppression is impaired in individuals with PKD, and may contribute to the disease’s associated deficits in motor learning.Results:Following training, all three participants improved in MI accuracy, but reported no notable improvements in MI vividness. Greater suppression in the mu rhythm was also exhibited by all three participants post-training.Conclusion:These results suggest the participants learned from the training protocol and that individuals with PKD are responsive to MI training. Further research on a larger scale is needed to verify the findings and determine if this learning translates to improvements in motor function.

Decision Support System For Selection Of Expertise Using Analytical Hierarchy Process Method

Facial recognition is the process of human identification using a picture of facial expression. With the widespread use of computers, it is expected that facial recognition capabilities can be adopted on such smart devices. The adoption process becomes possible with the discovery of facial recognition methods, one of which is the main component analysis or better known as PCA (Principal Components Analysis). The research started by designing a computer program using the Matlab programming language. The Program was used to test the PCA method using a number of facial imagery. Testing is divided into three categories, which are based on the number of the trainer image, based on the number of key vector features, and the determination of the threshold value. In the end it can be concluded that PCA is quite worthy to be a facial recognition method. The research Data shows a pretty good introduction result with a fairly small error rate on testing using ten training imagery, which is one error introduction of 20 Tests.

Development of a high-throughput plant disease symptom severity assessment tool using machine learning image analysis and integrated geolocation

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) has the potential to cause severe yield losses in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), an important annual legume grown around the world. The most effective approach to manage the disease caused by TSWV is to grow disease resistant peanut varieties. One of the key challenges to breeding for disease resistance is to develop an accurate, reproducible and efficient disease assessment method. Accurate field-based assessment of disease incidence and severity is technically challenging and time-consuming. To address this challenge, a field-based, high-throughput assessment tool was developed to quantify the spatial distribution of disease symptoms over experimental peanut plots using a Real Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK-GPS), consumer-grade cameras, a microcontroller, and an open-source machine learning software. A field experiment was designed to establish a range of disease incidence and severity scenarios. This field experiment was imaged for two seasons to develop and validate the tool. Using transfer learning, an existing Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) was trained from supervised training imagery to classify and quantify areas within the plot-level imagery as, symptomatic, asymptomatic, or ground. Multiple images were assessed by the machine learning model and georeferenced to individual experimental plots using RTK-GPS data. The CNN model trained to detect the symptom, “stunting and mottling”, was evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and yielded an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.97, sensitivity of 0.77, and specificity of 0.98 on the test set. Results from the disease assessment tool were compared with results from visual disease assessments, conducted by a trained plant pathologist. Field plot level means from CNN-based assessment of stunting and mottling correlated with plot level means from visual assessment of severity (r = 0.78; P < 0.0001). To further validate the CNN-based method, the TSWV field experiment was analyzed using linear mixed models with both visual severity and CNN-based severity assessments used as responses. Both models (visual or CNN-based assessment) identified the same main effects as being significant and post hoc analysis resulted in the same separation of varieties for their severity of TSWV symptoms. The results of this study demonstrate the successful application of this tool for high-throughput disease severity assessment in peanut under field conditions.

Motor Imagery Training of Reaching-to-Grasp Movement Supplemented by a Virtual Environment in an Individual With Congenital Bilateral Transverse Upper-Limb Deficiency.

This study explored the effect of kinesthetic motor imagery training on reaching-to-grasp movement supplemented by a virtual environment in a patient with congenital bilateral transverse upper-limb deficiency. Based on a theoretical assumption, it is possible to conduct such training in this patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cortical activity related to motor imagery of reaching and motor imagery of grasping of the right upper limb was changed by computer-aided imagery training (CAIT) in a patient who was born without upper limbs compared to a healthy control subject, as characterized by multi-channel electroencephalography (EEG) signals recorded before and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after CAIT. The main task during CAIT was to kinesthetically imagine the execution of reaching-to-grasp movements without any muscle activation, supplemented by computer visualization of movements provided by a special headset. Our experiment showed that CAIT can be conducted in the patient with higher vividness of imagery for reaching than grasping tasks. Our results confirm that CAIT can change brain activation patterns in areas related to motor planning and the execution of reaching and grasping movements, and that the effect was more pronounced in the patient than in the healthy control subject. The results show that CAIT has a different effect on the cortical activity related to the motor imagery of a reaching task than on the cortical activity related to the motor imagery of a grasping task. The change observed in the activation patterns could indicate CAIT-induced neuroplasticity, which could potentially be useful in rehabilitation or brain-computer interface purposes for such patients, especially before and after transplantation. This study was part of a registered experiment (ID: NCT04048083).

EFFECTIVENESS OF PRACTICE IN MIND PROGRAM ON STANDING SHOT AND JUMP SHOT PERFORMANCE IN ELITE NETBALL PLAYERS

Practice in Mind (PIM) training help to resolve physical and psychological problem in sport skills performance. Therefore, the present study was done to investigate the effectiveness of PIM training on netball standing shot and jump shot performances. Twenty state level netball shooters with 3 to 5 years playing experiences participated in this experimental study. Participants were randomly assigned into PIM training group and control group with 10 participants for each group. Both groups completed 18 training sessions in 3 times a week for 6 weeks intervention program. Pre, post, and retention test were conducted prior to the 10 standing and jump shooting task. The results revealed that there was significant different of PIM training group versus control group for both standing shot (p &lt; .05) and jump shot (p&lt;.05) after 6 weeks. However, no significant different was observed after retention (week 12) for both groups. Based on the finding, it is suggested this present study will be beneficial to the athletes in terms of educating them about the importance of systematic imagery training to increase shooting performance in netball and for further improvement on their shooting techniques. Future studies are warranted to explore potential benefits of PIM training by focusing on a larger exposure and other netball specific motor-abilities.

Adapting Motor Imagery Training Protocols to Surgical Education: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective. Motor imagery (MI) is widely used to improve technical skills in sports and has been proven to be effective in neurorehabilitation and surgical education. This review aims to identify the key characteristics of MI protocols for implementation into surgical curricula. Design. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched. The primary outcome was the impact of MI training on measured outcomes, and secondary outcomes were study population, MI intervention characteristics, study primary outcome measure and subject rating of MI ability (systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019121895). Results. 456 records were screened, 60 full texts randomising 2251 participants were reviewed and 39 studies were included in meta-analysis. MI was associated with improved outcome in 35/60 studies, and pooled analysis also showed improved outcome on all studies with a standardised mean difference of .39 (95% CI: .12, .67, P = .005). In studies where MI groups showed improved outcomes, the median duration of training was 24 days (mode 42 days), and the median duration of each individual MI session was 30 minutes (range <1 minute-120 minutes). Conclusions. MI training protocols for use in surgical education could have the following characteristics: MI training delivered in parallel to existing surgical training, in a flexible format; inclusion of a brief period of relaxation, followed by several sets of repetitions of MI and a refocusing period. This is a step towards the development of a surgical MI training programme, as a low-cost, low-risk tool to enhance practical skills.

A Study on the Effect of Mental Practice Using Motor Evoked Potential-Based Neurofeedback.

This study aimed to investigate whether the effect of mental practice (motor imagery training) can be enhanced by providing neurofeedback based on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced motor evoked potentials (MEP). Twenty-four healthy, right-handed subjects were enrolled in this study. The subjects were randomly allocated into two groups: a group that was given correct TMS feedback (Real-FB group) and a group that was given randomized false TMS feedback (Sham-FB group). The subjects imagined pushing the switch with just timing, when the target circle overlapped a cross at the center of the computer monitor. In the Real-FB group, feedback was provided to the subjects based on the MEP amplitude measured in the trial immediately preceding motor imagery. In contrast, the subjects of the Sham-FB group were provided with a feedback value that was independent of the MEP amplitude. TMS was applied when the target, moving from right to left, overlapped the cross at the center of the screen, and the MEP amplitude was measured. The MEP was recorded in the right first dorsal interosseous muscle. We evaluated the pre-mental practice and post-mental practice motor performance in both groups. As a result, a significant difference was observed in the percentage change of error values between the Real-FB group and the Sham-FB group. Furthermore, the MEP was significantly different between the groups in the 4th and 5th sets. Therefore, it was suggested that TMS-induced MEP-based neurofeedback might enhance the effect of mental practice.

Shooting Athlete Mental Training

This study aims to determine the effect of meditation practice and internal imagery on the concentration and shooting accuracy of the 10-meter category in the Perbakin Bantul branch. The research method was experimental with a two-group pretest-posttests design. The population investigated 16 athletes using the purposive sampling technique so that the sample became 12 athletes. The research instrument used the Grid Concentration Exercise to measure concentration and measurement of firing accuracy using ISSF standard target targets. The data analysis technique used was paired t-test and independent t-test. The results showed an effect of training between autogenic meditation and internal images on concentration and shooting accuracy. When viewed from the percentage increase, the meditation practice method showed better results than internal imagery, while internal imagery training showed better results in increasing concentration.&#x0D;

The Effect of Imagery Training and Concentration on Forehand Serve Accuracy of the Junior Table Tennis Athletes

This research aims to uncover: 1) the difference in the effect of internal imagery and external imagery on the forehand serve accuracy of the PTM Dwi Bengawan Solo players, 2) the difference in the effect of high concentration and low concentration on the forehand serve accuracy of Junior Table Tennis Athletes in Sukoahrjo, and 3) the interaction between training methods and concentration on the forehand serve accuracy of the Junior Table Tennis Athletes in Sukoharjo. This is an experimental research. The research samples were determined by using total sampling technique, while the total samples and population were 24 junior athletes in PTM Dwi Bengawan Solo. The data were collected using: 1) concentration test of PTM Dwi Bengawan Solo players and 2) forehand serve pretest. The research instrument included 2 tests, namely the forehand serve accuracy test with validity (0.809) and reliability (0.988). The concentration test with validity (0.89) and reliability (0.803). The data were analyzed using the two-way ANOVA with a significance level of α = 0.05. The results showed that: 1) There was a significant difference between internal imagery and external imagery training (p = 0.000 &lt;0.05), so the internal imagery training method was better than external imagery. 2) There was a difference between players who had high concentration and low concentration (p = 0.000 &lt; 0.05), so players who had high concentration were better than those who had low concentration. 3) There was an interaction between internal imagery and external imagery as well as high and low concentrations (p = 0.047 &lt;0.05). Players who had high concentration would perform better if trained with internal imagery, while players who had low concentration would be better if trained with external imagery.

Effect of modified Morita therapy combined with motor imagery training on pulmonary rehabilitation of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Effect of modified Morita therapy combined with motor imagery training on pulmonary rehabilitation of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

From couch to ultra marathon: using functional imagery training to enhance motivation

Abstract Objectives This study evaluates ultra-marathon runners’ use of goal-setting, self-talk, and imagery as strategies to help them through the challenge of long-distance running. Methods In stage one, thirty-one self-professed non-runners were recruited and received motivational interviewing (MI) in a group setting, examining their motivation to get healthy. In stage two, five months later, participants were asked if they would consider running an ultra-marathon, and fifteen (M age=39.47, SD=5.84) agreed. At this point participants were randomly split into an MI or Functional Imagery Training (FIT) group. FIT teaches participants how to master goal centred imagery by controlling attention and elaboration. Groups received similar contact hours and completed four measures that assess grit, resilience, self-efficacy, and imagery ability at baseline and after the race. Results We found no significant differences between measures for finishers and non-finishers or between groups or over time. However, the likelihood of completing the ultra-marathon was five times as likely in the FIT group, than in MI (RR=5.25). Grit and resilience scores were strongly correlated. By receiving FIT, there was a significant association (p=0.04) to complete the ultra-marathon. Conclusions FIT is a relatively cost-effective method to increase exercise adherence through multi-sensory elaboration of goal setting and overcoming barriers or challenges.

Acquisition and consolidation processes following motor imagery practice

It well-known that mental training improves skill performance. Here, we evaluated skill acquisition and consolidation after physical or motor imagery practice, by means of an arm pointing task requiring speed-accuracy trade-off. In the main experiment, we showed a significant enhancement of skill after both practices (72 training trials), with a better acquisition after physical practice. Interestingly, we found a positive impact of the passage of time (+ 6 h post training) on skill consolidation for the motor imagery training only, without any effect of sleep (+ 24 h post training) for none of the interventions. In a control experiment, we matched the gain in skill learning after physical training (new group) with that obtained after motor imagery training (main experiment) to evaluate skill consolidation after the same amount of learning. Skill performance in this control group deteriorated with the passage of time and sleep. In another control experiment, we increased the number of imagined trials (n = 100, new group) to compare the acquisition and consolidation processes of this group with that observed in the motor imagery group of the main experiment. We did not find significant differences between the two groups. These findings suggest that physical and motor imagery practice drive skill learning through different acquisition and consolidation processes.

Graded motor imagery training as a home exercise program for upper limb motor function in patients with chronic stroke: A randomized controlled trial.

Purpose:Although several types of occupational therapy for motor recovery of the upper limb in patients with chronic stroke have been investigated, most treatments are performed in a hospital or clinic setting. We investigated the effect of graded motor imagery (GMI) training, as a home exercise program, on upper limb motor recovery and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with stroke.Methods:This prospective randomized controlled trial recruited 42 subjects with chronic stroke. The intervention group received instruction regarding the GMI program and performed it at home over 8 weeks (30 minutes a day). The primary outcome measure was the change in motor function between baseline and 8 weeks, assessed the Manual Function Test (MFT) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA). The secondary outcome measure was the change in ADL, assessed with the Modified Barthel Index (MBI).Results:Of the 42 subjects, 37 completed the 8-week program (17 in the GMI group and 20 controls). All subjects showed significant improvements in the MFT, FMA, and MBI over time (P < .05). However, the improvements in the total scores for the MFT, FMA, and MBI did not differ between the GMI and control groups. The MFT arm motion score for the GMI group was significantly better than that of the controls (P < .05).Conclusions:The GMI program may be useful for improving upper extremity function as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation for patients with chronic stroke.

The Effect of Virtual Reality Technology on the Imagery Skills and Performance of Target-Based Sports Athletes

The aim of this study is the examination of the effect of virtual reality based imagery (VRBI) training programs on the shot performance and imagery skills of athletes and, and to conduct a comparison with Visual Motor Behavior Rehearsal and Video Modeling (VMBR + VM). In the research, mixed research method and sequential explanatory design were used. In the quantitative dimension of the study the semi-experimental model was used, and in the qualitative dimension the case study design was adopted. The research participants were selected from athletes who were involved in our target sports: curling (n = 14), bowling (n = 13), and archery (n = 7). All participants were randomly assigned to VMBR + VM (n = 11), VRBI (n = 12), and Control (n = 11) groups through the “Research Randomizer” program. The quantitative data of the study was: the weekly shot performance scores of the athletes and the data obtained from the “Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised.” The qualitative data was obtained from the data collected from the semi-structured interview guide, which was developed by researchers and field experts. According to the results obtained from the study, there were statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of shot performance and imagery skills. VRBI training athletes showed more improvement in the 4-week period than the athletes in the VMBR + VM group, in terms of both shot performance and imagery skills. In addition, the VRBI group adapted to the imagery training earlier than the VMBR + VM group. As a result, it was seen that they showed faster development in shot performances. From these findings, it can be said that VRBI program is more efficient in terms of shot performance and imagery skills than VMBR + VM, which is the most used imaging training model.