Assessing characteristics of motor imagery ability using mental chronometry in young and older adults

Abstract

This study aims to examine the characteristics of motor imagery ability using mental chronometry in young and older adults. The participants were 33 young adults (mean age: 20.8 ± 0.6 years) and 68 older adults (mean age: 74.2 ± 7.4 years). Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and imagined TUG (iTUG) were used for measuring mental chronometry. iTUG was measured with eyes open and closed, and the time difference between TUG and iTUG (delta time) was calculated in both conditions. The delta time of the eyes open and closed conditions were compared using paired t­test. The ratio of overestimation and un derestimation of motor imagery was compared using a population ratio test.Therewasno significant difference in the delta time between eyes open and closed in young adults, and the delta time in the eyes open condition was significantly increased in older adults. The rate of overestimation was significantly higher among both young and older adults. Our findings showed that young adults have similar motor imagery abilities with eyes open and closed, and motor imagery abilities of older adults reduce when eyes are open.