Effects of performing motor imagery during actual movement on movement accuracy

Abstract

This study examined the effects of motor imagery and real movement on the excitability of spinal nerve function and its impact on movement accuracy, for a specific image. Fifteen healthy adults (mean age, 25.9 years) participated in this study. They practiced adjusting their pinch force (motor practice) to 20% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Initially, the MVC of the participants was adjusted to 20% without visual feedback. Then, they performed three types of motor imagery tasks simultaneously with the real movement. After the motor practice and each imagery task, the subjects’ adjusted 20% MVC pinch forces were compared, and the rate of absolute error was calculated. The three tasks were: a free image task (Task 1), a force image task (Task 2), and a hand image task (Task 3). F-waves were recorded during the motor practice and Tasks 1–3. The F-waves and the rate of absolute error were significantly lower in Task 2 than in the motor practice. Concentrating on muscular sensory information promotes motor learning, while decreasing the rate of absolute error and suppressing F-waves.