抄録
The motor cortex activation during real walking, virtual walking, and walking observation was examined by means of fNIRS (functional Near-InfraRed Spectroscopy). During virtual walking, subjects were shown moving scenes of a virtual visual environment and imagined as if they were actually walking from the first-person perspective. During walking observation, subjects were instructed to imagine that they were walking with the same pace to a person in a video being (third-person perspective). Four subjects participated in the experiment. The oxy-Hb in motor area during both virtual walking and walking observation were higher than that during real walking on the average. The possibility to quicken walking rehabilitation by imaginary walking was indicated. There was no significant difference between the oxy-Hb during virtual walking and that during walking observation. The importance of stimulus diversity in mental imagery of walking was suggested.
