Motor imagery ability scores are related to cortical activation during gait imagery

Abstract Motor imagery (MI) is the mental execution of actions without overt movements that depends on the ability to imagine. We explored whether this ability could be related to the cortical activity of the brain areas involved in the MI network. To this goal, brain activity was recorded using hig...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Martina Putzolu, Jessica Samogin, Gaia Bonassi, Carola Cosentino, Susanna Mezzarobba, Alessandro Botta, Laura Avanzino, Dante Mantini, Alessandro Vato, Elisa Pelosin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54966-1
_version_ 1797275010949185536
author Martina Putzolu
Jessica Samogin
Gaia Bonassi
Carola Cosentino
Susanna Mezzarobba
Alessandro Botta
Laura Avanzino
Dante Mantini
Alessandro Vato
Elisa Pelosin
author_facet Martina Putzolu
Jessica Samogin
Gaia Bonassi
Carola Cosentino
Susanna Mezzarobba
Alessandro Botta
Laura Avanzino
Dante Mantini
Alessandro Vato
Elisa Pelosin
author_sort Martina Putzolu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Motor imagery (MI) is the mental execution of actions without overt movements that depends on the ability to imagine. We explored whether this ability could be related to the cortical activity of the brain areas involved in the MI network. To this goal, brain activity was recorded using high-density electroencephalography in nineteen healthy adults while visually imagining walking on a straight path. We extracted Event-Related Desynchronizations (ERDs) in the θ, α, and β band, and we measured MI ability via (i) the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ), (ii) the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2 (VMIQ), and (iii) the Imagery Ability (IA) score. We then used Pearson’s and Spearman’s coefficients to correlate MI ability scores and average ERD power (avgERD). Positive correlations were identified between VMIQ and avgERD of the middle cingulum in the β band and with avgERD of the left insula, right precentral area, and right middle occipital region in the θ band. Stronger activation of the MI network was related to better scores of MI ability evaluations, supporting the importance of testing MI ability during MI protocols. This result will help to understand MI mechanisms and develop personalized MI treatments for patients with neurological dysfunctions.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T15:08:13Z
format Article
id doaj.art-6ea13169f0c944ea8e2c31dacb980c49
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2045-2322
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T15:08:13Z
publishDate 2024-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj.art-6ea13169f0c944ea8e2c31dacb980c492024-03-05T18:49:58ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-0114111010.1038/s41598-024-54966-1Motor imagery ability scores are related to cortical activation during gait imageryMartina Putzolu0Jessica Samogin1Gaia Bonassi2Carola Cosentino3Susanna Mezzarobba4Alessandro Botta5Laura Avanzino6Dante Mantini7Alessandro Vato8Elisa Pelosin9Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), Section of Human Physiology, University of GenoaMovement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU LeuvenDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of GenoaDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of GenoaDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of GenoaIRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoDepartment of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), Section of Human Physiology, University of GenoaMovement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU LeuvenDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of AmericaDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of GenoaAbstract Motor imagery (MI) is the mental execution of actions without overt movements that depends on the ability to imagine. We explored whether this ability could be related to the cortical activity of the brain areas involved in the MI network. To this goal, brain activity was recorded using high-density electroencephalography in nineteen healthy adults while visually imagining walking on a straight path. We extracted Event-Related Desynchronizations (ERDs) in the θ, α, and β band, and we measured MI ability via (i) the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ), (ii) the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2 (VMIQ), and (iii) the Imagery Ability (IA) score. We then used Pearson’s and Spearman’s coefficients to correlate MI ability scores and average ERD power (avgERD). Positive correlations were identified between VMIQ and avgERD of the middle cingulum in the β band and with avgERD of the left insula, right precentral area, and right middle occipital region in the θ band. Stronger activation of the MI network was related to better scores of MI ability evaluations, supporting the importance of testing MI ability during MI protocols. This result will help to understand MI mechanisms and develop personalized MI treatments for patients with neurological dysfunctions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54966-1Motor imageryGaitMotor imagery abilityEvent-related desynchronization (ERD)Electroencephalography (EEG)
spellingShingle Martina Putzolu
Jessica Samogin
Gaia Bonassi
Carola Cosentino
Susanna Mezzarobba
Alessandro Botta
Laura Avanzino
Dante Mantini
Alessandro Vato
Elisa Pelosin
Motor imagery ability scores are related to cortical activation during gait imagery
Scientific Reports
Motor imagery
Gait
Motor imagery ability
Event-related desynchronization (ERD)
Electroencephalography (EEG)
title Motor imagery ability scores are related to cortical activation during gait imagery
title_full Motor imagery ability scores are related to cortical activation during gait imagery
title_fullStr Motor imagery ability scores are related to cortical activation during gait imagery
title_full_unstemmed Motor imagery ability scores are related to cortical activation during gait imagery
title_short Motor imagery ability scores are related to cortical activation during gait imagery
title_sort motor imagery ability scores are related to cortical activation during gait imagery
topic Motor imagery
Gait
Motor imagery ability
Event-related desynchronization (ERD)
Electroencephalography (EEG)
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54966-1
work_keys_str_mv AT martinaputzolu motorimageryabilityscoresarerelatedtocorticalactivationduringgaitimagery
AT jessicasamogin motorimageryabilityscoresarerelatedtocorticalactivationduringgaitimagery
AT gaiabonassi motorimageryabilityscoresarerelatedtocorticalactivationduringgaitimagery
AT carolacosentino motorimageryabilityscoresarerelatedtocorticalactivationduringgaitimagery
AT susannamezzarobba motorimageryabilityscoresarerelatedtocorticalactivationduringgaitimagery
AT alessandrobotta motorimageryabilityscoresarerelatedtocorticalactivationduringgaitimagery
AT lauraavanzino motorimageryabilityscoresarerelatedtocorticalactivationduringgaitimagery
AT dantemantini motorimageryabilityscoresarerelatedtocorticalactivationduringgaitimagery
AT alessandrovato motorimageryabilityscoresarerelatedtocorticalactivationduringgaitimagery
AT elisapelosin motorimageryabilityscoresarerelatedtocorticalactivationduringgaitimagery