Motor imagery during action observation modulates automatic imitation effects in rhythmical actions
We have previously shown that passively observing a task-irrelevant rhythmical action can bias the cycle time of a subsequently executed rhythmical action. Here we use the same paradigm to investigate the impact of different forms of motor imagery (MI) during action observation (AO) on this automati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2014-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00028/full |
| _version_ | 1819266550122676224 |
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| author | Daniel Lloyd Eaves Daniel Lloyd Eaves Lauren eHaythornthwaite Stefan eVogt |
| author_facet | Daniel Lloyd Eaves Daniel Lloyd Eaves Lauren eHaythornthwaite Stefan eVogt |
| author_sort | Daniel Lloyd Eaves |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We have previously shown that passively observing a task-irrelevant rhythmical action can bias the cycle time of a subsequently executed rhythmical action. Here we use the same paradigm to investigate the impact of different forms of motor imagery (MI) during action observation (AO) on this automatic imitation (AI) effect. Participants saw a picture of the instructed action followed by a rhythmical distractor movie, wherein cycle time was subtly manipulated across trials. They then executed the instructed rhythmical action. When participants imagined performing the instructed action in synchrony with the distractor action (AO + MI), a strong imitation bias was found that was significantly greater than in our previous study. The bias was pronounced equally for compatible and incompatible trials, wherein observed and imagined actions were different in type (e.g., face washing vs. painting) or plane of movement, or both. In contrast, no imitation bias was observed when MI conflicted with AO. In Experiment 2, motor execution synchronised with AO produced a stronger imitation bias compared to AO + MI, showing an advantage in synchronisation for overt execution over MI. Furthermore, the bias was stronger when participants synchronised the instructed action with the distractor movie, compared to when they synchronised the distractor action with the distractor movie. Although we still observed a significant bias in the latter condition, this finding indicates a degree of specificity in AI effects for the identity of the synchronised action. Overall, our data show that MI can substantially modulate the effects of AO on subsequent execution, wherein: (1) combined AO + MI can enhance AI effects relative to passive AO; (2) observed and imagined actions can be flexibly coordinated across different action types and planes; and (3) conflicting AO + MI can abolish AI effects. Therefore, combined AO + MI instructions should be considered in motor training and rehabilitation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T21:03:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c814b7d86e54359b09df22b9fe804db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T21:03:03Z |
| publishDate | 2014-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c814b7d86e54359b09df22b9fe804db2022-12-21T17:31:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612014-02-01810.3389/fnhum.2014.0002875954Motor imagery during action observation modulates automatic imitation effects in rhythmical actionsDaniel Lloyd Eaves0Daniel Lloyd Eaves1Lauren eHaythornthwaite2Stefan eVogt3Teesside UniversityLancaster UniversityLancaster UniversityLancaster UniversityWe have previously shown that passively observing a task-irrelevant rhythmical action can bias the cycle time of a subsequently executed rhythmical action. Here we use the same paradigm to investigate the impact of different forms of motor imagery (MI) during action observation (AO) on this automatic imitation (AI) effect. Participants saw a picture of the instructed action followed by a rhythmical distractor movie, wherein cycle time was subtly manipulated across trials. They then executed the instructed rhythmical action. When participants imagined performing the instructed action in synchrony with the distractor action (AO + MI), a strong imitation bias was found that was significantly greater than in our previous study. The bias was pronounced equally for compatible and incompatible trials, wherein observed and imagined actions were different in type (e.g., face washing vs. painting) or plane of movement, or both. In contrast, no imitation bias was observed when MI conflicted with AO. In Experiment 2, motor execution synchronised with AO produced a stronger imitation bias compared to AO + MI, showing an advantage in synchronisation for overt execution over MI. Furthermore, the bias was stronger when participants synchronised the instructed action with the distractor movie, compared to when they synchronised the distractor action with the distractor movie. Although we still observed a significant bias in the latter condition, this finding indicates a degree of specificity in AI effects for the identity of the synchronised action. Overall, our data show that MI can substantially modulate the effects of AO on subsequent execution, wherein: (1) combined AO + MI can enhance AI effects relative to passive AO; (2) observed and imagined actions can be flexibly coordinated across different action types and planes; and (3) conflicting AO + MI can abolish AI effects. Therefore, combined AO + MI instructions should be considered in motor training and rehabilitation.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00028/fullMirror NeuronsJoint Actionstroke rehabilitationMotor Simulationmotor controlmotor rehabilitation |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Lloyd Eaves Daniel Lloyd Eaves Lauren eHaythornthwaite Stefan eVogt Motor imagery during action observation modulates automatic imitation effects in rhythmical actions Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Mirror Neurons Joint Action stroke rehabilitation Motor Simulation motor control motor rehabilitation |
| title | Motor imagery during action observation modulates automatic imitation effects in rhythmical actions |
| title_full | Motor imagery during action observation modulates automatic imitation effects in rhythmical actions |
| title_fullStr | Motor imagery during action observation modulates automatic imitation effects in rhythmical actions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Motor imagery during action observation modulates automatic imitation effects in rhythmical actions |
| title_short | Motor imagery during action observation modulates automatic imitation effects in rhythmical actions |
| title_sort | motor imagery during action observation modulates automatic imitation effects in rhythmical actions |
| topic | Mirror Neurons Joint Action stroke rehabilitation Motor Simulation motor control motor rehabilitation |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00028/full |
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