Motor Imagery as a Key Factor for Healthy Ageing: A Review of New Insights and Techniques
Motor imagery (MI) describes a dynamic cognitive process where a movement is mentally simulated without taking place and holds potential as a means of stimulating motor learning and regaining motor skills. There is growing evidence that imagined and executed actions have common neural circuitry. Sin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/11/1492 |
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| author | Noemi Passarello Marianna Liparoti Caterina Padulo Pierpaolo Sorrentino Fabio Alivernini Beth Fairfield Fabio Lucidi Laura Mandolesi |
| author_facet | Noemi Passarello Marianna Liparoti Caterina Padulo Pierpaolo Sorrentino Fabio Alivernini Beth Fairfield Fabio Lucidi Laura Mandolesi |
| author_sort | Noemi Passarello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Motor imagery (MI) describes a dynamic cognitive process where a movement is mentally simulated without taking place and holds potential as a means of stimulating motor learning and regaining motor skills. There is growing evidence that imagined and executed actions have common neural circuitry. Since MI counteracts cognitive and motor decline, a growing interest in MI-based mental exercise for older individuals has emerged. Here we review the last decade’s scientific literature on age-related changes in MI skills. Heterogeneity in the experimental protocols, as well as the use of populations with unrepresentative age, is making it challenging to draw unambiguous conclusions about MI skills preservation. Self-report and behavioural tasks have shown that some MI components are preserved, while others are impaired. Evidence from neuroimaging studies revealed that, during MI tasks, older individuals hyperactivate their sensorimotor and attentional networks. Some studies have argued that this represents a compensatory mechanism, others claim that this is a sign of cognitive decline. However, further studies are needed to establish whether MI could be used as a promotion factor to improve cognitive functioning and well-being in older people. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:14:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d2ea5eb8ca894d00af89694f1340ff7c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:14:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-d2ea5eb8ca894d00af89694f1340ff7c2023-11-24T03:56:49ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252022-11-011211149210.3390/brainsci12111492Motor Imagery as a Key Factor for Healthy Ageing: A Review of New Insights and TechniquesNoemi Passarello0Marianna Liparoti1Caterina Padulo2Pierpaolo Sorrentino3Fabio Alivernini4Beth Fairfield5Fabio Lucidi6Laura Mandolesi7Department of Humanities, Federico II University of Naples, 80138 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Social and Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti, 66100 Chieti, ItalyInstitut de Neuroscience des Systemès, Aix-Marseille University, 13005 Marseille, FranceDepartment of Social and Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Humanities, Federico II University of Naples, 80138 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Social and Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Humanities, Federico II University of Naples, 80138 Naples, ItalyMotor imagery (MI) describes a dynamic cognitive process where a movement is mentally simulated without taking place and holds potential as a means of stimulating motor learning and regaining motor skills. There is growing evidence that imagined and executed actions have common neural circuitry. Since MI counteracts cognitive and motor decline, a growing interest in MI-based mental exercise for older individuals has emerged. Here we review the last decade’s scientific literature on age-related changes in MI skills. Heterogeneity in the experimental protocols, as well as the use of populations with unrepresentative age, is making it challenging to draw unambiguous conclusions about MI skills preservation. Self-report and behavioural tasks have shown that some MI components are preserved, while others are impaired. Evidence from neuroimaging studies revealed that, during MI tasks, older individuals hyperactivate their sensorimotor and attentional networks. Some studies have argued that this represents a compensatory mechanism, others claim that this is a sign of cognitive decline. However, further studies are needed to establish whether MI could be used as a promotion factor to improve cognitive functioning and well-being in older people.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/11/1492motor learninghealthy ageingmental exerciseneuroimaging |
| spellingShingle | Noemi Passarello Marianna Liparoti Caterina Padulo Pierpaolo Sorrentino Fabio Alivernini Beth Fairfield Fabio Lucidi Laura Mandolesi Motor Imagery as a Key Factor for Healthy Ageing: A Review of New Insights and Techniques Brain Sciences motor learning healthy ageing mental exercise neuroimaging |
| title | Motor Imagery as a Key Factor for Healthy Ageing: A Review of New Insights and Techniques |
| title_full | Motor Imagery as a Key Factor for Healthy Ageing: A Review of New Insights and Techniques |
| title_fullStr | Motor Imagery as a Key Factor for Healthy Ageing: A Review of New Insights and Techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | Motor Imagery as a Key Factor for Healthy Ageing: A Review of New Insights and Techniques |
| title_short | Motor Imagery as a Key Factor for Healthy Ageing: A Review of New Insights and Techniques |
| title_sort | motor imagery as a key factor for healthy ageing a review of new insights and techniques |
| topic | motor learning healthy ageing mental exercise neuroimaging |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/11/1492 |
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