Effective Motor Imagery Application: Examining Spinal Cord Excitability from the F-Wave and Autonomic Nervous Activity from LF/HF

Abstract

Motor imagery can be helpful for the therapeutic approach for the patients who have difficulty in the actual motion. This chapter explains the following important six points for getting high-effective motor imagery based on the neuroscience. First, excitability of spinal motor neuron was increased by motor imagery. However, adding effect on breathing state, both expiration and inspiration phase on the relax respiration, does not influence the excitability of spinal motor neuron. Also, motor imagery increased the excitability of spinal motor neuron and cardiac sympathetic nerve activity. However, vividness of motor imagery was to converge a degree. Motor practice before motor imagery was important. Motor practice was appropriate for 30 s using intermittent visual feedback, and for doing motor imagery, time enough was 1 min. Adding motor imagery method was a recommended composite for kinesthetic and visual motor imagery. Unfortunately, motor imagery has few effects for the other hand. Therefore, motor imagery should be done on the ipsilateral side from the previous motor practice.