Hemodynamic Signal Changes During Motor Imagery Task Performance Are Associated With the Degree of Motor Task Learning

Abstract

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate whether oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) generated during a motor imagery (MI) task is associated with the motor learning level of the task.MethodsWe included 16 right-handed healthy participants who were trained to perform a ball rotation (BR) task. Hemodynamic brain activity was measured using near-infrared spectroscopy to monitor changes in oxy-Hb concentration during the BR MI task. The experimental protocol used a block design, and measurements were performed three times before and after the initial training of the BR task as well as after the final training. The BR count during training was also measured. Furthermore, subjective vividness of MI was evaluated three times after NIRS measurement using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).ResultsThe results showed that the number of BRs increased significantly with training (P < 0.001). VAS scores also improved with training (P < 0.001). Furthermore, oxy-Hb concentration and the region of interest (ROI) showed a main effect (P = 0.001). An interaction was confirmed (P < 0.001), and it was ascertained that the change in oxy-Hb concentrations due to training was different for each ROI. The most significant predictor of subjective MI vividness was supplementary motor area (SMA) oxy-Hb concentration (coefficient = 0.365).DiscussionHemodynamic brain activity during MI tasks may be correlated with task motor learning levels, since significant changes in oxy-Hb concentrations were observed following initial and final training in the SMA. In particular, hemodynamic brain activity in the SMA was suggested to reflect the MI vividness of participants.

Repetitive Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Motor Imagery Changes Resting-State EEG Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…In the present study, both the MI and MI + rPMS groups demonstrated increased vividness of MI following the intervention. Repeated MI increases the vividness of MI [ 44 ]. In the present study, both groups underwent repeated MI, thereby increasing the vividness of MI.…”

“…In other words, rPMS may not promote MI in terms of subjective evaluation. A previous study that examined the effects of repeated MI on the vividness of MI using VAS reported that VAS scores improved from 60 mm (before) to 80 mm (after) [ 44 ]. In addition, a previous study examining the effects of MI combined with action observation on the vividness of MI revealed improvement in VAS scores from 50 mm (before) to 80 mm (after) [ 40 ].…”

Development and Validation of the Body Cognition Assessment System

“…The sequence of the FBT and BCAS experiments was repeated three times in a different order for each participant to account for order effects, and the EEG measurements were obtained to compare brain activity during each assessment ( Figure 1 ). The number of times the FBT and BCAS were administered was set with reference to the number of times used in the previous motor imagery study [ 39 ], while considering that the brain’s motor learning was updated by administering them multiple times.…”

A study of dynamic hand orthosis combined with unilateral task-oriented training in subacute stroke: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy case series

“…Based on the modified Beer-Lambert law, values of oxyhemoglobin were acquired following changes in levels of cortical concentration. HbO level was selected since it is reliable and sensitive to changes in cerebral blood Flow ( 28 ).The source-detector probe geometry of the fNIRS system is shown in Figure 2B .…”

“…The Cz position of the international -system was the marker for ensuring the replicable placement of the optodes. (28).The source-detector probe geometry of the fNIRS system is shown in Figure 2B.…”