Relationship between Visual and Motor Imagery

Abstract

The relationship between visual and motor imagery was investigated by administering a battery of visual and motor imagery measures to a sample of 101 men (n=49) and women (n=52), who ranged in age from 18 to 59 (M=34.5, SD= 12.6). A principal components analysis applied to the correlation matrix indicated four underlying components, which explained 62.9% of the variance. The components were named Implicit Visual Imagery Ability, Self-report of Visual and Motor Imagery, Implicit Motor Imagery Ability, and Explicit Motor Imagery Ability. These results suggested a dissociation between visual and motor imagery although visual and motor imagery were associated as self-reports and there were correlations among particular measures.

Motor imagery and higher-level cognition: four hurdles before research can sprint forward

“…However, depending on the instructions researchers provide to participants, it may not be clear which method the participants are actually using (Dietrich 2008). Additionally, even if instructions are clear, McAvinue and Robertson (2007) suggest that visual imagery may still be used if the participant has poor motor imagery abilities (e.g., individual differences). Cui et al (2007) have demonstrated that it is possible to measure vividness of visual imagery using neuroimaging methods, however, it is unclear how a similar procedure could be designed for motor imagery as current research has not yet localized the essential neural substrates involved in motor imagery (see Hurdle #4: neural correlates).…”

“…Many published experiments may inadvertently have studied visual imagery rather than motor imagery due to unclear task instructions (Hurdle #1: issues with distinguishing between visual and motor imagery). For a detailed discussion of this dissociation see McAvinue and Robertson (2007).…”

“…Though mental imagery comprises both visual and motor imagery, visual imagery is represented primarily through the visual perception system, while motor imagery is reliant primarily on the motor system-two independent processes (McAvinue and Robertson 2007). While these two processes are complementary, Sirigu and Duhamel (2001) demonstrated that these processes can in fact be dissociated neurally in a lesion study.…”

Neuroscience-Based Rehabilitation for Stroke Patients

“…Although the imagery in this context represents a mental image, MI is unlike visual imagery which is induced by the input of sensory information to the body in that MI is pragmatic, whereas visual imagery is semantic [41]. The intracerebral information processing in MI involves not only the formulation of a movement plan but also the cognitive manipulation of what has been imagined [13] as well as elements of self-image (first-person image) and images of others (third-person image) [42].…”

Motor Imagery Ability in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury

“…We will assess motor imagery ability in patients with a moderate to severe head injury using MIQs, a mental chronometry paradigm and mental rotation tasks 18 . MIQs measure the vividness of motor imagery 19 .…”