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Brain activity during observation and motor imagery of different balance tasks: An fMRI study

  • Taube, Wolfgang Department of Medicine, Movement and Sport Science, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Mouthon, Michaël Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Sciences, University and Hospital of Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Leukel, Christian Department of Medicine, Movement and Sport Science, University of Fribourg, Switzerland - Department of Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Germany - Bernstein Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Germany
  • Hoogewoud, Henri-Marcel Department of Radiology, Cantonal Hospital of Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Annoni, Jean-Marie Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Sciences, University and Hospital of Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Keller, Martin Department of Medicine, Movement and Sport Science, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
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    14.03.2015
Published in:
  • Cortex. - 2015, vol. 64, p. 102–114
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Action observation
Motor imagery during action observation
Non-physical balance training
English After immobilization, patients show impaired postural control and increased risk of falling. Therefore, loss of balance control should already be counteracted during immobilization. Previously, studies have demonstrated that both motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) can improve motor performance. The current study elaborated how the brain is activated during imagination and observation of different postural tasks to provide recommendations about the conception of non-physical balance training. For this purpose, participants were tested in a within-subject design in an fMRI-scanner in three different conditions: (a) AO + MI, (b) AO, and (c) MI. In (a) participants were instructed to imagine themselves as the person pictured in the video whereas in (b) they were instructed simply to watch the video. In (c) subjects closed their eyes and kinesthetically imagined the task displayed in the video. Two tasks were evaluated in each condition: (i) static standing balance and (ii) dynamic standing balance (medio-lateral perturbation). In all conditions the start of a new trial was indicated every 2 sec by a sound.During AO + MI of the dynamic task, participants activated motor centers including the putamen, cerebellum, supplementary motor area, premotor cortices (PMv/d) and primary motor cortex (M1). MI showed a similar pattern but no activity in M1 and PMv/d. In the SMA and cerebellum, activity was generally higher in the dynamic than in the static condition. AO did not significantly activate any of these brain areas.Our results showed that (I) mainly AO + MI, but also MI, activate brain regions important for balance control; (II) participants display higher levels of brain activation in the more demanding balance task; (III) there is a significant difference between AO + MI and AO. Consequently, best training effects should be expected when participants apply MI during AO (AO + MI) of challenging postural tasks
Faculty
Faculté des sciences et de médecine
Department
Médecine 3ème année, Département de Médecine
Language
  • English
Classification
Biological sciences
License
License undefined
Identifiers
Persistent URL
https://folia.unifr.ch/unifr/documents/304211
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