Practice modality of motor sequences impacts the neural signature of motor imagery

Motor imagery is conceptualized as an internal simulation that uses motor-related parts of the brain as its substrate. Many studies have investigated this sharing of common neural resources between the two modalities of motor imagery and motor execution. They have shown overlapping but not identical...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2020-11, Vol.10 (1), p.19176-19176, Article 19176
Main Authors: Krüger, Britta, Hettwer, Meike, Zabicki, Adam, de Haas, Benjamin, Munzert, Jörn, Zentgraf, Karen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Adult
Brain Mapping
Cerebellum
Cerebellum - diagnostic imaging
Cerebellum - physiology
Cognition & reasoning
Female
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Humans
Imagination - physiology
Intervention
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Mental task performance
Motor Cortex - diagnostic imaging
Motor Cortex - physiology
Nerve Net - diagnostic imaging
Nerve Net - physiology
Practice, Psychological
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Simulation
Young Adult
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Summary:Motor imagery is conceptualized as an internal simulation that uses motor-related parts of the brain as its substrate. Many studies have investigated this sharing of common neural resources between the two modalities of motor imagery and motor execution. They have shown overlapping but not identical activation patterns that thereby result in a modality-specific neural signature. However, it is not clear how far this neural signature depends on whether the imagined action has previously been practiced physically or only imagined. The present study aims to disentangle whether the neural imprint of an imagined manual pointing sequence within cortical and subcortical motor areas is determined by the nature of this prior practice modality. Each participant practiced two sequences physically, practiced two other sequences mentally, and did a behavioural pre-test without any further practice on a third pair of sequences. After a two-week practice intervention, participants underwent fMRI scans while imagining all six sequences. Behavioural data demonstrated practice-related effects as well as very good compliance with instructions. Functional MRI data confirmed the previously known motor imagery network. Crucially, we found that mental and physical practice left a modality-specific footprint during mental motor imagery. In particular, activation within the right posterior cerebellum was stronger when the imagined sequence had previously been practiced physically. We conclude that cerebellar activity is shaped specifically by the nature of the prior practice modality.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-76214-y