Mechanisms and research progress of motor imagery combined with action observation in cognitive rehabilitation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2024.32.55992Keywords
Motor imagery, action observation, cognitive rehabilitationAbstract
Introduction：Cognitive deficits refer to impairments in the brain's ability to process information, memory, attention, reasoning, decision-making, and other cognitive functions.Cognitive rehabilitation (CR) is a therapeutic approach aimed at improving cognitive function through various strategies, training, and interventions, ultimately enhancing quality of life. Motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) are key rehabilitation methods in the cognitive domain and have been widely used in related studies. Recently, the combination of motor imagery and action observation therapy (AO+MI) has emerged as a promising research direction, receiving increasing support in the academic community.
Aim of the study:
This study aims to explore the mechanisms behind the combination of action observation and motor imagery (AO+MI) and assess the effectiveness of this innovative approach in cognitive rehabilitation.
Material and methods:
A literature review was conducted by searching databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for English-language articles. Keywords including "motor imagery," "action observation," and "cognitive rehabilitation" were used in the search.
Conclusions:
Both motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) have demonstrated positive effects on cognitive function. However, the combination of MI and AO may produce three distinct states that require further investigation. Preliminary findings suggest that AO+MI has shown promising results in enhancing corticospinal excitability (CE), benefiting children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and improving outcomes in stroke patients. However, some scholars have raised concerns, emphasizing the need for further experimental validation.
References
Messinis L, Kosmidis M H, Nasios G, et al. Cognitive Neurorehabilitation in Acquired Neurological Brain Injury[J]. Behavioural Neurology, 2019, 2019: 1-4.
Bermejo-Pareja F. Essential tremor—a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive defects?[J]. Nature Reviews Neurology, 2011, 7(5): 273-282.
Seron X, Rossetti Y, Vallat-Azouvi C, et al. Cognitive rehabilitation[J]. Revue Neurologique, 2008, 164: S154-63.
Malec J F, Cicerave K D. Cognitive rehabilitation[J]. Neurology and trauma, 1996: 231-248.
Berrol S. Issues in cognitive rehabilitation[J]. Archives of Neurology, 1990, 47(2): 219-220.
Robertson I H. Cognitive rehabilitation: attention and neglect[J]. Trends in cognitive sciences, 1999, 3(10): 385-393.
Morris T, Spittle M, Perry C. Mental imagery in sport[J]. 2004.
Ladda A M, Lebon F, Lotze M. Using motor imagery practice for improving motor performance–a review[J]. Brain and cognition, 2021, 150: 105705.
Frank C, Kraeutner S N, Rieger M, et al. Learning motor actions via imagery—perceptual or motor learning?[J]. Psychological Research, 2023: 1-13.
Lotze M, Cohen L G. Volition and imagery in neurorehabilitation[J]. Cognitive and behavioral neurology, 2006, 19(3): 135-140.
Vogt S, Di Rienzo F, Collet C, et al. Multiple roles of motor imagery during action observation[J]. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 2013, 7: 807.
Olsson C J, Nyberg L. Motor imagery: if you can’t do it, you won’t think it[J]. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 2010, 20(5): 711-715.
Buccino G. Action observation treatment: a novel tool in neurorehabilitation[J]. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2014, 369(1644): 20130185.
Pezzulo G, Donnarumma F, Ferrari-Toniolo S, et al. Shared population-level dynamics in monkey premotor cortex during solo action, joint action, and action observation[J]. Progress in Neurobiology, 2022, 210: 102214.
Zentgraf K, Munzert J, Bischoff M, et al. Simulation during observation of human actions–theories, empirical studies, applications[J]. Vision Research, 2011, 51(8): 827-835.
Chye S, Valappil A C, Wright D J, et al. The effects of combined action observation and motor imagery on corticospinal excitability and movement outcomes: Two meta-analyses[J]. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2022, 143: 104911.
Scott M W, Wood G, Holmes P S, et al. Combined action observation and motor imagery: An intervention to combat the neural and behavioural deficits associated with developmental coordination disorder[J]. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2021, 127: 638-646.
Romano Smith S L, Roberts J W, Miller A J, et al. Theoretical explanations and the availability of information for learning via combined action observation and motor imagery: a commentary on Eaves et al.(2022)[J]. Psychological Research, 2024: 1-4.
Holmes P S, Collins D J. The PETTLEP approach to motor imagery: A functional equivalence model for sport psychologists[J]. Journal of applied sport psychology, 2001, 13(1): 60-83.
Murphy S, Nordin S, Cumming J. Imagery in sport, exercise, and dance[J]. 2008.
Grush R. The emulation theory of representation: Motor control, imagery, and perception[J]. Behavioral and brain sciences, 2004, 27(3): 377-396.
Milton J, Small S L, Solodkin A. Imaging motor imagery: methodological issues related to expertise[J]. Methods, 2008, 45(4): 336-341.
Holmes P, Calmels C. A neuroscientific review of imagery and observation use in sport[J]. Journal of Motor Behavior, 2008, 40(5): 433-445.
Ehrsson, H. Henrik, Stefan Geyer, and Eiichi Naito. “Imagery of voluntary movement of fingers, toes, and tongue activates corresponding body-part-specific motor representations.” Journal of Neurophysiology (2003).
Li, Sheng, et al. “The effect of motor imagery on spinal segmental excitability.” Journal of Neuroscience 24.43 (2004): 9674-9680.
Buchignani, Bianca, et al. “Action observation training for rehabilitation in brain injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” BMC neurology 19 (2019): 1-16.
Gallese, Vittorio, et al. “Action recognition in the premotor cortex.” Brain 119.2 (1996): 593-609.
Rizzolatti G, Fabbri-Destro M. Mirror neurons: from discovery to autism[J]. Experimental brain research, 2010, 200: 223-237.
Ferrari, Pier Francesco, et al. “Mirror neurons responding to the observation of ingestive and communicative mouth actions in the monkey ventral premotor cortex.” European journal of neuroscience 17.8 (2003): 1703-1714.
Fadiga, Luciano, et al. “Motor facilitation during action observation: a magnetic stimulation study.” Journal of Neurophysiology 73.6 (1995): 2608-2611.
Urgesi, Cosimo, et al. “Motor facilitation during action observation: topographic mapping of the target muscle and influence of the onlooker’s posture.” European Journal of Neuroscience 23.9 (2006): 2522-2530.
Buccino G, Lui F, Canessa N, et al. Neural circuits involved in the recognition of actions performed by nonconspecifics: An fMRI study[J]. Journal of cognitive neuroscience, 2004, 16(1): 114-126.
Iacoboni M, Woods R P, Brass M, et al. Cortical mechanisms of human imitation[J]. science, 1999, 286(5449): 2526-2528.
Koski L, Wohlschläger A, Bekkering H, et al. Modulation of motor and premotor activity during imitation of target-directed actions[J]. Cerebral cortex, 2002, 12(8): 847-855.
Grèzes J, Armony J L, Rowe J, et al. Activations related to “mirror” and “canonical” neurons in the human brain: an fMRI study[J]. Neuroimage, 2003, 18(4): 928-937.
Eaves D L, Behmer Jr L P, Vogt S. EEG and behavioural correlates of different forms of motor imagery during action observation in rhythmical actions[J]. Brain and Cognition, 2016, 106: 90-103.
Eaves D L, Haythornthwaite L, Vogt S. Motor imagery during action observation modulates automatic imitation effects in rhythmical actions[J]. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 2014, 8: 28.
Meers R, Nuttall H E, Vogt S. Motor imagery alone drives corticospinal excitability during concurrent action observation and motor imagery[J]. Cortex, 2020, 126: 322-333.
Schmidt R A. A schema theory of discrete motor skill learning[J]. Psychological Review, 1975, 82(4): 225.
Wright D J, Wood G, Eaves D L, et al. Corticospinal excitability is facilitated by combined action observation and motor imagery of a basketball free throw[J]. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2018, 39: 114-121.
Frank C, Wright D J, Holmes P S. Mental simulation and neurocognition: Advances for motor imagery and action observation training in sport[M]//The Routledge International Encyclopedia of sport and exercise psychology. Routledge, 2020: 411-428.
Deakin J M, Proteau L. The role of scheduling in learning through observation[J]. Journal of motor behavior, 2000, 32(3): 268-276.
Trempe M, Sabourin M, Rohbanfard H, et al. Observation learning versus physical practice leads to different consolidation outcomes in a movement timing task[J]. Experimental Brain Research, 2011, 209: 181-192.
Azaad S, Sebanz N. Potential benefits of synchronous action observation and motor imagery: a commentary on Eaves et al. 2022[J]. Psychological Research, 2024, 88(6): 1908-1910.
Shepard, Roger N. “Ecological constraints on internal representation: resonant kinematics of perceiving, imagining, thinking, and dreaming.” Psychological Review 91.4 (1984): 417.
Jeannerod M. The representing brain: Neural correlates of motor intention and imagery[J]. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 1994, 17(2): 187-202.
Macuga K L, Frey S H. Neural representations involved in observed, imagined, and imitated actions are dissociable and hierarchically organized[J]. Neuroimage, 2012, 59(3): 2798-2807.
Nedelko V, Hassa T, Hamzei F, et al. Action imagery combined with action observation activates more corticomotor regions than action observation alone[J]. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 2012, 36(4): 182-188.
Keysers C, Kaas J H, Gazzola V. Somatosensation in social perception[J]. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2010, 11(6): 417-428.
Porro C A, Francescato M P, Cettolo V, et al. Primary motor and sensory cortex activation during motor performance and motor imagery: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study[J]. Journal of Neuroscience, 1996, 16(23): 7688-7698.
Lotze M, Montoya P, Erb M, et al. Activation of cortical and cerebellar motor areas during executed and imagined hand movements: an fMRI study[J]. Journal of cognitive neuroscience, 1999, 11(5): 491-501.
Gerardin E, Sirigu A, Lehéricy S, et al. Partially overlapping neural networks for real and imagined hand movements[J]. Cerebral cortex, 2000, 10(11): 1093-1104.
Calvo-Merino B, Glaser D E, Grèzes J, et al. Action observation and acquired motor skills: an FMRI study with expert dancers[J]. Cerebral cortex, 2005, 15(8): 1243-1249.
Borroni P, Montagna M, Cerri G, et al. Cyclic time course of motor excitability modulation during the observation of a cyclic hand movement[J]. Brain Research, 2005, 1065(1-2): 115-124.
Bekkering H, De Bruijn E R A, Cuijpers R H, et al. Joint action: Neurocognitive mechanisms supporting human interaction[J]. Topics in Cognitive Science, 2009, 1(2): 340-352.
Konvalinka I, Vuust P, Roepstorff A, et al. Follow you, follow me: continuous mutual prediction and adaptation in joint tapping[J]. Quarterly journal of experimental psychology, 2010, 63(11): 2220-2230.
Vogt S. 11 Visuomotor couplings in object-oriented and imitative actions[J]. The imitative mind: Development, evolution, and brain bases, 2002, 6: 206.
Heyes C. Automatic imitation[J]. Psychological Bulletin, 2011, 137(3): 463.
Eaves D L, Turgeon M, Vogt S. Automatic imitation in rhythmical actions: kinematic fidelity and the effects of compatibility, delay, and visual monitoring[J]. 2012.
Cisek P, Kalaska J F. Neural mechanisms for interacting with a world full of action choices[J]. Annual review of neuroscience, 2010, 33(1): 269-298.
Hove M J, Spivey M J, Krumhansl C L. Compatibility of motion facilitates visuomotor synchronization[J]. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 2010, 36(6): 1525.
Grilc N, Valappil A C, Tillin N A, et al. Motor imagery drives the effects of combined action observation and motor imagery on corticospinal excitability for coordinative lower-limb actions[J]. Scientific Reports, 2024, 14(1): 13057.
Moriuchi T, Nakashima A, Nakamura J, et al. The vividness of motor imagery is correlated with corticospinal excitability during combined motor imagery and action observation[J]. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2020, 14: 581652.
Yasui T, Yamaguchi T, Tanabe S, et al. Time course of changes in corticospinal excitability induced by motor imagery during action observation combined with peripheral nerve electrical stimulation[J]. Experimental Brain Research, 2019, 237: 637-645.
Kaneko N, Sasaki A, Yokoyama H, et al. Effects of action observation and motor imagery of walking on the corticospinal and spinal motoneuron excitability and motor imagery ability in healthy participants[J]. Plos one, 2022, 17(4): e0266000.
Chye S, Valappil A C, Wright D J, et al. The effects of combined action observation and motor imagery on corticospinal excitability and movement outcomes: Two meta-analyses[J]. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2022, 143: 104911.
Lakshminarayanan K, Shah R, Daulat S R, et al. The effect of combining action observation in virtual reality with kinesthetic motor imagery on cortical activity[J]. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2023, 17: 1201865.
Connelly N, Welsby E, Lange B, et al. Virtual Reality Action Observation and Motor Imagery to Enhance Neuroplastic Capacity in the Human Motor Cortex: A Pilot Double-blind, Randomized Cross-over Trial[J]. Neuroscience, 2024, 549: 92-100.
Marshall B, Wright D J, Holmes P S, et al. Combined action observation and motor imagery facilitate visuomotor adaptation in children with developmental coordination disorder[J]. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 2020, 98: 103570.
Scott M W, Emerson J R, Dixon J, et al. Motor imagery during action observation enhances imitation of everyday rhythmical actions in children with and without developmental coordination disorder[J]. Human movement science, 2020, 71: 102620.
Scott M W, Emerson J R, Dixon J, et al. Motor imagery during action observation enhances automatic imitation in children with and without developmental coordination disorder[J]. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 2019, 183: 242-260.
Scott M W, Wood G, Holmes P S, et al. Combined action observation and motor imagery improves learning of activities of daily living in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder[J]. Plos one, 2023, 18(5): e0284086.
Emerson J R, Binks J A, Scott M W, et al. Combined action observation and motor imagery therapy: a novel method for post-stroke motor rehabilitation[J]. AIMS Neuroscience, 2018, 5(4): 236.
Binks J A, Emerson J R, Scott M W, et al. Enhancing upper-limb neurorehabilitation in chronic stroke survivors using combined action observation and motor imagery therapy[J]. Frontiers in Neurology, 2023, 14: 1097422.
Behrendt F, Le-Minh M, Schuster-Amft C. Influence of combined action observation and motor imagery of walking on lower limb reflex modulation in patients after stroke–preliminary results[J]. BMC Research Notes, 2022, 15(1): 166.
Rungsirisilp N, Wongsawat Y. Applying combined action observation and motor imagery to enhance classification performance in a brain-computer interface system for stroke patients[J]. IEEE Access, 2022, 10: 73145-73155.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Mufan Zhang, Jiong Luo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 80
Number of citations: 0
