A Study on the Effect of Mental Practice Using Motor Evoked Potential-Based Neurofeedback

This study aimed to investigate whether the effect of mental practice (motor imagery training) can be enhanced by providing neurofeedback based on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced motor evoked potentials (MEP). Twenty-four healthy, right-handed subjects were enrolled in this study. The subjects were randomly allocated into two groups: a group that was given correct TMS feedback (Real-FB group) and a group that was given randomized false TMS feedback (Sham-FB group). The subjects imagined pushing the switch with just timing, when the target circle overlapped a cross at the center of the computer monitor. In the Real-FB group, feedback was provided to the subjects based on the MEP amplitude measured in the trial immediately preceding motor imagery. In contrast, the subjects of the Sham-FB group were provided with a feedback value that was independent of the MEP amplitude. TMS was applied when the target, moving from right to left, overlapped the cross at the center of the screen, and the MEP amplitude was measured. The MEP was recorded in the right first dorsal interosseous muscle. We evaluated the pre-mental practice and post-mental practice motor performance in both groups. As a result, a significant difference was observed in the percentage change of error values between the Real-FB group and the Sham-FB group. Furthermore, the MEP was significantly different between the groups in the 4th and 5th sets. Therefore, it was suggested that TMS-induced MEP-based neurofeedback might enhance the effect of mental practice.

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Intensity dependency of peripheral nerve stimulation in spinal LTP induced by paired associative corticospinal-motoneuronal stimulation (PCMS)

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0259931 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (11) ◽

pp. e0259931

Author(s):

Akira Yamashita ◽

Takenobu Murakami ◽

Noriaki Hattori ◽

Ichiro Miyai ◽

Yoshikazu Ugawa

Keyword(s):

Peripheral Nerve ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Motor Evoked Potentials ◽

Single Pulse ◽

Long Term Potentiation ◽

Facilitatory Effect ◽

Sensory Threshold ◽

Descending Volleys ◽

First Dorsal Interosseous Muscle ◽

The Right

Paired associative corticospinal-motoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) induces plasticity at synapses between corticospinal tracts (CSTs) and spinal motoneurons (SMs). We investigated the effects of peripheral nerve electrical stimulation (PNS) intensity on PCMS-induced plasticity. PCMS consisted of 180 paired stimuli of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the left primary motor cortex with PNS on the right ulnar nerve at the wrist. We compared effects induced by different PNS intensities: supramaximal, twice and three times sensory threshold intensities. For evaluating efficacy of the synapse between CSTs and SMs, single-pulse TMS was delivered at cervicomedullary junction level, and cervicomedullary motor-evoked potentials (CMEPs) were recorded from the right first-dorsal interosseous muscle before and after PCMS. PCMS with the supramaximal PNS intensity increased CMEP amplitude. The facilitatory effect of PCMS with the supramaximal PNS was larger than those of PCMS with weaker PNS intensities. Sham TMS with the supramaximal PNS showed no CMEP changes after the intervention. PNS intensity of PCMS influences the magnitude of synaptic plasticity induction between the CSTs and SMs at the spinal level, and the supramaximal intensity is the best for induction of long-term potentiation-like effects. The PNS intensity may influence the number of activated SMs by axonal backpropagating pulses with PNS which must overlap with descending volleys induced by TMS.

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Automatic Recruitment of the Motor System by Undetected Graspable Objects: A Motor-evoked Potential Study

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn_a_01165 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (11) ◽

pp. 1918-1931 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Nicolas A. McNair ◽

Ashleigh D. Behrens ◽

Irina M. Harris

Keyword(s):

Evoked Potentials ◽

Visual Processing ◽

Motor System ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Direct Evidence ◽

Motor Evoked Potentials ◽

Motor Evoked Potential ◽

Motor Action ◽

Motor Pathway ◽

The Right

Previous behavioral and neuroimaging studies have suggested that the motor properties associated with graspable objects may be automatically accessed when people passively view these objects. We directly tested this by measuring the excitability of the motor pathway when participants viewed pictures of graspable objects that were presented during the attentional blink (AB), when items frequently go undetected. Participants had to identify two briefly presented objects separated by either a short or long SOA. Motor-evoked potentials were measured from the right hand in response to a single TMS pulse delivered over the left primary motor cortex 250 msec after the onset of the second target. Behavioral results showed poorer identification of objects at short SOA compared with long SOA, consistent with an AB, which did not differ between graspable and nongraspable objects. However, motor-evoked potentials measured during the AB were significantly higher for graspable objects than for nongraspable objects, irrespective of whether the object was successfully identified or undetected. This provides direct evidence that the motor system is automatically activated during visual processing of objects that afford a motor action.

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Effects of tele-rehabilitation mental practice on balancing performance of patients with hemiplegia

Biomedical Human Kinetics ◽

10.1515/bhk-2018-0015 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 95-100

Author(s):

So Yeon Kim ◽

Su Jin Park ◽

Ye Eun Lee ◽

Eun Ha Lee ◽

Hwa Yeong Lim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Distribution Ratio ◽

Weight Distribution ◽

Balance Training ◽

Berg Balance Scale ◽

Mental Practice ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Balance Ability ◽

The Right

Summary Study aim: The purpose of this study was to confirm the effectiveness of tele-rehabilitation mental practice (TRMP) on balancing performance for patients with hemiplegia. Material and methods: This study included five stroke patients, and all participants were trained to help to recover balancing performance. TRMP was applied for a total of 15 training sessions for 3 weeks, and pre- and post-intervention evaluations were carried out during this study. The Berg Balance Scale was used to confirm the balance ability, the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale to confirm the falls efficacy, and the Wii program to confirm the right and left weight distribution ratio. Results: As a result of this study, we could not confirm a significant difference between pre- and post-intervention balance capacity and fall efficacy. However, weight distribution showed a significant difference after the intervention. Conclusion: TRMP may be applied in novel balance training for stroke patients.

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Leg Length Discrepancies in Nigerian Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia

Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research ◽

10.9734/jammr/2020/v32i1630632 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 70-79

Author(s):

Eneh Chizoma Ihuarula

Keyword(s):

Sickle Cell ◽

Sickle Cell Anaemia ◽

Medial Malleolus ◽

Leg Length ◽

P Values ◽

The Real ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Right ◽

Age And Sex ◽

Female Subjects

Background: Sickle cell anaemia, (SCA) the homozygous and most severe of the sickle cell diseases exerts adverse effects on growth and linear body proportions. In Nigeria, these changes in the lower extremity are scarcely documented. Objectives: To evaluate the differences between the real leg lengths and apparent leg lengths determined by tape measure among children with SCA. Methods: A clinic-based, cross-sectional, comparative study of 140 age and sex matched “SS” and “AA” children. The real leg lengths, anterior superior iliac spine to medial malleolus and to the heel, the apparent leg length, umbilicus to the medial malleolus were measured with a plastic tape and recorded. Leg length discrepancy (LLD), the arithmetric differences between corresponding leg lengths were recorded and classified into nil (0), mild (<2cm), moderate (2-5cm) and severe (>5cm). Results: At the medial malleolus, the subjects had more mild and moderate Real LLD than controls while more controls than subjects had nil Real LLD (p = .033). Both right and left real leg lengths were significantly shorter in the 6-9 year old subjects especially the males, all female subjects, all 10-13 year olds subjects more so the females than their respective counterparts. (All p values < 0.05) Similarly, the right and left leg lengths at the heel were significantly shorter in subjects of the same age and sex groups as above than all their respective counterparts. (P values < 0.05). However, male subjects had only the right real leg length significantly shorter than those of the controls. Real LLD: ASIS-MM was significantly higher in 10-13 year old female subjects, real LLD: ASIS-HEEL in 14-18 year old subjects than the controls. The right and left apparent leg length were significantly lower in all 10-13 year old subjects as well as 10-13 year old female subjects than the respective matches. All p values were < 0.05. No significant difference existed in the apparent LLD comparisons.

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EFFECT OF MOTOR IMAGERY TRAINING IN COMBINATION WITH ELECTROMYOGRAPHY-TRIGGERED ELECTRICAL STIMULATION IN STROKE WITH HEMIPLEGIA PATIENTS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY

Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology ◽

10.1142/s0219519419400621 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (08) ◽

pp. 1940062

Author(s):

JI-SU PARK ◽

JONG-BAE CHOI ◽

GIHYOUN LEE ◽

SANG-HOON LEE ◽

YOUNGJIN JUNG

Keyword(s):

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Motor Imagery ◽

Lower Extremities ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Timed Up And Go ◽

Imagery Training ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Experimental Group ◽

Better Than

Recently, motor imagery training combined with electromyography-triggered electrical stimulation (MIT EMG-ES) has been reported as a remedial treatment for stroke patients. However, the clinical evidence of the effect is still lacking. To investigate the effect of MIT EMG-ES on lower extremities and activities of daily of living (ADL) in patients with stroke, the participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group ([Formula: see text]) or control group ([Formula: see text]). The experimental group underwent MIT EMG-ES, whereas the control group performed underwent motor imagery training. In addition, both groups received the same conventional rehabilitation therapy. All participants underwent treatment for 30[Formula: see text]min a day, 5 sessions per week, for 4 weeks. Lower extremities function was measured by the Fugl–Meyer Assessment Lower Extremity (FMA-LE), Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test and 10 m Walk (10[Formula: see text]MW) test. ADL were measured by the Korea version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). The experimental group except for the FMA-LE group showed more improvement in TUG and 10[Formula: see text]MW test scores than the control group ([Formula: see text]). The effect size showed FMA-LE, TUG, and 10[Formula: see text]MW test (0.7, 1.0, 0.7, respectively). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in K-MBI ([Formula: see text]). Our findings suggest that MIT EMG-ES may be a novel treatment for lower extremities function in patients with stroke better than MIT alone.

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Slowing of Motor Imagery after a Right Hemispheric Stroke

Stroke Research and Treatment ◽

10.1155/2012/297217 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Francine Malouin ◽

Carol L. Richards ◽

Anne Durand

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Motor Imagery ◽

Memory Deficits ◽

Mental Practice ◽

Visuospatial Working Memory ◽

Hemispheric Stroke ◽

Imagery Training ◽

Mental Chronometry ◽

Temporal Congruence ◽

Movement Representation

The temporal congruence between real and imagined movements is not always preserved after stroke. We investigated the dependence of temporal incongruence on the side of the hemispheric lesion and its link with working memory deficits. Thirty-seven persons with a chronic stroke after a right or left hemispheric lesion (RHL : n=19; LHL : n=18) and 32 age-matched healthy persons (CTL) were administered a motor imagery questionnaire, mental chronometry and working memory tests. In contrast to persons in the CTL group and LHL subgroup, persons with a RHL had longer movement times during the imagination than the physical execution of stepping movements on both sides, indicating a reduced ability to predict movement duration (temporal incongruence). While motor imagery vividness was good in both subgroups, the RHL group had greater visuospatial working memory deficits. The bilateral slowing of stepping movements in the RHL group indicates that temporal congruence during motor imagery is impaired after a right hemispheric stroke and is also associated with greater visuospatial working memory deficits. Findings emphasize the need to use mental chronometry to control for movement representation during motor imagery training and may indicate that mental practice through motor imagery will have limitations in patients with a right hemispheric stroke.

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Modulation of Corticospinal Excitability Depends on the Pattern of Mechanical Tactile Stimulation

Neural Plasticity ◽

10.1155/2018/5383514 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sho Kojima ◽

Hideaki Onishi ◽

Shota Miyaguchi ◽

Shinichi Kotan ◽

Ryoki Sasaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tactile Stimulation ◽

Motor Evoked Potential ◽

Corticospinal Excitability ◽

First Dorsal Interosseous Muscle ◽

Stimulus Probe ◽

Left And Right ◽

The Right ◽

Single Blind ◽

Finger Pad ◽

Dorsal Interosseous Muscle

We investigated the effects of different patterns of mechanical tactile stimulation (MS) on corticospinal excitability by measuring the motor-evoked potential (MEP). This was a single-blind study that included nineteen healthy subjects. MS was applied for 20 min to the right index finger. MS intervention was defined as simple, lateral, rubbing, vertical, or random. Simple intervention stimulated the entire finger pad at the same time. Lateral intervention stimulated with moving between left and right on the finger pad. Rubbing intervention stimulated with moving the stimulus probe, fixed by protrusion pins. Vertical intervention stimulated with moving in the forward and backward directions on the finger pad. Random intervention stimulated to finger pad with either row protrudes. MEPs were measured in the first dorsal interosseous muscle to transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left motor cortex before, immediately after, and 5–20 min after intervention. Following simple intervention, MEP amplitudes were significantly smaller than preintervention, indicating depression of corticospinal excitability. Following lateral, rubbing, and vertical intervention, MEP amplitudes were significantly larger than preintervention, indicating facilitation of corticospinal excitability. The modulation of corticospinal excitability depends on MS patterns. These results contribute to knowledge regarding the use of MS as a neurorehabilitation tool to neurological disorder.

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Global Corticospinal Excitability as Assessed in A Non-Exercised Upper Limb Muscle Compared Between Concentric and Eccentric Modes of Leg Cycling

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-55858-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Joel A. Walsh ◽

Paul J. Stapley ◽

Jonathan B. H. Shemmell ◽

Romuald Lepers ◽

Darryl J. McAndrew

Keyword(s):

Perceived Exertion ◽

Motor Evoked Potentials ◽

Corticospinal Excitability ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Response Curves ◽

Large Variability ◽

Physiological Variables ◽

Leg Cycling ◽

First Dorsal Interosseous Muscle ◽

The Right

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) semi-recumbent leg cycling on global corticospinal excitability (CSE), assessed through the activity of a non-exercised hand muscle. Thirteen healthy male adults completed two 30-min bouts of moderate intensity ECC and CON recumbent cycling on separate days. Power output (POutput), heart rate (HR) and cadence were monitored during cycling. Global CSE was assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation to elicit motor-evoked potentials (MEP) in the right first dorsal interosseous muscle before (‘Pre’), interleaved (at 10 and 20 mins, t10 and t20, respectively), immediately after (post, P0), and 30-min post exercise (P30). Participants briefly stopped pedalling (no more than 60 s) while stimulation was applied at the t10 and t20 time-points of cycling. Mean POutput, and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) did not differ between ECC and CON cycling and HR was significantly lower during ECC cycling (P = 0.01). Group mean MEP amplitudes were not significantly different between ECC and CON cycling at P0, t10, t20, and P30 and CON (at P > 0.05). Individual participant ratios of POutput and MEP amplitude showed large variability across the two modes of cycling, as did changes in slope of stimulus-response curves. These results suggest that compared to ‘Pre’ values, group mean CSE is not significantly affected by low-moderate intensity leg cycling in both modes. However, POutput and CSE show wide inter-participant variability which has implications for individual neural responses to CON and ECC cycling and rates of adaptation to a novel (ECC) mode. The study of CSE should therefore be analysed for each participant individually in relation to relevant physiological variables and account for familiarisation to semi-recumbent ECC leg cycling.

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An acute session of motor imagery training induces use-dependent plasticity

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-56628-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Célia Ruffino ◽

Jérémie Gaveau ◽

Charalambos Papaxanthis ◽

Florent Lebon

Keyword(s):

Motor Imagery ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Corticospinal Excitability ◽

Movement Direction ◽

Control Group ◽

Dependent Plasticity ◽

Imagery Training ◽

Imagery Group ◽

Before And After ◽

The Right

AbstractMotor imagery, defined as the mental representation of an action without movement-related sensory inputs, is a well-known intervention to improve motor performance. In the current study, we tested whether use-dependent plasticity, a mechanism underlying motor learning, could be induced by an acute session of motor imagery. By means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the left primary motor cortex, we evoked isolated thumb movements in the right hand and assessed corticospinal excitability in the flexor and extensor pollicis brevis muscles. We measured the mean TMS-induced movement direction before and after an acute session of motor imagery practice. In a first experiment, participants of the imagery group were instructed to repeatedly imagine their thumb moving in a direction deviated by 90° from the pre-test movement. This group, but not the control group, deviated the post-training TMS-induced movements toward the training target direction (+44° ± 62° and −1° ± 23°, respectively). Interestingly, the deviation magnitude was driven by the corticospinal excitability increase in the agonist muscle. In a second experiment, we found that post-training TMS-induced movements were proportionally deviated toward the trained direction and returned to baseline 30 minutes after the motor imagery training. These findings suggest that motor imagery induces use-dependent plasticity and, this neural process is accompanied by corticospinal excitability increase in the agonist muscle.

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An acute session of motor imagery training induces use-dependent plasticity

10.1101/716357 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Célia Ruffino ◽

Jérémie Gaveau ◽

Charalambos Papaxanthis ◽

Florent Lebon

Keyword(s):

Motor Imagery ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Corticospinal Excitability ◽

Movement Direction ◽

Control Group ◽

Dependent Plasticity ◽

Imagery Training ◽

Imagery Group ◽

Before And After ◽

The Right

AbstractMotor imagery, defined as the mental representation of an action without movement-related sensory inputs, is a well-known intervention to improve motor performance. In the current study, we tested whether use-dependent plasticity, a mechanism underlying motor learning, could be induced by an acute session of motor imagery. By means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the left primary motor cortex, we evoked isolated thumb movements in the right hand and assessed corticospinal excitability in the flexor and extensor pollicis brevis muscles. We measured the mean TMS-induced movement direction before and after an acute session of motor imagery practice. In a first experiment, participants of the imagery group were instructed to repeatedly imagine their thumb moving in a direction deviated by 90° from the pre-test movement. This group, but not the control group, deviated the post-training TMS-induced movements toward the training target direction (+44° ±62° and −1° ±23°, respectively). Interestingly, the deviation magnitude was driven by the corticospinal excitability increase in the agonist muscle. In a second experiment, we found that post-training TMS-induced movements were proportionally deviated toward the trained direction and returned to baseline 30 minutes after the motor imagery training. These findings suggest that motor imagery induces use-dependent plasticity and, this neural process is accompanied by corticospinal excitability increase in the agonist muscle.

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