Effects of action observation on physical training after stroke.
OBJECTIVE
In healthy humans, observation of another individual performing a motor training task (action observation [AO]) facilitates, in the observer, the effects of physical training (PT) on motor memory formation. It is not known whether this facilitatory process, of potential value for neurorehabilitation, occurs after stroke.


METHODS
Eight chronic stroke patients completed this crossover-randomized investigation. A transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol that tests formation of motor memories was used to determine the effects of PT alone and in combination with AO in 2 different forms: congruent (PT+AO(congruent)) and incongruent (PT+AO(incongruent)) to the practiced task.


RESULTS
The magnitude of motor memory formation was larger with PT+AO(congruent) than with PT alone or PT+AO(incongruent). This effect was associated with a differential corticomotor excitability change in the muscles acting as agonist and antagonist of the trained/observed movements.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that congruent AO in association with physical training can enhance the effects of motor training after stroke.
Celnik
Pablo
P
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. pcelnik@jhmi.edu
Webster
Brian
B
Glasser
Davis M
DM
Cohen
Leonardo G
LG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D010291:Paresis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000502:physiology; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013933:Thumb / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods