Normal aging and motor imagery vividness: implications for mental practice training in rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of normal aging on motor imagery vividness and working memory.


METHODS
Descriptive study with 3 groups.


METHODS
Laboratory of a university-affiliated research rehabilitation center.


METHODS
A sample of healthy persons (N=80) divided into 3 age groups: young (26+/-5.0 y), intermediate (53.6+/-5.4 y), and elderly (67.6+/-4.6 y).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
The kinesthetic and visual imagery scores of the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire and scores from 3 domains of working memory (visuospatial, kinesthetic, verbal).


RESULTS
Results revealed that visual motor imagery scores were higher than kinesthetic scores (imagery effect: P=.001); however, there was also a significant imagery x group interaction (P=.017). Post hoc analyses showed that only the young and intermediate groups had higher visual than kinesthetic motor imagery scores (P=.005 and .001, respectively), indicating a loss of visual motor imagery dominance in the elderly group. There was no group effect (P=.963) signifying that the level of motor imagery vividness was comparable between age groups. Significant decreases (17.3% and 22.5%, respectively) in visuospatial working memory scores were found in the intermediate (P=.011) and elderly (P=.001) groups, whereas a significant reduction (P=.01) in kinesthetic working memory scores was observed only in the elderly group (26.7%). There was also an age-related significant decline of visuospatial (r= -.50) and kinesthetic (r=-.34) working memory.


CONCLUSIONS
The level of motor imagery vividness does not diminish with age, but the quality changes. The dominance of visual motor imagery lessens with aging resulting in motor imagery modality-equivalence. These motor imagery alterations are associated with an age-related decline in visuospatial and kinesthetic working memory.
Malouin
Francine
F
Department of Rehabilitation, Laval University and Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Quebec City, QC, Canada. Francine.Malouin@rea.ulaval.ca
Richards
Carol L
CL
Durand
Anne
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011597:Psychomotor Performance