title: The relation between cognitive and motor dysfunction and motor imagery ability in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Motor imagery (MI) was recently shown to be a promising tool in neurorehabilitation. The ability to perform MI, however, may be impaired in some patients with neurological dysfunction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to assess the relation between cognitive and motor dysfunction and MI ability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with MS underwent cognitive and motor screening, and also performed a composite test battery to assess their MI ability. This test battery consisted of a questionnaire, a hand rotation task and a test based on mental chronometry. Patients' MI ability was compared with the MI ability of age-matched healthy controls. Moreover, their MI scores were compared between body sides and were correlated with their scores on tests of motor and cognitive functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average accuracy and temporal organization of MI significantly differed between MS patients and controls. Patients' MI accuracy significantly correlated with impairments in cognitive functioning, but was independent of motor functioning. MI duration, on the other hand, was independent of cognitive performance, but differed between the patients' most and least affected side.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings are of use when considering the application of MI practice in MS patients' rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. elke.heremans@faber.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heremans
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: D'hooge
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Bondt
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Helsen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Feys
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009068:Movement; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012399:Rotation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires