title: Excitability of spinal neural function by motor imagery with isometric opponens pollicis activity: influence of vision during motor imagery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No scientific basis exists for the effect of motor imagery with eyes open.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate spinal neural function during motor imagery and at rest with eyes open or closed by analyzing F-waves generated by the left thenar muscles after left median nerve stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen healthy volunteers performed motor imagery while achieving 50% maximal voluntary contraction by isometrically contracting the opponens pollicis muscle. For subjective comparisons after the test, patients were asked whether imaging was easier with eyes open or closed and were then asked to imagine the contraction while holding the sensor between thumb and index finger with eyes open or closed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Persistence during motor imagery under both visual conditions tended to increase compared with that at rest. F/M amplitude ratio was significantly higher during motor imagery under both visual parameters than at rest. Most subjects (14/16) found imaging easier with eyes open, but no relationship was found between F-wave data and subjective evaluations to determine the easier condition for motor imagery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Motor imagery with eyes open or closed increased the excitability of spinal neural output to the thenar muscles. However, subjective evaluation to determine the easier visual condition for motor imagery revealed insignificant results.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Kansai University of Health Sciences, Sennnan, Osaka, Japan Clinical Physical Therapy Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kansai University of Health Sciences, Sennnan, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Kansai University of Health Sciences, Sennnan, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshibumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bunno
authors.affiliation: Clinical Physical Therapy Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kansai University of Health Sciences, Sennnan, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Chieko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Onigata
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Kansai University of Health Sciences, Sennnan, Osaka, Japan Clinical Physical Therapy Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kansai University of Health Sciences, Sennnan, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.affiliation: Clinical Physical Therapy Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kansai University of Health Sciences, Sennnan, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Sayuri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uragami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: F-wave; Motor imagery; eye condition