title: Effector-independent brain activity during motor imagery of the upper and lower limbs: an fMRI study.
abstract: We utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate the common brain region of motor imagery for the right and left upper and lower limbs. The subjects were instructed to repeatedly imagined extension and flexion of the right or left hands/ankles. Brain regions, which included the supplemental motor area (SMA), premotor cortex and parietal cortex, were activated during motor imagery. Conjunction analysis revealed that the left SMA and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG)/ventral premotor cortex (vPM) were commonly activated with motor imagery of the right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot. This result suggests that these brain regions are activated during motor imagery in an effector independent manner.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan. Electronic address: mizuguchi@aoni.waseda.jp.
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mizuguchi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanosue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Area 44; Foot; Hand; Mental practice; Supplemental motor area