title: Motor imagery difficulties in children with Cerebral Palsy: A specific or general deficit?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the specificity of motor imagery (MI) difficulties in children with CP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Performance of 22 children with CP was compared to a gender and age matched control group. MI ability was measured with the Hand Laterality Judgment (HLJ) task, examining specifically the direction of rotation (DOR) effect, and the Praxis Imagery Questionnaire (PIQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the back view condition of the HLJ task both groups used MI, as evidenced by longer response times for lateral compared with medial rotational angles. In the palm view condition children with CP did not show an effect of DOR, unlike controls. Error scores did not differ between groups. Both groups performed well on the PIQ, with no significant difference between them in response pattern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that children with CP show deficits on tasks that trigger implicit use of MI, whereas explicit MI ability was relatively preserved, as assessed using the PIQ. These results suggest that employing more explicit methods of MI training may well be more suitable for children with CP in rehabilitation of motor function.
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Nijmegen, Behavioural Science Institute, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.lust@pwo.ru.nl.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lust
authors.affiliation: Australian Catholic University, School of Psychology, Melbourne 3065, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Nijmegen, Behavioural Science Institute, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Australian Catholic University, School of Psychology, Melbourne 3065, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steenbergen
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012399:Rotation
keywords: Cerebral Palsy; Explicit motor imagery; Hand laterality judgment task; Hand rotation; Implicit motor imagery; Praxis imagery questionnaire