The Application of Motor Imagery to Neurorehabilitation

Abstract

We investigated the influence of the imagined muscle contraction strength on the spinal motor neural excitability and sympathetic nerve activity by using the F-wave and heart rate variability analysis. Motor imagery of isometric thenar muscle activity increased the spinal motor neuron excitability and sympathetic nerve activity. The imagined muscle contraction strength did not affect changes of the spinal motor neuron excitability and sympathetic nerve activity. Therefore, Motor imagery at slight imagined muscle contraction strength can facilitate the spinal motor neuron excitability without physical load. Motor imagery-based Brain-machine interface is widely used for neurorehabilitation. To achieve better outcomes in neurorehabilitation used Brain-machine interface, performing trained motor imagery would be required, and the F-wave may be exploited an index of motor imagery training effect.