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Effects of Practice, Visual Loss, Limb Amputation, and Disuse on Motor Imagery Vividness

Department of Rehabilitation, Laval University and Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, Francine.Malouin{at}rea.ulaval.ca

Carol L. Richards, PhD

Department of Rehabilitation, Laval University and Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Anne Durand, PhD

Institut de Réadaptation en Déficience Physique de Québec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Micheline Descent, MA

Institut de Réadaptation en Déficience Physique de Québec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Diane Poiré

Institut de Réadaptation en Déficience Physique de Québec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Pierre Frémont, PhD

Department of Rehabilitation, Laval University and Unité de Médecine Familiale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Stéphane Pelet, PhD

Department of Orthopedics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Quebéc, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Jacques Gresset, PhD

École d'Optometrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Julien Doyon, PhD

Department of Psychology, Functional Neuroimaging Unit, University of Montreal Geriatric Institute, Quebec, Canada

Background. The ability to generate vivid images of movements is variable across individuals and likely influenced by sensorimotor inputs. Objectives. The authors examined (1) the vividness of motor imagery in dancers and in persons with late blindness, with amputation or an immobilization of one lower limb; (2) the effects of prosthesis use on motor imagery; and (3) the temporal characteristics of motor imagery. Methods. Eleven dancers, 10 persons with late blindness, 14 with amputation, 6 with immobilization, and 2 groups of age-matched healthy individuals (27 in control group A; 35 in control group B) participated. The Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire served to assess motor imagery vividness. Temporal characteristics were assessed with mental chronometry. Results. The late blindness group and dance group displayed higher imagery scores than respective control groups. In the amputation and immobilization groups, imagery scores were lower on the affected side than the intact side and specifically for imagined foot movements. Imagery scores of the affected limb positively correlated with the time since walking with prosthesis. Movement times during imagination and execution (amputation and immobilization) were longer on the affected side than the intact side, but the temporal congruence between real and imagined movement times was similar to that in the control group. Conclusions. The mental representation of actions is highly modulated by imagery practice and motor activities. The ability to generate vivid images of movements can be specifically weakened by limb loss or disuse, but lack of movement does not affect the temporal characteristics of motor imagery.

Key Words: Late blindness • Rehabilitation • Dancer • Lower limb amputation • Lower limb immobilization • Motor imagery questionnaire • Mental chronometry

This version was published on June 1, 2009

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, Vol. 23, No. 5, 449-463 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1545968308328733


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