Display options
Cite
Guillot A, Di Rienzo F, Macintyre T, et al. Imagining is Not Doing but Involves Specific Motor Commands: A Review of Experimental Data Related to Motor Inhibition. Front Hum Neurosci. 2012;6:247doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00247.
Guillot, A., Di Rienzo, F., Macintyre, T., Moran, A., & Collet, C. (2012). Imagining is Not Doing but Involves Specific Motor Commands: A Review of Experimental Data Related to Motor Inhibition. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 6247. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2012.00247
Guillot, Aymeric, et al. "Imagining is Not Doing but Involves Specific Motor Commands: A Review of Experimental Data Related to Motor Inhibition." Frontiers in human neuroscience vol. 6 (2012): 247. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2012.00247
Guillot A, Di Rienzo F, Macintyre T, Moran A, Collet C. Imagining is Not Doing but Involves Specific Motor Commands: A Review of Experimental Data Related to Motor Inhibition. Front Hum Neurosci. 2012 Sep 05;6:247. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00247. eCollection 2012. PMID: 22973214; PMCID: PMC3433680.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Front Hum Neurosci. 2012 Sep 05;6:247. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00247. eCollection 2012.

Imagining is Not Doing but Involves Specific Motor Commands: A Review of Experimental Data Related to Motor Inhibition.

Frontiers in human neuroscience

Aymeric Guillot, Franck Di Rienzo, Tadhg Macintyre, Aidan Moran, Christian Collet

Affiliations

  1. Centre de Recherche et d'Innovation sur le Sport (EA 647), équipe Performance Motrice, Mentale et du Matériel, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Villeurbanne, France.

PMID: 22973214 PMCID: PMC3433680 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00247

Abstract

There is now compelling evidence that motor imagery (MI) and actual movement share common neural substrate. However, the question of how MI inhibits the transmission of motor commands into the efferent pathways in order to prevent any movement is largely unresolved. Similarly, little is known about the nature of the electromyographic activity that is apparent during MI. In addressing these gaps in the literature, the present paper argues that MI includes motor execution commands for muscle contractions which are blocked at some level of the motor system by inhibitory mechanisms. We first assemble data from neuroimaging studies that demonstrate that the neural networks mediating MI and motor performance are not totally overlapping, thereby highlighting potential differences between MI and actual motor execution. We then review MI data indicating the presence of subliminal muscular activity reflecting the intrinsic characteristics of the motor command as well as increased corticomotor excitability. The third section not only considers the inhibitory mechanisms involved during MI but also examines how the brain resolves the problem of issuing the motor command for action while supervising motor inhibition when people engage in voluntary movement during MI. The last part of the paper draws on imagery research in clinical contexts to suggest that some patients move while imagining an action, although they are not aware of such movements. In particular, experimental data from amputees as well as from patients with Parkinson's disease are discussed. We also review recent studies based on comparing brain activity in tetraplegic patients with that from healthy matched controls that provide insights into inhibitory processes during MI. We conclude by arguing that based on available evidence, a multifactorial explanation of motor inhibition during MI is warranted.

Keywords: electromyography; mental processes; motor command inhibition; motor imagery; motor performance; sensorimotor control

References

  1. Int J Psychophysiol. 2007 Oct;66(1):18-27 - PubMed
  2. J Neurosci. 2011 Jul 20;31(29):10712-20 - PubMed
  3. Eur J Neurosci. 2000 Aug;12(8):3059-63 - PubMed
  4. Eur J Neurosci. 2012 Jan;35(2):323-31 - PubMed
  5. Exp Brain Res. 2000 Mar;131(2):187-95 - PubMed
  6. Brain. 2005 Dec;128(Pt 12):2941-50 - PubMed
  7. Neurology. 2000 Oct 10;55(7):996-1002 - PubMed
  8. Neuroimage. 2012 Feb 1;59(3):2798-807 - PubMed
  9. Ann Neurol. 2009 Nov;66(5):604-16 - PubMed
  10. Neurosci Lett. 2008 Apr 25;435(3):181-5 - PubMed
  11. Clin Neurophysiol. 2011 Jul;122(7):1387-95 - PubMed
  12. Neuropsychologia. 2004;42(8):1041-9 - PubMed
  13. Exp Brain Res. 1998 Jul;121(2):125-34 - PubMed
  14. Stroke. 2009 Apr;40(4):1315-24 - PubMed
  15. Exp Neurol. 2012 Jul;236(1):46-9 - PubMed
  16. Pain. 2010 May;149(2):296-304 - PubMed
  17. Psychol Rev. 2014 Jan;121(1):66-95 - PubMed
  18. J Neurosci. 2001 May 15;21(10):3609-18 - PubMed
  19. Behav Brain Res. 2003 Jun 16;142(1-2):81-7 - PubMed
  20. Brain. 2008 Aug;131(Pt 8):2181-91 - PubMed
  21. Neuropsychologia. 2011 Dec;49(14):3981-8 - PubMed
  22. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 1999 Dec;9(6):735-9 - PubMed
  23. Percept Mot Skills. 1998 Apr;86(2):371-4 - PubMed
  24. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2008 Jul-Aug;22(4):330-40 - PubMed
  25. J Neurophysiol. 2003 Apr;89(4):2014-20 - PubMed
  26. Neuroreport. 1996 Sep 2;7(13):2068-70 - PubMed
  27. Percept Mot Skills. 1996 Aug;83(1):288-90 - PubMed
  28. J Physiol. 1997 Nov 15;505 ( Pt 1):259-66 - PubMed
  29. Eur J Neurosci. 1998 Dec;10(12):3918-22 - PubMed
  30. Neurol Res. 2008 Dec;30(10):1084-5 - PubMed
  31. J Sci Med Sport. 1999 Oct;2(3):167-80 - PubMed
  32. Neuroimage. 2008 May 15;41(1):92-9 - PubMed
  33. J Physiol. 2008 Feb 15;586(4):1017-28 - PubMed
  34. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2007 Jan-Feb;21(1):68-75 - PubMed
  35. J Cogn Neurosci. 1999 Sep;11(5):491-501 - PubMed
  36. Brain. 2002 Nov;125(Pt 11):2567-78 - PubMed
  37. Neuroimage. 2002 Nov;17(3):1207-16 - PubMed
  38. J Mot Behav. 2005 Nov;37(6):475-83 - PubMed
  39. Behav Brain Res. 2008 Jan 25;186(2):273-83 - PubMed
  40. J Neurosci. 2007 Oct 31;27(44):11860-4 - PubMed
  41. Exp Brain Res. 2008 Feb;185(2):249-57 - PubMed
  42. Hum Brain Mapp. 2009 Jul;30(7):2157-72 - PubMed
  43. Hum Brain Mapp. 2001 Jan;12(1):1-19 - PubMed
  44. Cortex. 2010 Sep;46(8):1016-30 - PubMed
  45. Neuroscience. 2006 Feb;137(3):761-72 - PubMed
  46. J Physiother. 2011;57(1):27-34 - PubMed
  47. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2012 Mar;83(1):86-93 - PubMed
  48. J Neurosci. 2002 May 1;22(9):3683-91 - PubMed
  49. Neuroimage. 2003 Oct;20(2):1171-80 - PubMed
  50. Brain. 2006 Mar;129(Pt 3):695-706 - PubMed
  51. Trends Neurosci. 2008 Aug;31(8):410-8 - PubMed
  52. Brain Cogn. 2002 Oct;50(1):1-16 - PubMed
  53. Am J Occup Ther. 2010 Nov-Dec;64(6):929-34 - PubMed
  54. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2006 Jun;20(2):268-77 - PubMed
  55. Cereb Cortex. 2008 Dec;18(12):2775-88 - PubMed
  56. Neuroimage. 2008 Jul 15;41(4):1471-83 - PubMed
  57. Neuropsychologia. 2004;42(1):105-12 - PubMed
  58. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2001 Sep;2(9):635-42 - PubMed
  59. Neurology. 1991 Aug;41(8):1276-83 - PubMed
  60. Neuroimage. 2003 Nov;20(3):1817-29 - PubMed
  61. Acta Psychol (Amst). 1999 Apr;101(2-3):179-211 - PubMed
  62. Neurosurgery. 2001 Sep;49(3):736-41; discussion 741-2 - PubMed
  63. Neuroreport. 1994 Dec 20;5(18):2545-8 - PubMed
  64. Neuroimage. 2008 Jan 1;39(1):383-94 - PubMed
  65. Acta Neurol Scand. 2012 Oct;126(4):238-47 - PubMed
  66. J Neurophysiol. 1992 May;67(5):1114-23 - PubMed
  67. Brain Res. 1997 Jan 2;744(1):147-50 - PubMed
  68. Clin Neurophysiol. 2003 May;114(5):909-14 - PubMed
  69. Neurologist. 2002 Nov;8(6):325-38 - PubMed
  70. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2000 Aug;81(8):1039-44 - PubMed
  71. J Physiol. 1993 Feb;461:549-63 - PubMed
  72. Neuroimage. 2007 Jul 1;36(3):889-900 - PubMed
  73. Psychol Res. 1984;46(4):389-401 - PubMed
  74. Neuroimage. 2002 May;16(1):142-57 - PubMed
  75. Behav Neurosci. 2005 Apr;119(2):622-6 - PubMed
  76. Neuropsychologia. 2004;42(7):944-56 - PubMed
  77. Neuroreport. 2010 Jul 14;21(10):727-30 - PubMed
  78. Pain. 2008 Jul 15;137(2):237-244 - PubMed
  79. J Neurosci. 2011 Nov 9;31(45):16309-17 - PubMed
  80. Exp Brain Res. 2007 Feb;177(2):167-75 - PubMed
  81. Brain. 2004 Jan;127(Pt 1):120-32 - PubMed
  82. Mov Disord. 2005 Nov;20(11):1488-95 - PubMed
  83. Cereb Cortex. 1999 Mar;9(2):161-7 - PubMed
  84. Res Q. 1970 Mar;41(1):88-94 - PubMed
  85. Exp Brain Res. 2004 Jan;154(2):211-7 - PubMed
  86. J Neurophysiol. 2003 Nov;90(5):3304-16 - PubMed
  87. Neuropsychologia. 2003;41(9):1272-8 - PubMed
  88. Neuroreport. 1996 Dec 20;8(1):207-10 - PubMed
  89. Neuroreport. 2001 Mar 26;12(4):821-8 - PubMed
  90. Brain. 2001 Nov;124(Pt 11):2268-77 - PubMed
  91. Brain. 2006 Aug;129(Pt 8):2211-23 - PubMed
  92. Clin Neurophysiol. 2006 May;117(5):1009-16 - PubMed
  93. Neurosci Lett. 1999 Mar 26;263(2-3):113-6 - PubMed
  94. Brain Res Rev. 2009 May;60(2):306-26 - PubMed
  95. Brain. 1997 Aug;120 ( Pt 8):1339-53 - PubMed
  96. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 1997 Mar;5(3):221-8 - PubMed
  97. Acta Neurol Scand. 2002 Mar;105(3):146-51 - PubMed
  98. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1998 Oct;109(5):409-17 - PubMed
  99. Neuroimage. 2001 Jul;14(1 Pt 2):S103-9 - PubMed
  100. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2009 Jul-Aug;23(6):587-94 - PubMed
  101. Exp Brain Res. 2006 Jan;168(1-2):143-51 - PubMed
  102. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2009 May;33(5):647-61 - PubMed
  103. Pain. 2010 Mar;148(3):438-445 - PubMed
  104. J Physiol Paris. 2006 Jun;99(4-6):386-95 - PubMed
  105. Hum Brain Mapp. 2012 Aug;33(8):1763-79 - PubMed
  106. Neuroimage. 2007 Apr 1;35(2):804-13 - PubMed
  107. Neuroimage. 2012 Aug 1;62(1):266-80 - PubMed
  108. Neuropsychologia. 2007 Jan 28;45(2):378-86 - PubMed
  109. J Neurosci. 1996 Dec 1;16(23):7688-98 - PubMed
  110. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2012 Jan;26(1):27-35 - PubMed
  111. Behav Brain Res. 1999 Oct;104(1-2):73-88 - PubMed
  112. J Neurol. 2002 Dec;249(12):1689-98 - PubMed
  113. J Physiol. 2008 Jan 15;586(2):325-51 - PubMed
  114. Cereb Cortex. 2005 Feb;15(2):131-40 - PubMed
  115. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2008 Mar 14;5:8 - PubMed
  116. Cereb Cortex. 2000 Nov;10(11):1093-104 - PubMed
  117. Neuropsychologia. 2007 Jun 11;45(10):2201-15 - PubMed
  118. Cereb Cortex. 2004 Nov;14(11):1246-55 - PubMed
  119. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1990;240(1):39-43 - PubMed
  120. Headache. 1999 May;39(5):326-34 - PubMed
  121. Clin Neurophysiol. 2007 Aug;118(8):1767-75 - PubMed
  122. J Neurotrauma. 2009 Nov;26(11):2113-26 - PubMed
  123. Br J Psychiatry. 1982 Jul;141:54-8 - PubMed
  124. J Cogn Neurosci. 2002 Aug 15;14(6):841-52 - PubMed
  125. Exp Brain Res. 2004 Aug;157(3):351-8 - PubMed
  126. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2003 Jun-Jul;24(6):1036-44 - PubMed
  127. J Neurotrauma. 2002 Jan;19(1):53-60 - PubMed
  128. Trends Cogn Sci. 1999 May;3(5):172-178 - PubMed
  129. J Neurophysiol. 2003 Feb;89(2):989-1002 - PubMed
  130. Clin Neurophysiol. 2006 Oct;117(10):2308-14 - PubMed
  131. Neuroreport. 2007 Aug 6;18(12):1241-5 - PubMed
  132. Brain Inj. 2011;25(4):387-93 - PubMed
  133. Neuroimage. 2002 Dec;17(4):1820-9 - PubMed
  134. N Engl J Med. 2007 Nov 22;357(21):2206-7 - PubMed
  135. Neuropsychologia. 1995 Jun;33(6):727-41 - PubMed
  136. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2009 May;33(5):662-73 - PubMed
  137. Clin Neurophysiol. 2007 Aug;118(8):1794-801 - PubMed
  138. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol Suppl. 1991;43:29-35 - PubMed
  139. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2004 Apr;19(2):138-44 - PubMed
  140. Exp Brain Res. 2006 Jan;168(1-2):157-64 - PubMed
  141. Exp Brain Res. 2008 Aug;189(3):373-8 - PubMed
  142. Muscle Nerve. 2003 Aug;28(2):168-73 - PubMed
  143. Neurosurgery. 2003 Dec;53(6):1342-52; discussion 1352-3 - PubMed
  144. Brain. 2012 Feb;135(Pt 2):582-95 - PubMed
  145. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2006 Jun;87(6):842-52 - PubMed
  146. Neuroimage. 2008 Apr 1;40(2):828-837 - PubMed
  147. Brain Res. 2008 Jan 2;1187:95-102 - PubMed
  148. Neuroimage. 1998 Feb;7(2):73-85 - PubMed
  149. Br J Psychol. 2012 May;103(2):224-47 - PubMed
  150. Exp Brain Res. 2009 Apr;194(2):233-43 - PubMed
  151. Behav Brain Res. 2010 Nov 12;213(1):35-41 - PubMed
  152. J Cogn Neurosci. 2011 Nov;23(11):3388-99 - PubMed
  153. Clin Neurophysiol. 2008 Jun;119(6):1346-52 - PubMed
  154. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 1990 Feb;16(1):164-182 - PubMed
  155. Mov Disord. 2001 Sep;16(5):849-57 - PubMed
  156. Nat Neurosci. 1999 Jun;2(6):501-2 - PubMed
  157. J Rehabil Med. 2007 Jan;39(1):5-13 - PubMed
  158. Lancet. 1999 Oct 23;354(9188):1464-6 - PubMed
  159. Phys Ther. 2007 Jul;87(7):942-53 - PubMed
  160. Nature. 1995 Jun 8;375(6531):482-4 - PubMed
  161. Neuroreport. 2004 Jun 7;15(8):1349-53 - PubMed
  162. Science. 1996 Sep 13;273(5281):1564-8 - PubMed
  163. Prosthet Orthot Int. 2008 Sep;32(3):363-82 - PubMed
  164. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2004 Jul;20(2):273-80 - PubMed
  165. Psychol Rev. 2007 Apr;114(2):376-97 - PubMed
  166. J Neurosci. 2004 Oct 27;24(43):9674-80 - PubMed
  167. Neuroreport. 1995 May 9;6(7):997-1001 - PubMed
  168. Behav Brain Res. 2008 Mar 5;187(2):351-60 - PubMed
  169. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2011 Feb;25(2):168-77 - PubMed
  170. Neuropsychologia. 1999 Feb;37(2):147-58 - PubMed
  171. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2012 Jun;26(5):470-8 - PubMed
  172. Exp Brain Res. 1999 Mar;125(1):75-81 - PubMed
  173. Neuroimage. 2011 Jan 15;54(2):1280-8 - PubMed
  174. Cortex. 2012 Jun;48(6):746-57 - PubMed
  175. J Neurophysiol. 2006 Feb;95(2):811-22 - PubMed
  176. Brain. 2002 Jan;125(Pt 1):176-98 - PubMed
  177. Stroke. 2006 Jul;37(7):1941-52 - PubMed
  178. Exp Brain Res. 2005 Jun;163(3):344-51 - PubMed
  179. Brain. 1996 Aug;119 ( Pt 4):1213-9 - PubMed

Publication Types