Asymmetries between dominant and non-dominant hands in real and imagined motor task performance

Motor imagery is a dynamic state in which an individual mentally simulates the performance of a specific motor action or motor task. Recent behavioural and neuroimaging evidence suggests that the same neurocognitive networks control real and imagined movements. This hypothesis was tested by investigating whether motor asymmetries related to cerebral dominance also occurred for imagined movements. Fifty subjects performed the visually guided pointing task of Sirigu et al. [Sirigu, A., Duhamel, J., Cohen, L., Pillon, B., Dubois, B. and Agid, Y., The mental representation of hand movements after parietal cortex damage. Science, 1996, 273, 1564-1567.] using their dominant and non-dominant hands. Analysis of group data indicated that both real and imagined movement conformed to Fitts' law. Analysis of individual data indicated that asymmetries arising from motor dominance in real movements also occurred for imagined movements. However, the relative slowing and error associated with the non-dominant hand was greater for imagined movements than for real movements. These asymmetries support the hypothesis that real and imagined movements are represented within the same neurocognitive networks but suggest that asymmetries in performance related to handedness are greater for imagined movements. In addition, while the visually guided pointing task provides a useful test of the ability to make imagined movements, asymmetries in the speed and reliability of imagined performance are significantly greater than those for real performance.