[Changes in the electroencephalogram alpha band during visual and kinesthetic motor imagery]

This study aims at statistically assessing the differences in alpha band power, particularly in the vicinity of the alpha peak (BPA), during motor imagery (MI). Multi-channel EEG (occipital and parietal regions) was acquired at rest condition (ESP) and MI kinesthetic (MIC) and visual (MIV) modalities from right-handed male subjects (18-40 years), 15 athletes (experienced volleyball players) and 15 non-athletes. The Revised Movement Imagery Questionnaire indicated no differences between groups or MI modalities, but athletes imagine themselves more clearly than non-athletes during MI. The power within BPA reduces in both groups, but greater in MIC than in MIV. The cortical activation was similar in both hemispheres of non-athletes but more pronounced in left hemisphere of athletes, mainly in MIC. The findings suggest that MI reduces alpha activity according to individual knowledge of real execution of motor task and MI modalities.