Using motor imagery to study the neural substrates of dynamic balance

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Dynamic balance is crucial for daily activities.
• Understanding the neural basis of balance control is essential for diagnosing and treating motor impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cerebral structures involved in dynamic balance using motor imagery (MI).
• To compare brain activity during MI of balance with a visual imagery (VI) control task.
• To validate a novel, quantitative approach for studying the neural control of balance.

Main Methods:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to record brain activity.
• Participants performed MI of swaying on a balance board and a matched VI task.
• Imagery durations were recorded and analyzed in relation to target accuracy.

Main Results:

• MI of balance recruited specific motor system regions (frontal cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, mesencephalic locomotor region) not activated during VI.
• The mesencephalic locomotor region showed increased effective connectivity with the supplementary motor area during MI of balance.
• MI of dynamic balance engaged brain regions spatially distinct but contiguous to those involved in MI of gait, aligning with somatotopic maps.

Conclusions:

• MI of dynamic balance activates distinct cortical and subcortical motor areas.
• This MI protocol provides a valid method for studying the neural control of balance.
• The findings support future research into gait and balance impairments in neurodegenerative diseases.