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Motor cortical plasticity induced by motor learning through mental practice.

Laura Avanzino1, Nicolas Gueugneau2, Ambra Bisio1

  • 1Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa Genoa, Italy.

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
|May 15, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mental practice improves motor skills and induces neuroplasticity in the primary motor cortex (M1). This study shows that motor imagery practice shapes M1 plasticity, impacting rehabilitation strategies.

Keywords:
cortical plasticitylong term depressionlong term potentiationmotor imagerymotor learning

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Motor Learning

Background:

  • Physical and mental actions share neural substrates.
  • Motor learning through physical practice induces long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity in the primary motor cortex (M1).
  • The impact of mental practice on M1 neuroplasticity remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate skill learning-dependent changes in M1 excitability and plasticity following physical and mental practice.
  • To compare the neuroplastic effects of physical practice versus motor imagery (MI) practice.

Main Methods:

  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to assess M1 excitability and plasticity.
  • Input-output (IO) curves measured M1 excitability.
  • Paired-associative stimulation (PAS) protocols (PAS25 and PAS10) assessed M1 LTP and long-term depression (LTD)-like plasticity.

Main Results:

  • Both physical and mental practice improved movement speed.
  • Physical practice increased M1 excitability (IO curve slope), while MI practice did not.
  • Both practices reversed PAS25 effects from LTP to LTD-like plasticity.
  • Physical practice increased LTD-like plasticity (PAS10), whereas MI practice occluded it.

Conclusions:

  • Mental practice induces neuroplasticity in M1, affecting PAS25 and PAS10-induced plasticity.
  • These findings enhance understanding of how MI training shapes M1 plasticity.
  • The results have potential implications for neurorehabilitation strategies.