Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 6, 2026
Real-time Video Projection in an MRI for Characterization of Neural Correlates Associated with Mirror Therapy for Phantom Limb Pain
Published on: April 20, 2019
Lack of complex motor imagery ability and phantom limb pain: A surrogate for motor cortex plasticity reserve?
Maryela Menacho1,2, Kevin Pacheco-Barrios2,3, Anna C Gianlorenço1,2
1Neurosciences Laboratory, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Background:
Individuals with amputation have a high prevalence of painful (PLP) and nonpainful limb sensations over a lifetime, and it has been suggested that phantom limb phenomena interfere with motor imagery ability because of loss of afferent information and brain reorganization.
Objective:
To investigate the relationship between motor imagery and phantom limb painful and nonpainful sensations.
Method:
Detailed data from 15 transradial amputees evaluated in the MeganePro project were acquired. The data collected were the motor imagery ability scores assessed using the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2 and PLP and painful limb sensations measures.
Results:
A significant positive correlation was found between total external visual imagery score and phantom pain magnitude (r = 0.60, p = 0.01). In particular, a larger and stronger significant positive correlation was observed between the external visual imagery of the complex tasks, running (r = 0.57, p = 0.02), jumping sideways (r = 0.55, p = 0.03), and running downhill (r = 0.65, p = 0.001). In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between external and internal visual imagery scores corresponding to the activity "swinging on a rope" and phantom limb sensation average.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest a potential protective effect against PLP in subjects with the ability for more complex types of motor imagery, thus suggesting this modality of imagery may be a surrogate for better motor engagement and plasticity that would be protective against PLP, indicating that subjects with stronger motor cortex plasticity reserve would be protected against PLP.
