Motor imagery affects both cortical and spinal circuitry: a transcranial and trans-spinal magnetic stimulation study

Motor imagery (MI), the mental rehearsal of movement without physical execution, is a key technique in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), known for eliciting cortical modulations similar to those exhibited during real movement. Beyond cortical effects, MI could also modulate spinal cord processing, which offers additional potential for neurorehabilitation in conditions like spinal cord injury (SCI) and stroke, where BCIs are used for therapy.

To investigate the interactions of MI with both the cortex and the spinal cord, we employed both transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and trans-spinal magnetic stimulation (TSMS) while recording brain and muscle activities.

With proper coil orientation, TSMS elicited lateralized MEPs in ipsilateral forearm muscles at significantly shorter latencies than M1-evoked MEPs, confirming direct spinal cord activation. Importantly, right-hand kinesthetic MI selectively facilitated TSMS-evoked MEPs in the stimulated ipsilateral side only, providing direct evidence that MI modulates spinal cord excitability. Moreover, TSMS-evoked cortical responses were modulated by imagery, demonstrating that MI increases cortical processing of the ascending spinal volley. This within-group demonstration of MI affecting both cortical and spinal circuitry underscores its potential as a powerful strategy for BCI-driven neurorehabilitation, including pairing MI with spinal magnetic stimulation.