Comparison of cerebral activation between motor execution and motor imagery of self-feeding activity

Motor imagery is defined as an act wherein individual contemplates a mental action of motor execution without apparent action. Mental practice executed by repetitive can improve performance simultaneous sensory input or overt output. We aimed to investigate cerebral hemodynamics during and self-feeding activity using chopsticks. This study included 21 healthy right-handed volunteers. The task comprised either eating sliced cucumber pickles with chopsticks examine eight regions interest: pre-supplementary area, supplementary bilateral prefrontal cortex, premotor sensorimotor cortex. mean oxyhemoglobin levels were detected near-infrared spectroscopy reflect activation. significantly higher in the left cortex than area area. Moreover, imagery, compared execution. Supplementary had important roles activity. activation are likely affected intentional cognitive processes. Levels differed some areas was approved Ethical Review Committee Nagasaki University (approval No. 18110801) on December 10, 2018.