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The changes in spinal reciprocal inhibition during motor imagery in lower extremity

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Abstract

Motor imagery (MI) is known to improve motor function through enhancement of motor cortex activity. Spinal reciprocal inhibition (RI) is modulated by motor cortex activity, and, therefore, MI may change RI. The aim of this study was to examine the changes in RI during MI involving the lower extremity. Spinal RI was measured from the tibialis anterior (TA) to the soleus (SOL). Eleven healthy adults participated in experiment 1. All participants performed the following three conditions, and RI was assessed during each condition: (1) resting condition; (2) MI of ankle dorsiflexion condition (MI-DF); and (3) MI of ankle plantarflexion condition (MI-PF). Twelve healthy adults participated in experiment 2. All participants performed the following two conditions, and RI was assessed before and after MI practice for 10 min: (1) resting condition and (2) MI-DF. The interval between the conditioning and test stimulus (inter-stimulus interval; ISI) was set at 0, 1, 2, or 3 ms and 20 ms. In experiment 1, RI during MI-PF was significantly decreased compared with that during resting with both stimulus intervals. RI during MI-DF showed no significant change compared with that during resting with both ISIs. In experiment 2, the difference between the rest condition and the MI-DF condition after the MI task with ISI of 20 ms was significantly higher than before the MI task. Our findings suggest that real-time changes in RI during MI involving the lower extremity may vary depending on the direction of motion and MI practice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yatsu Hoken Hospital, 4-6-16 Yatsu, Narashino-shi, Chiba, 275-0026, Japan

    Hideto Nakayama

  2. Tokyo Bay Rehabilitation Hospital, 4-1-1 Yatsu, Narashino-shi, Chiba, 275-0026, Japan

    Hideto Nakayama, Michiyuki Kawakami & Kunitsugu Kondo

  3. Department of Cognitive Behavioral Physiology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Chuo-ku, inohana, Chiba-shi, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan

    Hideto Nakayama & Eiji Shimizu

  4. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan

    Michiyuki Kawakami

  5. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyou-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan

    Yoko Takahashi

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  1. Hideto Nakayama
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  2. Michiyuki Kawakami
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Correspondence to Michiyuki Kawakami.

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All tests were performed at the Tokyo Bay Rehabilitation Hospital. All participants provided written, informed consent prior to enrolment. The procedures complied with the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Nakayama, H., Kawakami, M., Takahashi, Y. et al. The changes in spinal reciprocal inhibition during motor imagery in lower extremity. Neurol Sci 42, 3813–3820 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-021-05054-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-021-05054-z

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