Similarities in Brain Activity During Motor Imagery and Motor Execution: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12800/p6maxa66Keywords:
brain regions, activation, mental practice, motor control, motor learningAbstract
The aim of this study was to systematically review and analyze the evidence on Motor Imagery (MI) and Motor Execution (ME) brain activity, comparing the number of active brain regions, activation frequency, and relative activation differences between conditions. A literature search was conducted across eight databases with the final search in September 2024. Studies were included if they involved healthy participants of any age, assessed neural activity in at least one brain region during MI and ME of a motor skill, using EEG, fMRI, NIRS, or PET. The Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies was used to assess risk of bias. Analyses focused on the frequencies for the brain areas reported as active during both conditions. Eighteen studies (N = 313) were included, with 67% using fMRI. No significant difference (W = 36.00; p = 0.122) was found in the number of brain areas activated between ME (M = 6.44 ±3.65) and MI (M = 5.56 ± 4.31). Four Brodmann areas (BA1, BA4, BA6, BA40) and the cerebellum were consistently activated in both conditions. The findings highlight substantial neural overlap between ME and MI, particularly in BA1, BA4, BA6, BA40, and the cerebellum, supporting the functional equivalence hypothesis of MI and ME.
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