Limb Preference and Skill Level Dependence During the Imagery of a Whole-Body Movement: A Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy Study

Selina C. Wriessnegger*, Kris Unterhauser, Günther Bauernfeind

*Korrespondierende/r Autor/-in für diese Arbeit

Publikation: Beitrag in einer FachzeitschriftArtikelBegutachtung

Abstract

In the past years motor imagery (MI) turned out to be also an innovative and effective tool for motor learning and improvement of sports performance. Whereas many studies investigating sports MI focusing on upper or lower limbs involvement, knowledge about involved neural structures during whole-body movements is still limited. In the present study we investigated brain activity of climbers during a kinesthetic motor imagery (KMI) climbing task with different difficulties by means of functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Twenty healthy participants were split into two groups according to their climbing skill level. The aim of the current study is investigating neural correlates of a whole-body sports MI task with an additional focus on skill level dependency. Climbing experts and non-experts imagined bouldering an “easy” and “difficult” route from a first-person perspective while hemodynamic responses were recorded simultaneously. We found significant differences between the two climbing routes, easy and difficult within participants as well as between the two groups of different climbing skill levels. Overall beginners showed increased hemodynamic responses compared to experts in all defined regions of interest (ROI) supporting the claim of the neural efficiency hypothesis (NEH). Even though climbing is a complex, coordinated movement of upper and lower limbs we found a stronger activation focus of the upper limbs, especially of the dominant hand-area, while the foot area seems to be deactivated or inhibited simultaneously. Summarizing, these findings provide novel insights into brain activation during the imagery of a whole-body movement and its relation to climbing expertise.

Originalspracheenglisch
Aufsatznummer900834
FachzeitschriftFrontiers in Human Neuroscience
Jahrgang16
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 6 Juni 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuropsychologie und Physiologische Psychologie
  • Neurologie
  • Psychiatrie und psychische Gesundheit
  • Biologische Psychiatrie
  • Behaviorale Neurowissenschaften

Fingerprint

Untersuchen Sie die Forschungsthemen von „Limb Preference and Skill Level Dependence During the Imagery of a Whole-Body Movement: A Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy Study“. Zusammen bilden sie einen einzigartigen Fingerprint.

Dieses zitieren