The Impact of Long-term Training on the Motor Imagery in Runners: An fMRI Study
Poster No:
773
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Jilan Ning1, Xiaoxia Du1
Institutions:
1Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, Shanghai
First Author:
Co-Author:
Introduction:
Motor imagery (MI) is a cognitive task that involves the mental simulation of movement without any actual physical activity. This process encompasses cognitive motor activity and is closely connected to various motor functional areas of the cerebral cortex. Previous research indicates that long-term exercise training can enhance athletes' ability to engage in MI(Di Corrado, 2020; Arvinen-Barrow, 2007; Isaac, 1994). However, the neural mechanisms underlying MI in running are not yet fully understood. This study aims to investigate the differences in brain activation during MI between runners and individuals who do not engage in regular exercise, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Methods:
A total of 62 right-handed male participants were recruited, consisting of 32 professional runners (average age 20±1.82 years) , including 10 middle- and long-distance runners and 22 sprinters, as well as 30 non-athlete healthy controls (average age 20±1.75 years). During the fMRI scanning, all participants watched an 8-minute video of running,and be asked to imagine themselves running along with the people in the video as they watched the video. The video materials consist of clips from Olympic sprint and long-distance events. Pre-experimental measures included demographic questionnaires and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), while participants completed a video-viewing state questionnaire after the scanning.
Results:
The results of the questionnaires showed no significant differences in emotional states between the two groups before the experiment, and both groups effectively engaged in motor imagery during the video viewing.Following the preprocessing of the fMRI data, several resting-state functional metrics were calculated, including the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), fractional ALFF (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and degree centrality (DC). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in these functional indices across multiple brain regions between athletes and controls. The athlete group demonstrated notable alterations in brain functional metrics compared to the healthy control group. Specifically, ALFF values were reduced in the cerebellar vermis, superior parietal lobule, superior occipital gyrus, and precuneus, while fALFF values decreased in the precuneus. Additionally, ReHo values were lower in the cerebellar lobule VIII, superior occipital gyrus, precentral gyrus, and inferior frontal triangular gyrus. DC decreased in the hippocampus, putamen, pallidum, precuneus, and both the superior and inferior parietal lobules. Conversely, the athlete group exhibited increased ALFF values in the cerebellar Crus I and precuneus, and elevated fALFF values in the calcarine gyrus. Furthermore, ReHo values were higher in the cerebellar lobule VI, Crus I, temporal pole, fusiform gyrus, inferior occipital gyrus, lingual gyrus, calcarine gyrus, supplementary motor area, cingulate gyrus, precuneus, and parietal lobules. The DC values were also elevated in the cerebellar lobule VIII, inferior occipital gyrus, Crus I, lobule VI, temporal pole, lingual gyrus, calcarine gyrus, precentral gyrus, supplementary motor area, and precuneus.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, runners exhibited significant functional changes in multiple brain regions during motor imagery compared to individuals without exercise habits, particularly in the cerebellum, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and limbic system. The findings suggest that long-term systematic athletic training may lead to functional remodeling of specific brain areas, enhancing neural activity related to motor imagery and motor execution.(Furuta, 2024; Kwon, 2023; Lacourse, 2005). The findings will provide neurophysiological insights into the effects of long-term athletic training on the process of MI
Higher Cognitive Functions:
Imagery 1
Motor Behavior:
Visuo-Motor Functions
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
BOLD fMRI 2
Keywords:
FUNCTIONAL MRI
Other - Motor Imagery; Runners; Brain activation
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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Please indicate below if your study was a "resting state" or "task-activation” study.
Healthy subjects only or patients (note that patient studies may also involve healthy subjects):
Was this research conducted in the United States?
Were any human subjects research approved by the relevant Institutional Review Board or ethics panel? NOTE: Any human subjects studies without IRB approval will be automatically rejected.
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Provide references using APA citation style.
Di Corrado, D., Guarnera, M., Guerrera, C. S., Maldonato, N. M., Di Nuovo, S., Castellano, S., & Coco, M. (2020). Mental imagery skills in competitive young athletes and non-athletes. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 633.
Furuta, T., Morita, T., Miura, G., & Naito, E. (2024). Structural and functional features characterizing the brains of individuals with higher controllability of motor imagery. Scientific Reports, 14, 17243.
Isaac, A. R., & Marks, D. F. (1994). Individual differences in mental imagery experience: Developmental changes and specialization. British Journal of Psychology (London, England: 1953), 85 ( Pt 4), 479–500.
Kwon, S., Kim, J., & Kim, T. (2023). Neuropsychological activations and networks while performing visual and kinesthetic motor imagery. Brain Sciences, 13, 983.
Lacourse, M. G., Orr, E. L. R., Cramer, S. C., & Cohen, M. J. (2005). Brain activation during execution and motor imagery of novel and skilled sequential hand movements. NeuroImage, 27, 505–519.