Action observation versus motor imagery in learning a complex motor task: A short review of literature and a kinematics study

作者：Gatti R; Tettamanti A; Gough P M; Riboldi E; Marinoni L; Buccino G^*

来源：Neuroscience Letters, 2013, 540: 37-42.

DOI：10.1016/j.neulet.2012.11.039

• Mirror neuron system
• Action observation
• Motor imagery
• Motor learning
• Neurorehabilitation

Both motor imagery and action observation have been shown to play a role in learning or re-learning complex motor tasks. According to a well accepted view they share a common neurophysiological basis in the mirror neuron system. Neurons within this system discharge when individuals perform a specific action and when they look at another individual performing the same or a motorically related action. In the present paper, after a short review of literature on the role of action observation and motor imagery in motor learning, we report the results of a kinematics study where we directly compared motor imagery and action observation in learning a novel complex motor task. This involved movement of the right hand and foot in the same angular direction (in-phase movement), while at the same time moving the left hand and foot in an opposite angular direction (anti-phase movement), all at a frequency of 1 Hz. Motor learning was assessed through kinematics recording of wrists and ankles. The results showed that action observation is better than motor imagery as a strategy for learning a novel complex motor task, at least in the fast early phase of motor learning. We forward that these results may have important implications in educational activities, sport training and neurorehabilitation.

• 出版日期2013-4-12