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Facilitation of Corticospinal Excitability According to Motor Imagery and Mirror Therapy in Healthy Subjects and Stroke Patients

By Kang, Youn Joo; Ku, Jeonghun; Kim, Hyun Jung; Park, Hae Kyung; Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine, Volume 35, Number 6, pages 747-758
Publication Date: December 2011

Study described the changes in corticospinal excitability in healthy individuals and stroke patients exercising their hand using observation, motor imagery, voluntary exercise, and exercise with a mirror. Participants were 30 right-handed individuals without disabilities and a mean age of 28 years, and 30 stroke patients with a mean age of 66 years. Twelve participants in each group were women. In the healthy participants, the amplitudes and latencies of motor evoked potential (MEP) were obtained in seven conditions: (A) rest, (B) imagery, (C) observation and imagery of the hand activity of other individuals, (D) observation and imagery of own ipsilateral hand activity, (E) observation and imagery of the hand activity of another individual with a mirror, (F) observation and imagery of own symmetric ipsilateral hand activity of thumb abduction with a mirror, and (G) observation and imagery of own asymmetric hand activity of little finger abduction with a mirror. In stroke patients, MEPs were obtained in the A, C, D, E, and F conditions. Comparison of the mean MEP amplitudes across the five latter testing conditions revealed a pattern of significant differences between healthy participants and stroke patients. The MEP amplitudes were higher in healthy participants than in stroke patients. However, the mean MEP latencies across the five testing conditions did not show any differences between the two groups. In both groups, corticospinal excitability was facilitated by viewing the mirror image of the activity of the ipsilateral hand. These findings provide neurophysiological evidence supporting the application of mirror imagery programs during stroke rehabilitation.
Published by: Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine   (Website:http://karm.or.kr/)

Link to text: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3309378/
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