Citation

Subirats L, Allali G, Briansoulet M, Salle JY, Perrochon A. J. Neurol. Sci. 2018; 391: 114-117.

Affiliation

ILFOMER, Institut Limousin de Formation aux métiers de la réadaptation, F-87000 Limoges, France; Université de Limoges, HAVAE, EA 6310, F-87000 Limoges, France. Electronic address: anaick.perrochon@unilim.fr.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jns.2018.06.015

PMID

30103958

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Few studies have explored the effects of ageing and gender in the dimensions of motor imagery (MI) such as vividness (vivid images and sensations of mental movements) and timing (the duration of an imagined movement). This study aims 1) to investigate the effect of age and gender effect in vividness and timing capabilities on MI, and 2) to examine the relationship between these two dimensions of MI.

METHODS: A population of 72 (47% of males) good imagers including 41 young subjects and 31 older subjects were assessed on MI vividness using the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ-2) and on MI timing using the performances of the real Timed Up and Go (rTUG) test and its imagined version (iTUG). The main outcome variables were the VMIQ-2 score and the delta-TUG, i.e. the difference between rTUG and iTUG.

RESULTS: Mental vividness was affected by ageing with a loss of visual dominance in favor of kinesthetic imagery in older subjects compared to younger ones; however, no difference between both groups was found in timing measured by delta-TUG. Vividness capabilities were similar between men and women, but women performed better in timing. VMIQ-2 scores were not associated with delta-TUG; only gender was significantly associated with delta-TUG.

CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed 1) an age-related transfer from a visual to a kinesthetic MI ability, but no impact on timing of MI; 2) a gender effect on timing with no impact on mental vividness; 3) no association between vividness and timing capabilities.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Ageing; Motor imagery; Timed up and go; Timing; Vividness