Spinal plasticity with motor imagery practice

KEY POINT SUMMARY

While the effect of Motor Imagery (MI) – the mental simulation of an action – on motor cortical areas has now reached a consensus, less is known about its impact on spinal structures. The current study, using H‐reflex conditioning paradigms, examined the effect of a 20‐min MI practice on several spinal mechanisms of the plantar flexors muscles. We observed modulations of spinal presynaptic circuitry while imagining, even more pronounced following an acute session of MI practice. We suggested that the small cortical output generated during MI may reach specific spinal circuits and that repeating MI may increase the sensitivity of the spinal cord to its effects. The short‐term plasticity induced by MI practice may include spinal network modulation in addition to cortical reorganization.

Abstract

Kinesthetic Motor imagery (MI) is the mental simulation of a movement with its sensory consequences but without its concomitant execution. While the effect of MI practice on cortical areas is well known, its influence on spinal circuitry remains unclear. Here, we assessed plastic changes in spinal structures following an acute MI practice. Thirteen young healthy participants accomplished two experimental sessions: a 20‐min MI training consisting of four blocks of twenty‐five imagined maximal isometric plantar flexions, and a 20‐min rest (control session). The level of spinal presynaptic inhibition was assessed by conditioning the triceps surae spinal H‐reflex with two methods: i) the stimulation of the common peroneal nerve that induced D1 presynaptic inhibition (H_PSI response), and ii) the stimulation of the femoral nerve that induced heteronymous Ia facilitation (H_FAC response). We then compared the effects of MI on unconditioned (H_TEST) and conditioned (H_PSI and H_FAC) responses before, immediately after and 10 minutes after the 20‐min session. After resting for 20 minutes, no changes have been observed on the recorded parameters. After MI practice, the amplitude of rest H_TEST was unchanged, while H_PSI and H_FAC significantly increased, showing a reduction of presynaptic inhibition with no impact on afferent‐motoneuronal synapse. The current results revealed the acute effect of MI practice on baseline spinal presynaptic inhibition, increasing the sensitivity of the spinal circuitry to MI. These findings would help understanding the mechanisms of neural plasticity following chronic practice.

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