The mind's eye: functional MR imaging evaluation of golf motor imagery - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 2003 Jun-Jul;24(6):1036-44.

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The mind's eye: functional MR imaging evaluation of golf motor imagery

Jeffrey S Ross et al. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2003 Jun-Jul.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Mental imagery involves rehearsing or practicing a task in the mind with no physical movement. The technique is commonly used, but the actual physical foundation of imagery has not been evaluated for the fast, complex, automatic motor movement of the golf swing. This study evaluated motor imagery of the golf swing, of golfers of various handicaps, by using functional MR imaging to assess whether areas of brain activation could be defined by this technique and to define any association between activated brain areas and golf skill.

Methods: Six golfers of various handicap levels were evaluated with functional MR imaging during a control condition and during mental imagery of their golf swing. Two control conditions were evaluated--"rest" and "wall"--and were then subtracted from the experimental condition to give the functional activation map. These control conditions were then tested against the golf imagery; the participants were told to mentally rehearse their golf swings from a first person perspective. The percentages of activated pixels in 137 defined regions of interest were calculated.

Results: The "rest-versus-golf" paradigm showed activation in motor cortex, parietal cortex, frontal lobe, cerebellum, vermis, and action planning areas (frontal and parietal cortices, supplementary motor area, cerebellum) and areas involved with error detection (cerebellum). Vermis, supplementary motor area, cerebellum, and motor regions generally showed the greatest activation. Little activation was seen in the cingulate gyrus, right temporal lobe, deep gray matter, and brain stem. A correlation existed between increased number of areas of activation and increased handicap.

Conclusion: This study showed the feasibility of defining areas of brain activation during imagery of a complex, coordinated motor task. Decreased brain activation occurred with increased golf skill level for the supplementary motor area and cerebellum with little activation of basal ganglia.

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Figures

F<sc>ig</sc> 1.

Fig 1.

Areas of brain activation for the participant with a handicap of 13, rest-versus-golf paradigm for 1.5 T (left) and 3.0 T (right), show a similar pattern for both field strengths. Areas of brain activation are shown overlaid on the axial view images of the brain.

F<sc>ig</sc> 2.

Fig 2.

Areas of brain activation compared for the participants with handicaps (hcp) of 13 (upper panel) and 0 (lower panel), wall-versus-golf paradigm. Image of the participant with a handicap of 13 can also be compared with the other paradigm shown in Figure 1. The wall-versus-golf paradigm shows overall diminished brain activation, with much less activation in the better player.

F<sc>ig</sc> 3.

Fig 3.

Schematic of regions of interest drawn for each participant. The brain regions are shown for each typical section of the functional MR imaging data set, proceeding as in Figures 1 and 2 from the top of the brain at top left to the base of the brain at bottom right. F, frontal lobe; M, motor; S, sensory; P, parietal; Sma, supplementary motor area; C, cingulated; B, basal ganglia; T, temporal lobe; O, occipital lobe; Ce, cerebellar hemisphere; Br, brain stem; V, vermis of cerebellum.

F<sc>ig</sc> 4.

Fig 4.

Percent area of activation in the participant with a handicap of 13. Data shown represent an average of the percentage area of activation from five separate experiments of the rest-versus-golf paradigm and are sorted from the highest level of activation to the lowest. Vermis of cerebellum, supplementary motor area, motor areas, and cerebellar hemispheres show the greatest activation. R, right; L, left; SMA, supplementary motor area.

F<sc>ig</sc> 5.

Fig 5.

All data from the rest-versus-golf paradigm are sorted by areas of activation using the data from the participant with a handicap of 13 from the rest-versus-golf paradigm as a template. R, right; L, left; SMA, supplementary motor area.

F<sc>ig</sc> 6.

Fig 6.

Wall-versus-golf paradigm data sorted by areas of activation using the data from the participant with a handicap of 13 as a template, as in Figure 5. R, right; L, left; SMA, supplementary motor area.

F<sc>ig</sc> 7.

Fig 7.

Activation of wall-versus-golf paradigm of ≥2%. The greatest activation in multiple areas occurred in the participant with the highest handicap. R, right; L, left; SMA, supplementary motor area.

F<sc>ig</sc> 8.

Fig 8.

Fused functional and 3D T1 gradient-echo data for three participants spanning the handicap (HCP) range show increased activation along the motor cortex in the participant with the highest handicap.

F<sc>ig</sc> 9.

Fig 9.

Fused functional and 3D T1 gradient-echo data show mesial surface of right hemisphere, with increasing supplementary motor area activation correlated with increasing handicap (HCP).

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