Spinal plasticity with motor imagery practice.
Fiche publication
Date publication
février 2019
Journal
The Journal of physiology
Auteurs
Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Pr PAPAXANTHIS Charalambos
Tous les auteurs :
Grosprêtre S, Lebon F, Papaxanthis C, Martin A
Lien Pubmed
Résumé
While a consensus has now been reached on the effect of motor imagery (MI) - the mental simulation of an action - on motor cortical areas, 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 flexor muscles. We observed modulations of spinal presynaptic circuitry while imagining, which was 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.
Mots clés
D1 presynaptic inhibition, H-reflex, heteronymous Ia facilitation, soleus, triceps surae
Référence
J Physiol. 2019 02;597(3):921-934