The effects of combined action observation and motor imagery on corticospinal excitability and movement outcomes: Two meta-analyses

TY - JOUR

T1 - The effects of combined action observation and motor imagery on corticospinal excitability and movement outcomes: Two meta-analyses

AU - Chye, Samantha

AU - Valappil, Ashika Chembila

AU - Wright, David J

AU - Frank, Cornelia

AU - Shearer, David A

AU - Tyler, Christopher J

AU - Diss, Ceri E

AU - Mian, Omar S

AU - Tillin, Neale A

AU - Bruton, Adam M

N1 - Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

PY - 2022/12

Y1 - 2022/12

N2 - Motor simulation interventions involving motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) have received considerable interest in the behavioral sciences. A growing body of research has focused on using AO and MI simultaneously, termed 'combined action observation and motor imagery' (AOMI). The current paper includes two meta-analyses that quantify changes in corticospinal excitability and motor skill performance for AOMI compared to AO, MI and control conditions. Specifically, the first meta-analysis collated and synthesized existing motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude data from transcranial magnetic stimulation studies and the second meta-analysis collated and synthesized existing movement outcome data from behavioral studies. AOMI had a positive effect compared to control and AO but not MI conditions for both MEP amplitudes and movement outcomes. No methodological factors moderated the effects of AOMI, indicating a robust effect of AOMI across the two outcome variables. The results of the meta-analyses are discussed in relation to existing literature on motor simulation and skill acquisition, before providing viable directions for future research on this topic.

AB - Motor simulation interventions involving motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) have received considerable interest in the behavioral sciences. A growing body of research has focused on using AO and MI simultaneously, termed 'combined action observation and motor imagery' (AOMI). The current paper includes two meta-analyses that quantify changes in corticospinal excitability and motor skill performance for AOMI compared to AO, MI and control conditions. Specifically, the first meta-analysis collated and synthesized existing motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude data from transcranial magnetic stimulation studies and the second meta-analysis collated and synthesized existing movement outcome data from behavioral studies. AOMI had a positive effect compared to control and AO but not MI conditions for both MEP amplitudes and movement outcomes. No methodological factors moderated the effects of AOMI, indicating a robust effect of AOMI across the two outcome variables. The results of the meta-analyses are discussed in relation to existing literature on motor simulation and skill acquisition, before providing viable directions for future research on this topic.

KW - Humans

KW - Imagination/physiology

KW - Muscle, Skeletal/physiology

KW - Evoked Potentials, Motor/physiology

KW - Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

KW - Movement

KW - Pyramidal Tracts/physiology

M3 - Article

C2 - 36349570

SN - 0149-7634

VL - 143

SP - 104911

JO - Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

JF - Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

ER -