TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of Short-Term Mental Imagery and Supplemental Visual Feedback on Muscle Coordination in a Myoelectric Task
AU - Jayasinghe, Shanie A.L.
AU - Ranganathan, Rajiv
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
©, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Changing muscle coordination patterns is a critical part of motor learning–yet there is a lack of simple, clinically feasible techniques to alter these patterns. Here, we investigated the effects of short-term mental imagery and supplemental visual feedback on muscle coordination using a myoelectric reaching task with complex mapping of arm and hand muscles to cursor position. Forty participants were divided into four groups, and practiced this task over 180 trials. During a short intervention period, the controls rested, the task- and muscle-imagery groups were given specific instructions meant to simplify the task, and the supplemental feedback group was provided extra visual information of muscle-to-cursor mapping. Results showed that there were no changes in task performance between groups. However, we found that in terms of muscle coordination, the supplemental visual feedback group showed the most efficient coordination. Furthermore, across all groups, individuals with greater efficiency and exploration showed better task performance at the end of practice. The results from this pilot study point to a greater need for understanding strategies for changing muscle coordination, which could be applicable in a rehabilitation setting.
AB - Changing muscle coordination patterns is a critical part of motor learning–yet there is a lack of simple, clinically feasible techniques to alter these patterns. Here, we investigated the effects of short-term mental imagery and supplemental visual feedback on muscle coordination using a myoelectric reaching task with complex mapping of arm and hand muscles to cursor position. Forty participants were divided into four groups, and practiced this task over 180 trials. During a short intervention period, the controls rested, the task- and muscle-imagery groups were given specific instructions meant to simplify the task, and the supplemental feedback group was provided extra visual information of muscle-to-cursor mapping. Results showed that there were no changes in task performance between groups. However, we found that in terms of muscle coordination, the supplemental visual feedback group showed the most efficient coordination. Furthermore, across all groups, individuals with greater efficiency and exploration showed better task performance at the end of practice. The results from this pilot study point to a greater need for understanding strategies for changing muscle coordination, which could be applicable in a rehabilitation setting.
KW - Coordination
KW - EMG
KW - motor learning
KW - muscle
KW - synergies
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U2 - 10.1080/00222895.2020.1723482
DO - 10.1080/00222895.2020.1723482
M3 - Article
C2 - 32041488
AN - SCOPUS:85079419280
SN - 0022-2895
VL - 53
SP - 59
EP - 71
JO - Journal of Motor Behavior
JF - Journal of Motor Behavior
IS - 1
ER -