Functional MRI in the assessment of cortical activation during gait-related imaginary tasks

Jiunjie Wang, Yauyau Wai, Yihsin Weng, Koonkwan Ng, Ying Zu Huang, Leslie Ying, Haoli Liu, Chihong Wang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Imaginary tasks can be used to investigate the neurophysiology of gait. In this study, we explored the cortical control of gait-related imagery in 21 healthy volunteers using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Imaginary tasks included gait initiation, stepping over an obstacle, and gait termination. Subjects watched a video clip that showed an actor in gait motion under an event-related design. We detected activation in the supplementary motor area during major gait-related imagery tasks, and especially during gait initiation. During gait termination and stepping over an obstacle, the amount of cortical resources allocated to the imaginary tasks included a large visuomotor network comprising the dorsal and ventral premotor areas. We conclude that our paradigm to study the cortical control of gait may help in elucidating the pathophysiology of higher-level gait disorders.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1087-1092
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Neural Transmission
Volume116
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 09 2009

Keywords

  • Gait
  • Initiation
  • Step over
  • Supplementary motor area
  • Termination

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