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

• Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission Vol. 116; no. 9; pp. 1087 - 1092
• Main Authors: Wang, JiunJie, Wai, YauYau, Weng, YiHsin, Ng, KoonKwan, Huang, Ying-Zu, Ying, Leslie, Liu, HaoLi, Wang, ChiHong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01.09.2009; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Gait - physiology; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Imagination - physiology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Motor Cortex - blood supply; Motor Cortex - physiology; Movement Disorders - Original Article; Neurology; Neurosciences; Oxygen - blood; Psychiatry; Task Performance and Analysis; Young Adult; Termination; Supplementary motor area; Step over; Gait; Initiation
• ISSN: 0300-9564; 1435-1463
• DOI: 10.1007/s00702-009-0269-y

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.