Examination of the effect of the ability to recall motor images on dexterity and the usefulness of mental practice

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19832
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Irie Keisuke 京都大学, 医学研究科, 講師 (50792264)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 発達性協調運動障害 / 運動イメージ能力 / 神経基盤 / 協調運動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study reviewed brain imaging studies and investigated the relationship between coordinated movement and motor imagery abilities in children with developmental coordination disorder. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children second edition (MABC-2) and the N-type Motor Imagery Test (N-type Test) were used to assess motor coordination and motor imagery ability, respectively, and their correlations were analyzed. The results identified a neural basis as in previous studies, and in addition, revealed differences between the left and right cerebral hemispheres. In addition, a strong correlation was found between the MABC-2 and the total score of the N-type test (r = 0.81, p<0.05).

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は，これまで学童期の発達性協調運動障害児における病態仮説として提唱されてきた運動イメージ能力と協調運動の関係を，3歳～6歳の未就学児においても認められることを明らかにした．今後は運動イメージ能力に対する介入を行うことで、協調運動パフォーマンスを改善させるかについても検討する必要があるものの，未就学児にまで研究を拡張したという点でリハビリテーションの発展に寄与するものと考える．