%A Iso,Naoki %A Moriuchi,Takefumi %A Sagari,Akira %A Kitajima,Eiji %A Iso,Fumiko %A Tanaka,Koji %A Kikuchi,Yasuki %A Tabira,Takayuki %A Higashi,Toshio %D 2016 %J Frontiers in Physiology %C %F %G English %K Motor Imagery,Mental Practice,motor execution,NIRS,hemodynamic signal changes %Q %R 10.3389/fphys.2015.00416 %W %L %M %P %7 %8 2016-January-11 %9 Original Research %+ Toshio Higashi,Unit of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences,Nagasaki, Japan,higashi-t@nagasaki-u.ac.jp %# %! Hemodynamic signal changes during MI/ME %* %< %T Monitoring Local Regional Hemodynamic Signal Changes during Motor Execution and Motor Imagery Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy %U https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2015.00416 %V 6 %0 JOURNAL ARTICLE %@ 1664-042X %X The aim of this study was to clarify the topographical localization of motor-related regional hemodynamic signal changes during motor execution (ME) and motor imagery (MI) by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), as this technique is more clinically expedient than established methods (e.g., fMRI). Twenty right-handed healthy subjects participated in this study. The experimental protocol was a blocked design consisting of 3 cycles of 20 s of task performance and 30 s of rest. The tapping sequence task was performed with their fingers under 4 conditions: ME and MI with the right or left hand. Hemodynamic brain activity was measured with NIRS to monitor changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentration. Oxy-Hb in the somatosensory motor cortex (SMC) increased significantly only during contralateral ME and showed a significant interaction between task and hand. There was a main effect of hand in the left SMC. Although there were no significant main effects or interactions in the supplemental motor area (SMA) and premotor area (PMA), oxy-Hb increased substantially under all conditions. These results clarified the topographical localization by motor-related regional hemodynamic signal changes during ME and MI by using NIRS.