Dynamical changes in corticospinal excitability during imagery of unimanual and bimanual wrist movements in humans: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study

This study explored the dynamical changes in corticospinal excitability during the imagination of cyclical unimanual and bimanual wrist flexion-extension movements. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was applied over the left motor cortex to evoke motor evoked potentials in the right wrist flexor and extensor muscles. Findings provided evidence for increased reciprocal excitability changes during imagery of symmetrical in-phase movements as compared to asymmetrical (anti-phase) or unimanual movements. This suggests that in-phase movements may reinforce whereas anti-phase movements may reduce the temporal representation of the task in the corticospinal motor networks of the brain.