Di Rienzo, Franck and Joassy, Pierric and Kanthack, Thiago and Mac Intyre, Tadhg and Debarnot, Ursula and Blache, Yoann and Hautier, Christophe and Collet, Christian and Guillot, Aymeric (2019) Effects of Action Observation and Action Observation Combined with Motor Imagery on Maximal Isometric Strength. Neuroscience, 418. pp. 82-95. ISSN 0306-4522

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Abstract

Action observation (AO) alone or combined with motor imagery (AO + MI) has been shown to engage the motor system. While recent findings support the potential relevance of both techniques to enhance muscle function, this issue has received limited scientific scrutiny. In the present study, we implemented a counterbalanced conditions design where 21 participants performed 10 maximal isometric contractions (12-s duration) of elbow flexor muscles against a force platform. During the inter-trial rest periods, participants completed i) AO of the same task performed by an expert athlete, ii) AO + MI, i.e. observation of an expert athlete while concurrently imagining oneself performing the same task, and iii) watching passively a video documentary about basketball shooting (Control). During force trials, we recorded the total force and integrated electromyograms from the biceps brachii and anterior deltoideus. We also measured skin conductance from two finger electrodes as an index of sympathetic nervous system activity. Both AO and AO + MI outperformed the Control condition in terms of total force (2.79–3.68%, p < 0.001). For all conditions, we recorded a positive relationship between the biceps brachii activation and the total force developed during the task. However, only during AO was a positive relationship observed between the activation of the anterior deltoideus and the total force. We interpreted the results with reference to the statements of the psycho-neuromuscular theory of mental practice. Present findings extend current knowledge regarding the priming effects of AO and AO + MI on muscle function, and may contribute to the optimization of training programs in sports and rehabilitation.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Cite as: Franck Di Rienzo, Pierric Joassy, Thiago Kanthack, Tadhg Eoghan MacIntyre, Ursula Debarnot, Yoann Blache, Christophe Hautier, Christian Collet, Aymeric Guillot, Effects of Action Observation and Action Observation Combined with Motor Imagery on Maximal Isometric Strength, Neuroscience, Volume 418, 2019, Pages 82-95, ISSN 0306-4522, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.08.025. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306452219305986)
Keywords:	neural plasticity; neural priming; muscle function; motor cognition; conditioning;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	15066
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.08.025
Depositing User:	Tadhg Mac Intyre
Date Deposited:	26 Nov 2021 17:15
Journal or Publication Title:	Neuroscience
Publisher:	Elsevier
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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