Imagining to learn: quantifying network activation patterns to understand the brain mechanisms underlying motor imagery-based skill acquisition

Our ability to learn highly skilled sequences of movements is key to many aspects of human performance. From the flawless triple jump of a figure skater to life-saving surgeries, skilled movements are honed through a process called motor learning. Motor learning happens because our brain changes as we repetitively practice new movements. We usually practice a movement by actually doing it. This is called physical practice. However, it's not always possible to physically practice a movement; athletes get injured, surgeons get tired, and some people re-learning movement after a brain injury can't move at all. It turns out that it's possible to practice a movement without moving at all; you just need to think about moving. This is called motor imagery. We think that using motor imagery along with physical practice can make learning motor skills faster and more efficient. *The problem with motor imagery is that we don't know a lot about it. In fact, we know very little about what brain areas work during motor imagery, and how they change with learning. This lack of knowledge is a problem. Not knowing how the brain works during motor imagery prevents us from figuring out the best ways to use it to help with motor learning. In physical practice we know a lot about brain activity and how the brain changes with learning. As a result we have been able to figure out the best ways to learn, like how much practice to do and for how long. We need to figure out these same details for motor imagery. This is the long-term goal of this research - to establish how motor imagery best drives motor learning. The short-term goal that makes up the proposed research is to find out about how areas of the brain work together during motor imagery, and how they change when we learn new motor skills. This information tells us about the network of brain areas at work during motor imagery. We then want to identify the brain areas critical to performing motor imagery, and those critical to learning using motor imagery. Enhancing our ability to learn new skills or strengthen skills we already have by using motor imagery can impact on all Canadians. Imagine our high performance athletes having an edge on the competition, members of our workforce having a higher level of skill, and our healthcare professionals having a new tool to help with recovery of movement. This research will impact on a wide range of areas, ultimately having a positive effect on the performance and health of Canadians.