Comparison of cerebral activation between motor execution and motor imagery of self-feeding activity

Motor imagery is defined as an act wherein an individual contemplates a mental action of motor execution without apparent action.Mental practice executed by repetitive motor imagery can improve motor performance without simultaneous sensory input or overt output.We aimed to investigate cerebral hemodynamics during motor imagery and motor execution of a self-feeding activity using chopsticks.This study included 21 healthy right-handed volunteers.The self-feeding activity task comprised either motor imagery or motor execution of eating sliced cucumber pickles with chopsticks to examine eight regions of interest:pre-supplementary motor area,supplementary motor area,bilateral prefrontal cortex,premotor area,and sensorimotor cortex.The mean oxyhemoglobin levels were detected using near-infrared spectroscopy to reflect cerebral activation.The mean oxyhemoglobin levels during motor execution were significantly higher in the left sensorimotor cortex than in the supplementary motor area and the left premotor area.Moreover,significantly higher oxyhemoglobin levels were detected in the supplementary motor area and the left premotor area during motor imagery,compared to motor execution.Supplementary motor area and premotor area had important roles in the motor imagery of self-feeding activity.Moreover,the activation levels of the supplementary motor area and the premotor area during motor execution and motor imagery are likely affected by intentional cognitive processes.Levels of cerebral activation differed in some areas during motor execution and motor imagery of a self-feeding activity.This study was approved by the Ethical Review Committee of Nagasaki University(approval No.18110801)on December 10,2018.

Effectiveness of a Short Duration Training Programme in the Physical Fitness of Patients with High-Moderate Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Introduction: It is not known what the minimum duration of training programme is effective in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness in physical fitness and exercise of the training programme of 8 weeks of duration with two modalities (2 or 3 sessions per week) in subjects with moderate-high risk of cardiovascular disease in a primary care setting. Main Findings: A significant increase in the six-minute walk test was observed (from 488 ± 87.4 m to 532 ± 68.0 m, p < 0.0001). A significant increase of exercise duration (from 11.4 ± 3.0 min to 12.3 ± 3.0 min, p < 0.0001) and a delay in the anaerobic threshold (from 8.8 ± 2.9 min to 10.1 ± 2.5 min, p < 0.0001) during the ergometric tests were also observed. The proportion of patients exercising regularly increased significantly (from 36.1% to 83.3%, p < 0.0001). Both modalities of training programme improved fitness and physical activity, without significant differences between them. Conclusion: Our study shows that a structured training programme of two months of duration with 2 or 3 sessions per week significantly improves the fitness and physical activity of patients with moderate-high risk of cardiovascular disease.