Quantifying the patterns of functional connectivity within the brain during imagined and overt movement of a functional task in non-disabled systems

Abstract

This project was aimed at quantifying functional connectivity within the brain during motor imagery (MI) and the actual performance of a motor task, and comparing these networks using graph theory. Fifteen participants took part. Following three days of familiarization, brain activity was recorded using high-density electroencephalography during MI and actual performance of the motor task. After localizing source-level brain activity, functional connectivity and graph theory analyses were performed. Graph theory metrics included determining the number and density of connections in the network, as well as assessing network efficiency via small worldness. Findings of this study show that the network active during MI involved connectivity within prefrontal, premotor, and primary sensorimotor regions. During performance of the motor task, the network was characterized by sensorimotor and cerebellar connectivity. Both the MI and motor networks were efficient, exhibiting small world properties. This research contributes to our knowledge related to brain activity underlying movement.