Motor Imagery in the Primary Motor Cortex: A preliminary review

Understanding the role of motor cortex (M1) in motor imaginary (MI) is an interesting area of research for the treatment of pathological conditions affecting motor execution. For this reason, in this preliminary review, we examine the literature on the role of M1 in MI. In particular, we review studies that have used brain imaging and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to investigate M1 activation during MI tasks. Since the literature on this topic is quite inconsistent, in the present paper we distinguish between two lines of research: studies that confirm M1 involvement in MI and research that show that there is no M1 activation during tasks of MI. In addition, studies on neurological disorders and age differences related to the connection between MI and M1 are reviewed.