Background: Motor imagery (MI) was recently shown to be a promising tool in neurorehabilitation. The ability to perform MI, however, may be impaired in some patients with neurological dysfunction.
Objective: The objective was to assess the relation between cognitive and motor dysfunction and MI ability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods: Thirty patients with MS underwent cognitive and motor screening, and also performed a composite test battery to assess their MI ability. This test battery consisted of a questionnaire, a hand rotation task and a test based on mental chronometry. Patients' MI ability was compared with the MI ability of age-matched healthy controls. Moreover, their MI scores were compared between body sides and were correlated with their scores on tests of motor and cognitive functioning.
Results: The average accuracy and temporal organization of MI significantly differed between MS patients and controls. Patients' MI accuracy significantly correlated with impairments in cognitive functioning, but was independent of motor functioning. MI duration, on the other hand, was independent of cognitive performance, but differed between the patients' most and least affected side.
Conclusion: These findings are of use when considering the application of MI practice in MS patients' rehabilitation.