Abstract
Motor imagery is thought to involve the same processes of movement preparation as actual movement. Imagination of a simple repetitive movement significantly decreased the firing rate of extracellular micro recording at sensorimotor neurons of globus pallidus internus in three patients with Parkinson’s disease, who underwent microelectrode-guided posteroventral pallidotomy. These findings suggest, in agreement with previous clinical and functional neuroimaging studies that the motor corticostriatal circuit could be engaged in mental simulation.
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Leiguarda, R., Cerquetti, D., Tenca, E. et al. Globus pallidus internus firing rate modification after motor-imagination in three Parkinson’s disease patients. J Neural Transm 116, 451–455 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-009-0203-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-009-0203-3