Structural and functional features characterizing the brains of individuals with higher controllability of motor imagery

Motor imagery is a higher-order cognitive brain function that mentally simulates movements without performing the actual physical one. Although many studies have dealt with motor imagery, neural bases that determine individual differences in motor imagery ability are not well understood. Using magnetic resonance imaging and controllability of motor imagery (CMI) test that can objectively evaluate individual ability to manipulate one’s imaginary postures, we show that the bilateral superior frontoparietal white matter region expands in higher CMI test scorers. In addition, CMI test activates the bilateral dorsal premotor cortex (PMD) and superior parietal lobule (SPL); specifically, the left PMD and/or the right SPL enhance functional coupling with the visual body, somatosensory, and motor/kinesthetic areas in the higher scorers. This study elucidated the structural and functional features that characterize the brains of individuals with higher controllability of motor imagery, and advanced understanding of individual differences in motor imagery ability.