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SAGE Journal User Guide

Dijkerman, H.C., Ietswaart, M., Johnston, M., & MacWalter, R.S. (2004). Does motor imagery training improve hand function in chronic stroke patients? A pilot study. Clinical Rehabilitation, 18, 538-549.

1. In their paper, the authors report that training using motor imagery can improve the physical movement of individuals recovering from strokes. However, the authors found no evidence for a link between attentional control, perceived control, and motor imagery. Based on these results, do you think there is evidence for a functional equivalence for motor imagery and motor movements?
2. What are some other examples of motor tasks where performance might be improved through the use of motor imagery?
3. The authors used two tasks in their study of stroke patients: a motor imagery task and a visual imagery task. A description of these tasks is provided in the appendix to the article. Identify the characteristics that differ between these tasks in terms of the elements that must be imaged.

Lewis, J.W. (2006). Cortical networks related to human use of tools. The Neuroscientist, 12, 211-231.

1. In his discussion of tool use, the author introduces the concept of a “body schema.” According to the author, what type of knowledge is represented by a body schema?
2. After a thorough review of the research examining the brain areas activated during tool use, the author concludes that there is a “left hemisphere lateralization bias” associated with tool use. Interestingly, the left hemisphere also contains specialized structures, such as Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area, devoted to language function. In what ways are tool use and language similar? Dissimilar?
3. The author discusses two types of movement disorders: ideomotor apraxia and ideational apraxia. What are the distinguishing characteristics of these forms of apraxia? What is the difference between apraxia and aphasia?