Multisensory mental imagery of fatigue: Evidence from an fMRI study. Issue 10 (22nd March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tomasino, Barbara; Del Negro, Ilaria; Garbo, Riccardo; Gigli, Gian Luigi; D'Agostini, Serena; Valente, Maria Rosaria
• Is Part Of: Human brain mapping. Volume 43:Issue 10(2022)
• Page Start: 3143
• Page End: 3152
• Publication Date: 2022-03-22
• Subjects: fatigue -- fMRI -- mental imagery -- precuneus -- superior temporal sulcus -- vividness; Brain mapping -- Periodicals; 611.81
• DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25839
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1065-9471

Abstract

Abstract: Functional imaging experimental designs measuring fatigue, defined as a subjective lack of physical and/or mental energy characterizing a wide range of neurologic conditions, are still under development. Nineteen right‐handed healthy subjects (9 M and 10 F, mean age 43.15 ± 8.34 years) were evaluated by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), asking them to perform explicit, first‐person, mental imagery of fatigue ‐related multisensory sensations. Short sentences designed to assess the principal manifestations of fatigue from the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory were presented. Participants were asked to imagine the corresponding sensations (Sensory Imagery, SI). As a control, they had to imagine the visual scenes (Visual Imagery, VI) described in short phrases. The SI task (vs. VI task) differentially activated three areas: (i) the precuneus, which is involved in first‐person perspective taking; (ii) the left superior temporal sulcus, which is a multisensory integration area; and (iii) the left inferior frontal gyrus, known to be involved in mental imagery network. The SI fMRI task can be used to measure processing involved in mental imagery of fatigue ‐related multisensory sensations. Abstract : Nineteen right‐handed healthy subjects performed explicit, first person, mental imagery of fatigue‐related multisensory sensations (and imagined visual scenes as control). Sensory Imagery (vs. visual imagery) differentially activated the precuneus, which is involved in first‐person perspective taking, the left superior temporal sulcus, which is a multisensory integration area; and the left inferior frontal gyrus, known to be involved in the mental imagery network. The Sensory Imagery fMRI task is an easily administrable fMRI task, which can be used to measure processing involved in mental imagery of fatigue‐related multisensory sensations.