Motor imagery (MI) is the mental representation of a movement without its execution. It activates internal representations of the movement without external stimulus through different memory‐related processes. Although acute stress is frequent in the population and affects supraspinal structures essential for memory functionality, it is still unknown how that stress affects MI capacity and temporal congruence (TC) between execution and movement imagination. This study aimed to discover how acute stress may influence MI capacity and TC in the subscales of internal and external visual imagery and kinesthetic imagery. A double‐blind, randomized trial was conducted. Sixty‐two young, healthy subjects (mean age = 20.65 [2.54]; 39 females and 23 males) unfamiliar with the assessment and uses of MI were recruited. Participants were assigned by stratified randomization to the stress group or the control group. Stress was induced by the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST), while the control group performed the MAST control protocol. MI capacity and TC were assessed before (t1) and after (t2) MAST stress or control using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire‐3 (MIQ‐3). Electrodermal activity and heart rate variability were further recorded as control variables to assess stress induction. Thirty subjects in the stress group and 26 subjects in the control group were analyzed. No significant group differences were observed when comparing MI capacity or TC in any subscales. These findings suggest that acute stress does not significantly affect MI capacity or TC in young, healthy, non‐experienced MI subjects. MI could thus be a relevant helpful technique in stressful situations.

中文翻译：

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急性压力不会影响年轻健康参与者的运动想象能力：随机试验


运动想象（MI）是一种运动的心理表征，但没有执行。它通过不同的记忆相关过程，在没有外部刺激的情况下激活运动的内部表征。尽管急性压力在人群中很常见，并且会影响记忆功能所必需的脊髓上结构，但仍不清楚压力如何影响 MI 能力以及执行和运动想象之间的时间一致性 (TC)。本研究旨在发现急性压力如何影响内部和外部视觉意象和动觉意象分量表中的 MI 能力和 TC。进行了一项双盲、随机试验。招募了 62 名不熟悉 MI 评估和使用的年轻健康受试者（平均年龄 = 20.65 [2.54]；39 名女性和 23 名男性）。参与者通过分层随机分配到压力组或对照组。通过马斯特里赫特急性压力测试 (MAST) 诱导压力，而对照组则执行 MAST 控制方案。使用运动意象问卷‐3 (MIQ‐3) 在 MAST 应激或控制之前 (t1) 和之后 (t2) 评估 MI 能力和 TC。进一步记录皮肤电活动和心率变异性作为评估压力诱导的控制变量。对压力组的 30 名受试者和对照组的 26 名受试者进行了分析。比较任何分量表中的 MI 能力或 TC 时，未观察到显着的组间差异。这些发现表明，急性应激不会显着影响年轻、健康、无 MI 经验的受试者的 MI 能力或 TC。因此，在有压力的情况下，MI 可能是一种相关的有用技术。