Testing the Motor-Cognitive Model of Motor Imagery with an On-Screen Pointing Task

Motor imagery is an important area in psychology which is still theoretically underdeveloped. In this paper the currently prevalent view, the functional-equivalence model of motor imagery, was presented and contrasted with the motor-cognitive model of motor imagery. In an experiment, the predictions of both models were tested against each other by manipulating the precision of movements and by introducing a memory task with the intent to tax executive resources of the participant. The effects of the precision of the movement and the presence of a memory task were compared with overt actions and mental movements. In the experiment, the participants in the motor imagery group were expected to show a larger delaying effect due to increasing precision in movement and due to the execution of a memory task; this prediction was upheld. None of the results could be explained by a version of the functional-equivalence model of motor imagery. It was concluded that the motor-cognitive model of motor imagery might represent a workable and feasible step forward in understanding motor imagery.