COVERT NEUROMUSCULAR ACTIVITY OF THE DOMINANT FOREARM DURING VISUALIZATION OF A MOTOR TASK

This study evaluated specific covert neuromuscular activity during a s ilent visualization exercise. 30 subjects participated in a dual-basel ine single-subject procedure. The experimental test condition required the subjects to visualize themselves squeezing a hand-size rubber bal l as rightly as possible for 1 min. In the comparison test condition, subjects were asked to imagine the 'sun setting on the horizon' for I min. Visualization of the motor task brought about significant (p<.05) increases in dominant forearm EMG (mu V) and heart-rate activity (bpm ) from rest to the experimental test condition. Nondominant forearm ac tivity showed no significant changes from rest to either test conditio n, and heart-rare activity (bpm) showed no significant change from res t to the comparison visualization task.