MENTAL SIMULATION AND MOTOR IMAGERY

Motor imagery typically involves an experience as of moving a body par t. Recent studies reveal close parallels between the constraints on mo tor imagery and those on actual motor performance. How are these paral lels to be explained? We advance a simulative theory of motor imagery, modeled on the idea that we predict and explain the decisions of othe rs by simulating their decision-making processes. By proposing that mo tor imagery is essentially off-line motor action, we explain the tende ncy of motor imagery to mimic motor performance. We close by arguing t hat a simulative theory of motor imagery gives (modest) support to and illumination of the simulative theory of decision-prediction.