| Abstract | Background: The mirror illusion is a form of action observation that utilizes the mirror neuron system, contralateral muscle activation, and cross-education. The mirror illusion and motor imagery have been used as a rehabilitation tool in individuals facing unilateral damage. Surface electromyography (EMG) activity can be tracked to see how muscle activity is impacted by the mirror illusion and motor imagery. Purpose: To investigate the impact the mirror illusion and motor imagery have on muscle activity during a fatiguing handgrip protocol. Methods: 20 healthy, habitually active individuals (10 F, 10 M) were recruited for this study. Participants completed three sets of five-second maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) in a mirror, no-mirror, and motor imagery condition to establish a foundation for their typical muscle activity during a forceful contraction. They then completed a fatiguing MVC protocol consisting of one thirty-second MVC for both the mirror and no-mirror condition to provide EMG data for the results. Results: With an alpha level of 0.05, this study yielded multiple significant results, with the most notable being 1) the muscle activity had no significant difference between the mirror and no-mirror condition, 2) associated EMG activity increased over the course of the thirty-second contraction while ipsilateral EMG activity decreased, and 3) there was a muscle specificity for the MVCs. There were no significant findings involving motor imagery as it relates to muscle activity. Discussion: These findings provide hope for individuals facing unilateral damage, and this study can be replicated by researchers with a participant pool that reflects this criterion. |
