ABSTRACT

Objective : Motor learning can be processed to acquire the two main factor - explicit and implicit knowledge which differ fundamentally in the information storage and learning process. We investigated the effect of the mental practice through target aiming task and serial reaction time task, which required the acquisition of explicit and implicit information respectively.Methods : Total of fifty normal subjects were participated in the experimental with written informed consent,who did not have no history of neurologic or visual deficits. Subjects were randomly divided to each of groups respectively(mental training, physical training, and control group). The target aiming task required to move and click the mouse with the 0.5㎝-circles(10㎝ apart), to travel from leaving 1 target to the second target as quickly and accurately possible. The serial reaction time task required to press the matched button as quickly and accurately as possible, when one of four colored lights was displayed on computer screen. For data analysis, Movement time and reaction time was collected before and after training for three days respectively.Results : In the target aiming task and the serial reaction time task, there were a significant change of movement time in both the mental training and physical training groups, compared to the control group.Also, in comparison of the standard Z-score, the mental training group showed more higher scores than the physical training group in the target aiming task. However, there was no significance between both groups in the serial reaction time task.Conclusion : Our results revealed that mental practice using motor imagery was effective on learning the task to be require to acquire implicit and explicit knowledge. In additionally, we founded that mental practice might be more effective on performing a task that have explicit information, and that was as much as useful as the physical training. It is possible that mental practice using motor imagery is considered as one of therapeutic intervention for patients with brain injury, who had a difficulty on performing the actual movement in the field of rehabilitation.