Investigating Mu and Alpha Oscillations as Indicators of Intra-Individual Success and Inter-Individual Ability in Motor Imagery Performance

Maria Paula Villabona Orozco^1*Linn Julie Schwarz²Agnes Hanßen²Cornelia Kranczioch^2,3*

• ¹Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
• ²Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany
• ³Neurocognition and Functional Neurorehabilitation Group, Department of Psychology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany

Mu and alpha rhythms (8-14 Hz) are recognized for their suppression during motor execution and imagery tasks. Recent research suggests that these oscillations might also serve as a marker of successful motor imagery (MI) performance. This study investigated whether mu and alpha oscillations reflect intraindividual success or inter-individual ability during an MI task, using an adapted methodology consistent with a prior study. EEG data were recorded while young healthy adults (n = 19) performed the Test of Ability of Movement Imagery (TAMI). Rhythmic activity was characterized using measures derived from the Better Oscillation Detection Method (BOSC). Contrary to expectations, results do not support the notion that mu/alpha oscillations correlate with imagery success or ability at either the intra-or interindividual level. However, significant reductions in mu/alpha-wave amplitude were observed during the initiation phase of imagery, underscoring the importance of early neural activity in the MI process, regardless of response success. These findings highlight the intra-and inter-individual variability in mu/alpha rhythms and contribute to the ongoing debate about their role in MI performance.