Prefrontal cortex activation during motor attention, motor imagery and performance of cycling movements

Introduction Bipedal cycling is a symmetrical and highly automated task, which mainly involves primary sensorimotor areas. Abrupt change or other modification of the task lead to additional activity in secondary sensorimotor areas including prefrontal, anterior cingulate, lateral premotor and lateral parietal cortex additionally involved in planning, initiation and adaptations of such movements (1,2). The aim of the present study was to investigate the differential role of prefrontal areas during imagery, performance of and attention towards such highly automated leg movements.