Event-related synchronization/desynchronization to assess changes in alpha peak frequency along time during kinesthetic motor imagery

This work aims at analyzing event-related potentials (ERPs) of posterior and central areas of the cortex during motor imagery of spike volleyball task along the time of imagination. Multi-channel EEG was acquired following 10-20 international system over occipital, parietal and central areas during kinesthetic motor imagery (KMI) of volleyball spike and reference (REF) period (mental countdown), from athletes and non-athletes. The Event Related desynchronization / synchronization (ERD/ERS) was calculated to assess changes in alpha peak frequency in two moments: between 0.5 and 1.5 s (E1), and between 1.5 and 2.5 s (E2) after trigger sound of imagery start. The athletes showed more number of subjects with desynchronization in central areas, while in non-athletes in parietal areas ones. Moreover, the KMI along time analysis indicated more desynchronism in E2 than E1 in athletes, except for P3. According to the results, we conclude that kinesthetic motor imagery of complex task as volleyball spike demands more cognitive effort in central areas of athletes than non-athletes, reflected in desynchronism of alpha peak frequency. Moreover, the behavior of alpha peak frequency along time of imagination suggests an interaction effect related with the knowledge of task imagined. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to support these findings.