This study aimed to compare electroencephalographic (EEG) activity between high- and low-motor learning groups (n = 10 each) during observation of, preparation for, and execution of a motor learning task. The subjects performed a ball rotation task in which two balls were rotated clockwise with the right hand. Each trial started with a rest period (5 s), subjects then observed the task action on a computer screen (30 s), this was followed by another rest (5 s), preparation for performing the action (5 s), and finally action execution (30 s); five trials were performed. The number of rotations during execution and EEG activities during observation, preparation, and execution were recorded. The EEG data of the high-motor learning group were compared with those of the low-motor learning group and were analyzed using exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA). The left sensorimotor and parietal areas of the high-motor learning group showed a greater decrease in the alpha-2 (10.5–12.0 Hz) and beta-2 (18.5–21.0 Hz) rhythms than those of the low-motor learning group during all three phases of the trials. The study results suggest that the decreases in the alpha-2 and beta-2 rhythms in these areas during observation, preparation, and execution are associated with motor skill improvement.

In this study, we aimed to (1) translate the English version of the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ), which assesses motor imagery ability, into Japanese, and (2) investigate the reliability and validity of the Japanese KVIQ. We enrolled 28 healthy adults in this study. We used Cronbach’s alpha coefficients to assess reliability reflected by the internal consistency. Additionally, we assessed validity reflected by the criterion-related validity between the Japanese KVIQ and the Japanese version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised (MIQ-R) with Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the KVIQ-20 were 0.88 (Visual) and 0.91 (Kinesthetic), which indicates high reliability. There was a significant positive correlation between the Japanese KVIQ-20 (Total) and the Japanese MIQ-R (Total) (r = 0.86, p < 0.01). Our results suggest that the Japanese KVIQ is an assessment that is a reliable and valid index of motor imagery ability.

Massage therapy is widely used as a complementary therapy in the elderly. Here, we investigate the effect of hand and foot massage therapy on psychological factors and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in elderly people requiring long-term care. We included 12 elderly people requiring long-term care, who were randomly divided into two groups (A and B). Group A received hand massage and group B received foot massage, both for 15 min each. After 1 week, group A received foot massage and group B received hand massage, both for 15 min each. We assessed emotions and mood states with a Likert scale after each massage and resting-state EEG activity was measured before and after each massage. Our results showed that both hand and foot massage led to a high degree of pleasant, relaxed, and refreshed feelings. Moreover, resting-state alpha activity significantly increased in the left insular cortex after hand massage (p < 0.05), and in the right and left posterior cingulate cortex after foot massage (p < 0.05). This study suggests that hand and foot massage therapy modulate psychological factors and EEG activity in elderly people requiring long-term care.

Modulation of pain using visual distortion of body size (VDBS) has been the subject of various reports. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of VDBS on pain has been less often studied. In the present study, factors associated with modulation of pain threshold by VDBS were investigated. Visual feedback in the form of a magnified image of the hand was provided to 44 healthy adults to examine changes in pain. In participants with a higher pain threshold when visual feedback of a magnified image of the hand was provided, the two-point discrimination threshold decreased. In contrast, participants with a lower pain threshold with visual feedback of a magnified image of the hand experienced unpleasant emotions toward the magnified image of the hand. Interestingly, this emotional reaction was strongly associated with negative body consciousness in several subjects. These data suggested an analgesic effect of visual feedback in the form of a magnified image of the hand is only when tactile perception is vivid and the emotional reaction toward the magnified image is moderate. The results also suggested that negative body consciousness is important for the modulation of pain using VDBS.

Age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and function are risk factors for reduced walking ability. This study aimed to understand the characteristic gait parameters of presarcopenia (low muscle mass only), dynapenia (low muscle function only), and sarcopenia (low muscle mass and function), which have differing skeletal muscle characteristics. Skeletal muscle mass, grip strength, and gait parameters (walking speed, cadence, step length, step width, gait angle, foot angle, stance time, swing time, and double stance time) were evaluated in 307 older Japanese women. Low muscle function was determined by grip strength and normal walking speed. Participants were assessed and divided into the normal (60.9%, n = 187), presarcopenia (25.7%, n = 79), dynapenia (5.2%, n = 16), and sarcopenia (8.1%, n = 25) groups. When compared to the normal group, the sarcopenia group had significantly slower walking speed and shorter step length (p < 0.05); the dynapenia group had significantly slower walking speed, smaller cadence, shorter step length, wider step width, and longer stance time (p < 0.05); and the presarcopenia group showed no differences. Skeletal muscle function may therefore be more strongly related to reduced walking function in older adults than body composition factors. The decrease in walking function was most pronounced in older women with dynapenia.