Motor Imagery TrainingNCT07461688
Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery for Individuals With Low Imagery Ability: A Pilot Investigation of Isokinetic Strength and Electromyographic Activity
A study testing Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery, Action Observation + Motor Imagery and Behavioral: Kinesthetic Motor Imagery in people with Motor Imagery Training and Resistance Training, run by Ege University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Motor imagery is a cognitive technique in which individuals mentally rehearse a movement without physically performing it. However, individuals with low imagery ability may not fully benefit from traditional motor imagery training. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Motor Imagery Training, Resistance Training, Virtual Reality
- What is being tested?
- Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery, Action Observation + Motor Imagery and Behavioral: Kinesthetic Motor Imagery
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 32 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 12 Aug 2025to 20 Jan 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy male individuals aged 18-30 years No participation in a structured lower-limb resistance training program within the previous 6 months No prior experience with structured motor imagery training Provided written informed consent
Who cannot join
- History of lower-limb musculoskeletal injury or surgery within the past 6 months Neurological disorders affecting motor control Visual or vestibular impairments preventing safe use of virtual reality equipment Current use of medications affecting neuromuscular performance Any medical condition contraindicating resistance training
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Motor imagery is a cognitive technique in which individuals mentally rehearse a movement without physically performing it. However, individuals with low imagery ability may not fully benefit from traditional motor imagery training. Virtual reality (VR) may enhance imagery vividness by providing immersive visual feedback. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of immersive VR-based motor imagery, action observation combined with motor imagery, kinesthetic motor imagery alone, and a control condition on imagery ability, muscle strength, and muscle activation. Thirty-two healthy male participants will be assigned to one of four parallel groups based on imagery ability levels. All participants will complete a 4-week unilateral leg extension resistance training program (three sessions per week at 80% of one-repetition maximum). During each session, participants will perform their assigned imagery protocol. Primary outcomes include changes in imagery ability assessed by the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3. Secondary outcomes include isokinetic quadriceps peak torque, average power, and surface electromyography activity of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis muscles. The findings of this study may provide insight into whether immersive VR can enhance the effectiveness of motor imagery training in individuals with low imagery ability.
Read the detailed description
Motor imagery training has been shown to enhance motor performance and strength adaptations; however, its effectiveness is strongly influenced by individual imagery ability. Individuals with low imagery ability may experience limited benefits due to reduced vividness and sensory engagement during mental rehearsal. Immersive virtual reality (VR) may enhance the perceptual and sensory components of imagery by providing first-person visual feedback, thereby potentially improving motor-related neural activation and training adaptations. This study is designed as a 4-week, parallel-group interventional trial including healthy young adult males. Participants will be categorized according to imagery ability assessed by the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) and allocated into four groups: immersive VR-based motor imagery, action observation combined with motor imagery, kinesthetic motor imagery alone, and a control condition involving relaxation imagery. All participants will complete a supervised unilateral leg extension resistance training program performed three times per week at 80% of one-repetition maximum. Each session will consist of four sets of 8-12 repetitions for the dominant leg. Imagery interventions will be administered prior to each training session according to group assignment. Isokinetic strength assessments will be performed at angular velocities of 60°/s and 120°/s. Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals will be recorded from the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis muscles during testing. Imagery ability will be reassessed following the intervention period. The primary objective of the study is to determine whether immersive VR-based motor imagery enhances imagery ability and neuromuscular adaptations compared to traditional motor imagery approaches and control conditions.
- Conditions
- Motor Imagery Training, Resistance Training, Virtual Reality
- Being tested
- Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery, Action Observation + Motor Imagery, Behavioral: Kinesthetic Motor Imagery, Relaxation Imagery (Control)
- Keywords
- Motor Imagery, Virtual Reality, Isokinetic strength, Surface Electromyography, Resistance Training, Imagery Ability
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Motor ImageryBehavioural
VR Motor Imagery - Intervention Description
Participants perform immersive first-person virtual reality-based motor imagery prior to each training session. The intervention is administered three times per week for 4 weeks before resistance training.
Action Observation + Motor ImageryBehavioural
Participants observe a video demonstration of unilateral leg extension while simultaneously performing kinesthetic motor imagery of the movement prior to each resistance training session, three times per week for four weeks.
Behavioral: Kinesthetic Motor ImageryBehavioural
Participants perform kinesthetic motor imagery of unilateral leg extension without visual assistance prior to each resistance training session, three times per week for four weeks.
Relaxation Imagery (Control)Behavioural
Participants perform relaxation-based imagery unrelated to strength training prior to each resistance training session, three times per week for four weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Action Observation + Motor Imagery (AOMI) | Experimental | Participants perform action observation combined with kinesthetic motor imagery prior to each resistance training session for 4 weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Action Observation + Motor Imagery |
| Kinesthetic Motor Imagery | Experimental | Participants perform kinesthetic motor imagery alone prior to each resistance training session for 4 weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Behavioral: Kinesthetic Motor Imagery |
| Control | Active comparator | Participants perform relaxation imagery prior to each resistance training session for 4 weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Relaxation Imagery (Control) |
| Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery | Experimental | Participants perform immersive first-person virtual reality-based motor imagery prior to each training session. The VR environment provides visual simulation of unilateral leg extension movements from a first-person perspective. The intervention is administered three times per week for 4 weeks before resistance training. Receives: Behavioral: Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Imagery Ability (MIQ-3 Total Score)
Imagery ability will be assessed using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3). The total score change from baseline to post-intervention will be analyzed.
Measured: Baseline to 4 Weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Isokinetic Quadriceps Strength (60°/s, 120°/s)
Concentric isokinetic quadriceps peak torque will be assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer at angular velocities of 60°/s and 120°/s. Average power (Ap) and body mass-normalized peak torque (Nm/kg) will be recorded for the dominant leg. The change from baseline to post-intervention will be analyzed.
Measured: Baseline to 4 Weeks
Surface EMG Activity (%MVIC)
Surface electromyography (sEMG) activity of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis muscles will be recorded during concentric isokinetic quadriceps testing. EMG signals will be processed and normalized to maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) values. Changes in normalized EMG amplitude (%MVIC) from baseline to post-intervention will be analyzed.
Measured: Baseline to 4 Weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Mar 2026
- Study start12 Aug 2025
- Primary completion25 Dec 2025
- Study completion20 Jan 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Motor Imagery TrainingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ege UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This is a 4-week, parallel-group interventional study including four arms: immersive virtual reality-based motor imagery, action observation combined with motor imagery, kinesthetic motor imagery alone, and a control condition. Participants are allocated to one group based on imagery ability levels and remain in the same group throughout the intervention period. No crossover between groups occurs.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ege University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Burak Alperen Ünsal, Ege University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07461688
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 24-10.2T/4
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 10 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) underlying the primary and secondary outcome measures, including MIQ-3 scores, isokinetic peak torque values, average power, and normalized sEMG data, will be shared. Demographic variables necessary for replication (age and body mass) will also be included.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery for Individuals With Low Imagery Ability: A Pilot Investigation of Isokinetic Strength and Electromyographic Activity
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07461688
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 24-10.2T/4
- Conditions
- Motor Imagery Training, Resistance Training, Virtual Reality
- Keywords
- Motor Imagery, Virtual Reality, Isokinetic strength, Surface Electromyography, Resistance Training, Imagery Ability
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ege UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
- Study start
- 12 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 25 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 20 Jan 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Motor imagery is a cognitive technique in which individuals mentally rehearse a movement without physically performing it. However, individuals with low imagery ability may not fully benefit from traditional motor imagery training. Virtual reality (VR) may enhance imagery vividness by providing immersive visual feedback. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of immersive VR-based motor imagery, action observation combined with motor imagery, kinesthetic motor imagery alone, and a control condition on imagery ability, muscle strength, and muscle activation. Thirty-two healthy male participants will be assigned to one of four parallel groups based on imagery ability levels. All participants will complete a 4-week unilateral leg extension resistance training program (three sessions per week at 80% of one-repetition maximum). During each session, participants will perform their assigned imagery protocol. Primary outcomes include changes in imagery ability assessed by the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3. Secondary outcomes include isokinetic quadriceps peak torque, average power, and surface electromyography activity of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis muscles. The findings of this study may provide insight into whether immersive VR can enhance the effectiveness of motor imagery training in individuals with low imagery ability.
Detailed description
Motor imagery training has been shown to enhance motor performance and strength adaptations; however, its effectiveness is strongly influenced by individual imagery ability. Individuals with low imagery ability may experience limited benefits due to reduced vividness and sensory engagement during mental rehearsal. Immersive virtual reality (VR) may enhance the perceptual and sensory components of imagery by providing first-person visual feedback, thereby potentially improving motor-related neural activation and training adaptations. This study is designed as a 4-week, parallel-group interventional trial including healthy young adult males. Participants will be categorized according to imagery ability assessed by the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) and allocated into four groups: immersive VR-based motor imagery, action observation combined with motor imagery, kinesthetic motor imagery alone, and a control condition involving relaxation imagery. All participants will complete a supervised unilateral leg extension resistance training program performed three times per week at 80% of one-repetition maximum. Each session will consist of four sets of 8-12 repetitions for the dominant leg. Imagery interventions will be administered prior to each training session according to group assignment. Isokinetic strength assessments will be performed at angular velocities of 60°/s and 120°/s. Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals will be recorded from the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis muscles during testing. Imagery ability will be reassessed following the intervention period. The primary objective of the study is to determine whether immersive VR-based motor imagery enhances imagery ability and neuromuscular adaptations compared to traditional motor imagery approaches and control conditions.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 4
- Model description
- This is a 4-week, parallel-group interventional study including four arms: immersive virtual reality-based motor imagery, action observation combined with motor imagery, kinesthetic motor imagery alone, and a control condition. Participants are allocated to one group based on imagery ability levels and remain in the same group throughout the intervention period. No crossover between groups occurs.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Action Observation + Motor Imagery (AOMI) | Experimental | Behavioral: Action Observation + Motor ImageryParticipants perform action observation combined with kinesthetic motor imagery prior to each resistance training session for 4 weeks. |
| Kinesthetic Motor Imagery | Experimental | Behavioral: Behavioral: Kinesthetic Motor ImageryParticipants perform kinesthetic motor imagery alone prior to each resistance training session for 4 weeks. |
| Control | Active comparator | Behavioral: Relaxation Imagery (Control)Participants perform relaxation imagery prior to each resistance training session for 4 weeks. |
| Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery | Experimental | Behavioral: Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Motor ImageryParticipants perform immersive first-person virtual reality-based motor imagery prior to each training session. The VR environment provides visual simulation of unilateral leg extension movements from a first-person perspective. The intervention is administered three times per week for 4 weeks before resistance training. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Healthy male individuals aged 18-30 years No participation in a structured lower-limb resistance training program within the previous 6 months No prior experience with structured motor imagery training Provided written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- History of lower-limb musculoskeletal injury or surgery within the past 6 months Neurological disorders affecting motor control Visual or vestibular impairments preventing safe use of virtual reality equipment Current use of medications affecting neuromuscular performance Any medical condition contraindicating resistance training
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Motor ImageryVR Motor Imagery - Intervention Description Participants perform immersive first-person virtual reality-based motor imagery prior to each training session. The intervention is administered three times per week for 4 weeks before resistance training. | Behavioural | Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery |
| Action Observation + Motor ImageryParticipants observe a video demonstration of unilateral leg extension while simultaneously performing kinesthetic motor imagery of the movement prior to each resistance training session, three times per week for four weeks. | Behavioural | Action Observation + Motor Imagery (AOMI) |
| Behavioral: Kinesthetic Motor ImageryParticipants perform kinesthetic motor imagery of unilateral leg extension without visual assistance prior to each resistance training session, three times per week for four weeks. | Behavioural | Kinesthetic Motor Imagery |
| Relaxation Imagery (Control)Participants perform relaxation-based imagery unrelated to strength training prior to each resistance training session, three times per week for four weeks. | Behavioural | Control |
Primary outcome
Change in Imagery Ability (MIQ-3 Total Score)
Time frame: Baseline to 4 Weeks
Imagery ability will be assessed using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3). The total score change from baseline to post-intervention will be analyzed.
2 secondary outcomes
Isokinetic Quadriceps Strength (60°/s, 120°/s)
Time frame: Baseline to 4 Weeks
Surface EMG Activity (%MVIC)
Time frame: Baseline to 4 Weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data (IPD) underlying the primary and secondary outcome measures, including MIQ-3 scores, isokinetic peak torque values, average power, and normalized sEMG data, will be shared. Demographic variables necessary for replication (age and body mass) will also be included.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Motor Imagery, Action Observation + Motor Imagery and Behavioral: Kinesthetic Motor Imagery in people with Motor Imagery Training and Resistance Training, run by Ege University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Imagery Ability (MIQ-3 Total Score) (time frame: Baseline to 4 Weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Mar 2026.