Imagining to learn: quantifying network activation patterns to understand the brain mechanisms underlying motor imagery-based skill acquisition

我们学习高度熟练的动作序列的能力对人类表现的许多方面都是关键。从花样滑冰运动员无懈可击的三级跳远到救命手术，熟练的动作都是通过一个称为运动学习的过程来磨练的。运动学习之所以发生，是因为当我们反复练习新动作时，我们的大脑会发生变化。我们通常通过实际行动来练习一个动作。这就是所谓的身体练习。然而，体育锻炼并不总是可能的；运动员受伤了，外科医生累了，有些人在脑损伤后重新学习运动，根本不能动。事实证明，练习一个动作完全不动也是可能的；

Our ability to learn highly skilled sequences of movements is key to many aspects of human performance. From the flawless triple jump of a figure skater to life-saving surgeries, skilled movements are honed through a process called motor learning. Motor learning happens because our brain changes as we repetitively practice new movements. We usually practice a movement by actually doing it. This is called physical practice. However, it’s not always possible to physically practice a movement; athletes get injured, surgeons get tired, and some people re-learning movement after a brain injury can’t move at all. It turns out that it’s possible to practice a movement without moving at all;