Laterality in Responce of Brain Activity during Mirror Therapy using Near-infrared Spectroscopy

This study presents the activation of left the prefrontal area by Mirror Therapy (MT) targeted to improve the function of the upper arms. The subjects were eight right handed females who were going to receive MT for the fi rst time. Cortical brain activity was compared through oxygen ized hemoglobin ([oxy-Hb]) using near infra-red multi-channel oxygen monitor, during resting image training (IT). The result showed a signifi cant increase of [oxy-Hb] in the lower left prefrontal area during the subjects imagined their fi xed left hand and their right hand was in motion. Our data sujest that the greater importance of the lower left prefrontal area than the lower right prefrontal to feel a mirror image illusion in the case of right-handed person.