The paper explores the concept of mental imagery in the context of motor actions, suggesting that motor images share the same properties and functional relationship with the corresponding motor representations as do actual movements. The author argues that motor imagery involves a conscious representation of the body as the generator of acting forces, and that it can be accessed through indirect methods such as matching the imaged movement with a real one or measuring mental movement time. Physiological correlates of motor imagery, such as increased electromyographic activity and spinal excitability, are discussed, along with the effects of mental training on motor performance. A hierarchical model of action generation is proposed, where motor representations are stored in short-term memory and activated during mental imagery, with the content of these representations being rehearsed if the corresponding action is not fully executed. The model suggests that motor imagery can improve motor performance by enhancing synaptic efficacy in critical neural circuits, and that it may also involve a tonic afferent discharge from muscular spindles, contributing to subsequent shaping of motor performance.The paper explores the concept of mental imagery in the context of motor actions, suggesting that motor images share the same properties and functional relationship with the corresponding motor representations as do actual movements. The author argues that motor imagery involves a conscious representation of the body as the generator of acting forces, and that it can be accessed through indirect methods such as matching the imaged movement with a real one or measuring mental movement time. Physiological correlates of motor imagery, such as increased electromyographic activity and spinal excitability, are discussed, along with the effects of mental training on motor performance. A hierarchical model of action generation is proposed, where motor representations are stored in short-term memory and activated during mental imagery, with the content of these representations being rehearsed if the corresponding action is not fully executed. The model suggests that motor imagery can improve motor performance by enhancing synaptic efficacy in critical neural circuits, and that it may also involve a tonic afferent discharge from muscular spindles, contributing to subsequent shaping of motor performance.