Volume 12, Issue 1 -

The present study investigated how task complexity and imagery perspective affected brain wave activity during imagery using electroencephalography (EEG) measures. EEG recordings were collected from 21 collegiate soccer players (male n = 14, female n = 7; M age = 20.71 years, SD = 1.55) visualizing from two perspectives (internal and external) on two motor tasks (simple and complex). Results reveal no differences in alpha brainwave activity during imagery when adopting different imagery perspectives (internal and external) or when imagining a complex or simple task. Results indicate that the left hemisphere was processing more information during imagery of the simple task, as measured by greater alpha brain wave activity in the upper values (11–13 Hz) in the right hemisphere as compared to the left. Findings indicate that the main area of the brain where this activity is different is the temporal lobe (lower and upper alpha levels), which is associated with the processing of auditory information, visual recognition, comprehension and production of language (Corr, 2006). Results imply that guided imagery scripts may interfere with athletes’ imagery experiences as they appear to be devoting greater cognitive resources to processing audio information.

The primary aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of combining layered stimulus response training (LSRT) with one week of imagery rehearsal on exercise imagery ability. Further aims were to investigate pre- to post-intervention changes in exercise related feeling states and interest/enjoyment, and determine if imagery ability at post-intervention was associated with these variables. Forty-five women aged 19 to 50 years ( M = 30.53; SD = 10.08) performed LSRT and were randomly assigned to either rehearsal or no rehearsal conditions of an imagery script describing a brisk walk. Both groups significantly improved their ability to image different types of exercise imagery from pre- to post-intervention, but the rehearsal group improved their imagery accuracy significantly more than the control group. Both groups significantly improved on interest/enjoyment, physical exhaustion and positive engagement, but not revitalization or tranquility. For the rehearsal group, post-intervention exercise imagery ability correlated significantly and positively with post-intervention interest/enjoyment, positive engagement, and tranquility. Results indicate that it is feasible to improve exercise imagery ability through a brief imagery intervention and that this increase was associated with better affective responses to exercise.

Acrobatic gymnastics is a unique sport due to the different mixes of gender, age and number of gymnasts working in each partnership, however psychological skills training within this domain is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an imagery training intervention on acrobatic performance, self-confidence and anxiety in acrobatic gymnastics. Participants ( n =19) completed the Sport Imagery Questionnaire and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory 2 prior to performing their competition routine. They were then randomly assigned to a 4 week imagery training intervention ( n =11) or control group ( n =8). Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to examine changes in acrobatic performance, levels of self-confidence and anxiety. The imagery intervention significantly increased acrobats’ self-confidence, however imagery did not significantly reduce anxiety or improve acrobatic performance. Future research should consider adopting a longer intervention period to elicit a reduction in anxiety levels and an enhancement of acrobatic performance.

Motor imagery practice (MIP) is the process of mentally rehearsing motor imagery (MI) contents with the goal of improving motor performance. The potential of MIP in providing motor and non-motor benefits to dancers has not been thoroughly investigated to-date. This study investigated the feasibility of delivering a 6-week MIP intervention for adolescent female dance students and its effect on performance of repeated and static elevé. Participants’ imagery ability and self-reported views and attitudes toward MIP were also investigated. Data regarding ankle plantar-flexion (PF) maximal angles, range-of-motion (ROM), and weight bearing symmetry index (SI) were collected from 25 adolescent female dance students randomly assigned to either MIP (experimental) or upper body exercise (control). Results showed feasibility of delivering the MIP intervention with a significant ( p <0.05) improvement in ankle PF maximal angle and ROM for the repeated elevé following the intervention. Participants’ views regarding MIP and their imagery characteristics are also presented and discussed in light of practical implications. This study provides support to a promising relationship between implementing MIP as an adjunct dance training method and eliciting enhanced dance performance.