Volume 9, Issue 1 -

The purpose of this study was to analyze the movement-related brain macropotentials (MRBMs) recorded during the execution of two tests of motor imagery: kinaesthetic (internal) and visual (external). Recordings were compared with those obtained performing a GO/NOGO motor test. The GO test required pressure of three keys of a modified keyboard in sequence when a figure appeared in the computer screen. On NOGO trials no button had to be pressed. Motor imagery tests were an internal or kinaesthetic imagination test (IN MI) on which participants imagined performing the pressure of keyboard buttons, avoiding any real movement, and an external or visual imagination test (EX MI) on which subjects were asked to imagine seeing their finger press the buttons. With the completion of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire, the participants were assigned into two groups: high (11) and low (10) capacity of imagination. The results showed an increase in the amplitude of the MRBMs wave occurring in the prestimulus period of imagination, with respect to real motor action. In the poststimulus period, the amplitude and duration of the waves recorded during motor action were higher than those recorded during the motor imagery tests. The comparison between EX and IN MI showed a lower latency and a higher amplitude of the brain waves recorded during internal motor imagery with respect to those observed during EX MI. The experimental data confirm that real motor activity is related to higher amplitude MRBMs than motor imagery. The profile of the waves recorded during internal imagery seems to be related to a higher brain involvement compared to those recorded during external visual imagery; it suggest that the kinaesthetic process of imagination is more efficient in information processing and motor skill acquisition.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a standardized mental practice tool incorporating principles of video, modeling, and traditional-imagery,on the imagery ability of competitive college sailors. A quasi-experimental method using a quantitative pre-test/post-test design was administered with a convenience sample of collegiate sailors recruited via the Internet. An integrated video-imagery intervention was compared with a traditional verbal intervention to measure each intervention’s impact on imagery ability. The Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2 (VMIQ-2) was used to assess external visual imagery, internal visual imagery, and kinesthetic imagery. Exposure to video-imagery resulted in significant improvement of external visual, internal visual, and kinesthetic imagery abilities. There was no significant difference between improvements from video-imagery versus traditional-imagery. Future studies should explore best combinations of imagery and observation techniques, and efficacious elements of each

The effect of associative and dissociative imagery was tested on a range of psychological-, physiological-, and performance-related variables during a progressive cycling task using a quantitative approach. Participants ( n = 45) were randomly assigned to dissociative imagery, associative imagery, and no imagery conditions and performed a progressive cycling task at 10% above anaerobic threshold up to the point of volitional fatigue. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE), attention focus, and heart rate were monitored and assessed at 1-min intervals. Lactic acid (LA) accumulation was recorded at RPE = 5 (i.e. “strong effort”) and at the point of volitional fatigue. A series of repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that relative to their counterparts who were not using imagery, participants who used imagery accumulated higher levels of LA in blood. Despite some of the non-significant results, present effect sizes seemed to indicate that dissociative imagery may help decrease perception of effort, and associative imagery may help increase time on task.

The present study was designed to investigate a relationship between the ability to quickly perform a mental rotation (MR) task using body (particularly foot) stimuli and postural stability during unipedal and bipedal quiet stance. Twenty-four healthy young adults participated in this study to measure reaction times for the MR (stimuli: foot, hand, and car), postural sway values during unipedal and bipedal standings, and lower extremity functions. Results showed significant correlations between the reaction time for the MR of the foot stimuli (but not for hand and car stimuli) and some of postural sway values (total length of sway and mean velocity in the anterior–posterior direction) during unipedal standing (but not for bipedal standing). Consistently, participants who performed the MR task quickly showed significantly smaller sway values during unipedal standing than those who performed the task slowly. These findings suggest that the ability to mentally imagine the foot movement is likely to relate to postural stability, while involving a challenging postural task, such as unipedal standing. The reaction time for the MR of foot stimuli was also correlated with two-point discrimination (TPD) distance on the plantar skin. Given that the TPD distance not only represents cutaneous acuity but also reflects participants’ body image relating to their feet, MR performance may have been related to postural stability because both involve cognitive processes used for both motor imagery and motor execution of the foot movement.

The PETTLEP model of imagery (Holmes & Collins, 2001) was designed to produce more effective imagery. The PETTLEP acronym represents seven key elements (i.e., Physical, Environment, Task, Timing, Learning, Emotion, and Perspective) which should be considered by researchers and practitioners when delivering an imagery intervention. It is thought that by including these elements the functional equivalence at the neural level between imagery and performance will be increased. A number of interventions have supported the use of PETTLEP imagery in improving performance of motor skills (e.g., Smith, Wright, Allsopp, & Westhead, 2007, 2008). To date, however, these PETTLEP interventions have mainly been applied to adult populations with very few conducted with children. The aim of the present study was to test the effects of a 5-week layered-PETTLEP intervention (i.e., adding PETTLEP elements progressively) on movement imagery ability and performance of a soccer task in children. A secondary aim was to examine the potential for a sport-specific nutritional intervention to serve as an effective control condition. Thirty-six children (34 male, 2 female, M age=9.72 years, SD = 2.05) from a local futsal club were age matched and then randomly allocated to either a PETTLEP imagery intervention group or a nutrition control group. Pre-testing consisted of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire for Children and a dribbling and passing motor task. Post-test protocol was the same with the addition of a nutritional knowledge test. Despite the imagery intervention producing no significant improvements in imagery ability or motor task performance, there was a significant correlation at post-test for the imagery group between age and external visual ( r =0.56, p <0.05) and kinesthetic imagery ability ( r =0.57, p <0.05). Furthermore, the nutrition group scored significantly higher than the imagery group on the nutrition test ( p <0.05). This study highlights important aspects that need to be considered when delivering PETTLEP imagery interventions to children. This study is also one of the first studies to show that control groups, especially with children, can be used for educational purposes. Similar control groups should be considered in future research, as it means interventions can not only be used in a practical manner to improve sporting performance but also to educate and improve knowledge.

The present study used the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-3) to determine the relationship between self-report movement imagery ability and performance on a motor task requiring use of visual and kinesthetic imagery. Young adults were asked to view a number sequence of 4- and 5 digits, maintain the information over a 6 s delay (blank screen) using visual imagery maintenance, and complete the sequence by finger-tapping complementary numbers using motor (kinesthetic) imagery and actually executing movements. We predicted higher movement imagery ability scores would be associated with faster movement times, and imagery ability would be significantly related to the motor tasks. Correlation results indicated no significant differences between self-report and finger-tapping scores, suggesting that in the context of the motor tasks used here, performance was independent of movement imagery ability. Discussion of this preliminary study focuses on the role of visual working memory in the motor task used here and its lack of assessment using the MIQ-3 and other current self-reports.

Phenomenological interviews were conducted with 15 skilled divers ( M =29.87 years; SD =8.30), ranging in competitive level from college to Olympic, to explore their lived experience of using imagery. Qualitative analysis of interview data revealed a total of 696 meaning units which were used to produce a final thematic structure consisting of four higher order themes: time and place, perfecting the dive , mentally preparing , and constructing the image . The results suggest that skilled divers’ imagery is an active process (i.e., includes different perspectives, speeds, and overt movements) and they use imagery for several purposes (i.e., physical and psychological). Results unique to the present study were divers’ manipulations of imagery speed, the incorporation of body movements during their imagery rehearsal to enhance the kinesthetic sensation associated with their desired image, the use of imagery aids to augment their imagery practice, and the use of imagery to focus and avoid distractions during competition. These specific nuances of divers’ use of imagery offer several practical applications for sport psychology consultants and coaches interested in implementing imagery interventions with this athlete population.