Daniel M. Landers
In this presentation I will attempt to provide an understanding
of the behavioral and psycho-physiological research literature on
mental practice/imagery (MP) related to motor and sport performance.
This presentation will consist of: (a) a brief review the overall effects
of MP on motor performance as well as selected moderator variables which
have implications for when MP should be given relative to physical practice
(PP) and the number of MP trials required for different types of motor
tasks; (b) a description of research findings dealing with procedural variables
associated with MP (i.e., whether MP should come before or after PP and
the length of MP sessions); (c) a review of the research literature on
"internal/external" and "outcome/form"
focus during motor imagery; (d) a description of research which shows
that, if MP is given to elite athletes who already have
preperformance routines, performance will be impaired; (e) a review
of research showing a confounding factor in MP
studies--that of demonstrating the skill prior to participants engaging
in MP (i.e., two recent studies showing
that modeling effects are greater than MP effects); and (f) research
literature showing that changes in heart rate, respiration rate, brain
activity, and electromyographical (EMG) activity associated with real and
imagined movements. These psycho- physiological findings show that,
compared with real movements, the patterning of physiological activity
associated with MP is not exactly the same for heart rate, respiration,
and cortical measures, but there is considerable functional equivalence.
However, there is no functional equivalence between real and imagined movements
when muscular (EMG) measures are examined. The presentation will
conclude with a synopsis of gaps in our present scientific knowledge of
MP, as well as what the current research literature means for practitioners
in the field.