Imagery (Mental Practice)Imagery (Mental Practice)

Imagery helpful for improving memory and Imagery helpful for improving memory and attentional skillsattentional skills

Cognitive rehearsal of a physical skill in the Cognitive rehearsal of a physical skill in the absence of overt physical movementabsence of overt physical movement

Visualization - too simplisticVisualization - too simplistic Focuses more on overall performance, more Focuses more on overall performance, more

multi-sensorymulti-sensory

Uses of ImageryUses of Imagery

Potential uses?Potential uses? No practice vs. mental practice vs. physical No practice vs. mental practice vs. physical

practicepractice Feltz & Landers (1994) meta-analysis Feltz & Landers (1994) meta-analysis

– found greater effect sizes for imagery tasks found greater effect sizes for imagery tasks with higher cognitive demandswith higher cognitive demands

Internal vs. External ImageryInternal vs. External Imagery

Imagery exampleImagery example Internal vs. ExternalInternal vs. External Which is preferable?Which is preferable? Internal = more kinesthetic informationInternal = more kinesthetic information External = more visualExternal = more visual Preference of elite athletes?Preference of elite athletes?

Why does mental practice work?Why does mental practice work?

Neuromuscular TheoryNeuromuscular Theory– Develop a strong memory representation of the Develop a strong memory representation of the

tasktask– Strengthen neural pathwaysStrengthen neural pathways– better for lower skilled--more pathways to better for lower skilled--more pathways to

strengthenstrengthen– Not as effective for more complex tasksNot as effective for more complex tasks– Suinn studySuinn study

Why does mental practice work?Why does mental practice work?

Cognitive/Symbolic LearningCognitive/Symbolic Learning– Know “what to do”Know “what to do”– Code cognitive aspects of movement patternsCode cognitive aspects of movement patterns– Use imagery to produce cues that would be Use imagery to produce cues that would be

seen in actual practice or competitionseen in actual practice or competition– More efficient with more elite performers--More efficient with more elite performers--

why?why?

Mastery vs. Coping ImageryMastery vs. Coping Imagery

Mastery = images of success, demonstrating Mastery = images of success, demonstrating competencecompetence

Coping = images of failure, stress, Coping = images of failure, stress, circumstances not ideal, etc.circumstances not ideal, etc.

Why would that be important?Why would that be important?

Implications for InterventionsImplications for Interventions

Imagery is a skill; must be practicedImagery is a skill; must be practiced Inclusion of sensory informationInclusion of sensory information Use of relaxation prior to imageryUse of relaxation prior to imagery May be used to enhance memory of skill May be used to enhance memory of skill

performanceperformance

Psychology of InjuryPsychology of Injury

October 22, 2002October 22, 2002

Importance of Injury as a TopicImportance of Injury as a Topic

ImportanceImportance

3-5 million (1993) to 17 million per year 3-5 million (1993) to 17 million per year (1998)(1998)

Medical advances, but not psychological Medical advances, but not psychological advancesadvances

Larson (1996) study of 482 AT’sLarson (1996) study of 482 AT’s

Importance of InjuryImportance of Injury

Psychological variables that may influence Psychological variables that may influence injuryinjury

Potential role of sport psychology to Potential role of sport psychology to facilitate recoveryfacilitate recovery

Certain factors may be instrumental in Certain factors may be instrumental in prediction of injury--> prolong rehab--prediction of injury--> prolong rehab-->subsequent performance/emotional >subsequent performance/emotional problemsproblems

Model of StressModel of Stress

Stress & Injury Model

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StressorsStressors

Stress history contributes to the stress Stress history contributes to the stress response directlyresponse directly

Personality variables & coping may directly Personality variables & coping may directly affect, or affect through the stress responseaffect, or affect through the stress response

Stress ResponseStress Response

Mechanisms that increase during stressMechanisms that increase during stress High stress, personality traits that High stress, personality traits that

exacerbate stress response or few coping exacerbate stress response or few coping resources will have a different appraisal--> resources will have a different appraisal--> greater risk for injurygreater risk for injury

Personality Variables Related to Personality Variables Related to Onset of InjuryOnset of Injury Risk-takingRisk-taking

AnxietyAnxiety

Situational Variables Related to Situational Variables Related to Onset of InjuryOnset of Injury Major & Minor Life Stresses (Stress Major & Minor Life Stresses (Stress

History)History)

Coping ResourcesCoping Resources

Effects of InjuryEffects of Injury

Loss of social support system (sports in Loss of social support system (sports in particular?)particular?)

Uncertainty about immediate future Uncertainty about immediate future (circular relationship)(circular relationship)

Loss of confidence (circular again)Loss of confidence (circular again) Athletic identity (at high risk at retirement) Athletic identity (at high risk at retirement)

if involuntary, higher risk. Thanatologyif involuntary, higher risk. Thanatology

Psychological Response to Injury Psychological Response to Injury & Rehabilitation& Rehabilitation Wiese-Bjornstal et al. (1998): Integrated Wiese-Bjornstal et al. (1998): Integrated

model of psychological response to teh model of psychological response to teh sport injury and rehabilitation processsport injury and rehabilitation process

Personal factors, Situational factors affect Personal factors, Situational factors affect cognitive appraisal, behavioral response, cognitive appraisal, behavioral response, and emotional response, which affect and emotional response, which affect recovery outcomesrecovery outcomes

Integrated ModelIntegrated Model

Personal factorsPersonal factors Situational factorsSituational factors

Integrated ModelIntegrated Model

Core of model = arrowsCore of model = arrows Dynamic processDynamic process Cognitive appraisal should affect emotional Cognitive appraisal should affect emotional

responses, which will influence behavioral responses, which will influence behavioral responseresponse

Why are there arrows going in a Why are there arrows going in a counterclockwise direction?counterclockwise direction?