MENTAL IMAGERY

Written By Sam Bartholomeusz

U3065853

MENTAL IMAGERY

• Defined by (Moran. A. P, 2004) as an internal representation that gives rise to the experience of perception in the absence of appropriate sensory input.

• Similarly defined by (Ungerleider. S, 1996) as the process of receiving information through all of our senses from the external environment.

SENSORY CONTRIBUTION

• Mental imagery is described by Moran. A.P, as a multi sensory experience. The main sense used by most athletes is Vision while other senses are used to enhance the experience.

Vision Touch Smell Taste sound

USES FOR MENTAL IMAGERY

• Mental imagery has the ability to be used through a variety of sporting situations.

• Morris & Summers describe some common uses of mental imagery as: Skill Learning Skill practice Strategy learning Strategy practice Mental warm-up

KINAESTHETIC IMAGERY

• While vision is the most commonly used sensory input in the imagery process, some sports such as golf and canoe-slalom rely heavily on touch in order to complete best possible performance.

• Moran & MacIntyre, 1998, produced a study that used kinaesthetic imagery in a sample of 12 elite canoe-slalom athletes.

IMAGERY IN REHABILITATION

Study: Keeping your head in the game: Sports specific imagery and anxiety in injured athletes.

Study uses the Sports Imagery Questionnaire developed by Hall et al. This questionnaire measures the frequency of using 5 different types of imagery that vary in content:

1. Cognitive General (CG-Strategies)

2. Cognitive Specific (CG-Skills

3. Motivational Specific (MS-Goals)

4. Motivational General Arousal (MG-Arousal)

5. Motivational General Mastery (MG-Mastery)

KEVIN WARE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gXbswT9egU

Warning, quite disturbing!

VISUO-MOTOR BEHAVIOR REHEARSAL

• VMBR involves sensory-motor sensations that reintegrate reality behaviors, including:

Neuromuscular Physiological Emotional involvement

• A VMBR session is ran in a quite environment if possible, starts with a pre-interview, progresses to a specific relaxation/ imagery exercises and finally a post-interview is conducted.

SYSTEMATIC DESENSITISATION

Systematic desensitisation- combines progressive relaxation with increasingly realistic and physically close experiences of an anxiety-provoking stimulus. (Morris T. Summers J, 1995)

ADVANTAGES OF VMBR

1. Standardized training method that is subject to description and therefore replication

2. Does not require special skills such as those that may be required in tasks such as hypnosis

3. Has now been researched in depth with published reviews on its efficacy.

4. Versatile in that it can be used in a group or individual setting.

VIDEO MODELING

• Bandura proposed that observation of a model performing a task successfully enhances performance, as does performance accomplishment. (Morris T. Summers J, 1995)

• Hall & Erffmeyer- 10 perfect free throws.

• Flotation is also used to facilitate relaxation and assist with the imagery process.

SUMMARY

Mental Imagery is used through a variety of ways to enhance any athletes performances.

Relaxation is key in the mental imagery process in order for it to be successful.

While mental imagery is still regarded as a theory, the evidence supporting the use in a sporting environment is growing. It cannot be ignored as there are proven benefits from this process.

REFERENCES• Sheikh. A A., Korn. E R., 1994, Imagery in sports and physical performance,

Baywood publishing company., Amityville, New York, viewed 4th April 2013.

• Monsma. E., Mensch. J., Farroll. J., 2009, Journal of athletic training, Keeping your head in the game: Sport-specific imagery and anxiety among injured athletes, Published by National Athletics Trainers Association, viewed march 28th 2013.

• Morris. T., Summers. J., 1995, Sports Psychology: Theory, applications and issues, Published by John Wiley & Sons, Viewed march 28th 2013.

• Moran. A P., 2004, Sport and Exercise Psychology: A critical introduction, published by Routledge, 27 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex, viewed 26th March 2013

• Ungerleider. S., 1996, Mental training for peak performance, published by Rodale books, viewed 26th March 2013.

Louisville Player Kevin Ware Breaks Leg CLOSE UP [Best View], Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gXbswT9egU