mental imagery

Question 1

what is imagery

Answer 1

• seeing, feeling, smelling, tasting and hearing images that mimic a real experience without experiencing it

Question 2

key terminology-
mental practice
mental rehearsal
visualisation

Answer 2

• the cognitive rehearsal of a task prior to performance
• the cognitive rehearsal of a task in the absence of physical movement
• the formation of mental visual images

Question 3

benefits of visualisation

Answer 3

• Confidence, motivation, focus, movements, strength, reaction time, rewire the brain, epigenetic changes

Question 4

why it is important and effective

Answer 4

• Real-life situations and imagery have Functional Equivalence = shared neural activity patterning so the brain cannot tell the difference
• imagery and physical practice are better than physical practice alone

Question 5

can use imagery from 2 perspectives
- what are they
- 1st or 3rd person view
- what do you image
- when is it usefull

Answer 5

• internal visual imagery- 1st person, viewing through own eyes, practice timing of movements or experience a situation
• external visual imagery- 3rd person, from an external perspective, to see how movements should look

Question 6

what is kinaesthetic imagery-

Answer 6

• Feelings and sensations associated with the image, eg. breathing, the feel, body movements

Question 7

benefits of imagery

Answer 7

• To learn and improve skills/techniques
  
  • Enhance motivation
  • Modify cognitions
  • Manage emotions
  • Learn/develop plans/strategies

Question 8

pavlios 2x2 framework
- what is it
- what is each combination and an eg, of when its used

Answer 8

• Imagery can be used for different functions that can be categorised as being cognitive or motivational and specific or general
• CS- to learn/improve/maintain performance of skills, eg. improve golf swing
• CG- to learn/develop strategies/set plays/ routines, eg. attacking corner in football
• MS- to motivate and increase effort levels to achieve specific goals, eg. win a competition
• MG - MG-A- imagery to regulate arousal, anxiety and emotions, eg. psych up before competition
  - MG-M- imagery to regulate thoughts and cognitions, eg. stay focussed, confident, positive

Question 9

what is imagery ability

Answer 9

An individual’s capability to form vivid, controllable images and retain them for sufficient time to effect the desired imagery rehearsal
- better ability, better imagery quality and effectiveness

Question 10

3 ways to improve imagery ability

Answer 10

• Behavioural matching, E.g., PETTLEP imagery
• Training exercises, E.g., Layered Stimulus Response Training
• Observation and demonstrations, E.g., video clips, demonstrations

Question 11

how to measure imagery ability

Answer 11

• Self report, eg. questionnaires (subjective)
• Behavioural, chronometric, physiological, neural (objective)

Question 12

advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires

Answer 12

• Cheap, easy to administer
• Easily access different perspectives, modalities, content
• Direct assessment of imagery ability
• Difficult to compare people
• Self-report bias
• Different interpretations of scales

Question 13

advantages and disadvantages of objective measures

Answer 13

• Responses easier to compare between people/conditions
• Expensive and require training
• More of an indirect assessment of imagery ability

Question 14

what is pettlep imagery
- what each letter means

Answer 14

• Imagery interventions should stimulate all execution situations
• physical- wear kit, use equipment, move
• environment- ideal to be where you perform, if not recreate through videos and audios
• task- task is the same as in the actual situation
• timing - image should match the actual time of performance, or slowed down to see minor details
• learning- match stage of learn/skill level
• emotion- include emotions you want to experience which will improve performance, not hinder
• perspective - ext/int depending on what you need

Question 15

applied model of imagery use
- what is it
- limitations

Answer 15

• in a given situation individuals should use the optimal type/function of imagery (CS, CG, MS, MG-A, and MG-M) for achieving their desired outcomes.
• athletes may want to image different things in the same situation as others

Question 16

revised applied model of deliberate imagery use
- what is it
- more about each section

Answer 16

• picture of it
• ‘Where and when’, and ‘who’ feeds into why. ‘Why’, ‘personal meaning’ and ‘imagery ability’ impact what is imaged and how they will image it, which then leads to the outcome
• who- gender, age, sport, personality
• where and when are they imaging- training, travelling, pre game, competition, bed, etc.
• why are they imaging/what is the purpose- CS, CG, MS, MG, pain and healing
• what is the image- movements, feelings, thoughts, surroundings
• how is it imaged- modality, perspective, angle, is it deliberate
• imagery outcomes -
  1- Facilitate learning and performance of skills and strategies
  2- Modifying conditions
  3- Regulate arousal and competitive anxiety