Week 6 - Imagery and Visualisation Flashcards
(17 cards)
What are cognitive representations of movement?
- cognitive elements needed for translating thoughts to action/movement
- used to correct/improve movements in training
What sport psychology strategy is used for cognitive representations of movement?
Visualisation!
- improving movement through mental simulation
-assumption that movement and mental representation of movement use same cognitive structure (mirror neurons) - implemented in rehab (e.g. after injury)
What does Ferguson and Mclivaney, 2000 have to say about imagery?
“I was always trying to add imagination to my coaching, emphasising the need for players to have a picture in their minds, to visualise how they could have a creative impact on the shifting pattern of a game”
What does Eberspacher, 2007 have to say about imagery?
“mental training is the deliberate, repeated, planned ad conscious imagining of a skilled action, without it simultaneous execution”
How does Cumming et al, 2023 describe the functions of imagery? Slide 9 for table
He believes that imagery is divided into two categories:
- Cognitive and Motivational
With subcategories of Specific or General.
However, Motivational General (MG) can then be subcategorised as Arousal or Mastery
What is imagery?
- development of mental representation of movement
- should include as many senses as possible
- visualisation of “feeling” of movement is important
How does imagery work?
- Functional equivalence - activation of same neuronal networks that are used when movement is performed
-visualisation can improve learning processes - automisation of movements happen faster as a result
What are the key characteristics of imagery based on Cumming and Williams, 2012?
- SENSES - visual, auditive, haptic, olfactory
- PERSPECTIVE - internal (own perspective) or external (observer)
- ANGLE - angle of external perspective (from above, side or back etc)
- EMBODIMENT - visualisation of oneself or another person
What are verbal-symbolic approaches (Eberspacher, 2007)?
- verbalisation of visualisations (e.g. creating phrase/writing it down)
-reducing movement to specific elements - combination of phrases and rhythms that represent movement
- writing down phrase helps communication between athlete and coach
What is the four-group measurement repetition paradigm?
Structure of an idea of movement
- detailed description of movement
- highlighting ndoes
- symoblic marking or rhythmising of nodes
- mental training of symbolically marked and rhythmised nodes
What are spatial-visual approaches?
- developing mental images of movements through videos or observation
- activation of mirror neurons
What are some kinaesthetic approaches?
- developing mental images of movements through memory
- when movement was performed well, mental image is created or adapted
- usually easy for athletes
What should imagery encompass? Consider PETTLEP - imagery model by Holmes and Collins, 2001.
- Physical - kinaesthetic properties of movement
- Environment - typical circumstances of environment
- Task - task type and objective
- Timing - temporal aspect
- Learning - differentiation of imagination content and regular evaluation
- Emotions - accompanying emotion
- Perspective - perspective of imagination (INT or observation)
What have research/scientific studies found?
- good association between imagery and performance
- activation of mirror neurons
- biceps muscle growth in eldery after imagery
- 28% increase in strength through weightlifting, 24% through imagery
- 99% top athletes use imagery
- 90% olympic athletes use imagery, 94% coaches apply it during practice
What is the effectiveness of imagery?
More effective then no training!
- esp. during injury/off-season
Less effective than actual training
- good addition to regular training
Combination of both is most effective
When would you apply imagery?
Preparing for difficult situations
- imagining performance in specific situation
- mental preparation for situations that may cause anxiety/have cause anxiety in past
Learning new movement/skill acquisition
- performing element
- corrections through coach and imagining element with corrections
- performing same element again
What are some considerations when applying imagery?
- start early enough in season
- never start at competition
- include in training and daily life
