2. 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.
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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.
6. 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)
8. 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.
9. SYSTEMATIC DESENSITISATION
Systematic desensitisation- combines progressive
relaxation with increasingly realistic and physically
close experiences of an anxiety-provoking stimulus.
(Morris T. Summers J, 1995)
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. REFERENCES
• Sheikh. A A., Korn. E R., 1994, Imagery in sports and physical performance,
Baywood publishing company., Amityville, New York, viewed 4 th 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 28 th 2013.
• Morris. T., Summers. J., 1995, Sports Psychology: Theory, applications and issues,
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Viewed march 28 th 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.
14. Louisville Player Kevin Ware Breaks Leg CLOSE UP [Best View],
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gXbswT9egU
