1. What Is Imagery?
Equivalent terms include visualization, mental rehearsal, mental practice.
Imagery involves creating or recreating an experience in your mind.
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2. What Is Imagery?
A form of simulation that involves recalling from memory pieces of information stored from experience, and shaping these pieces into meaningful images.
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3. What Is Imagery?
Imagery involves all the senses: visual, kinesthetic, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory.
(e.g., wide-receiver; other)
Imagery involves moods and emotions.

4. Types of Imagery Internal imagery External imagery
Imagine the execution of a skill from your own vantage point (a first-person perspective).
External
imagery
View yourself from the perspective of an external observer (like watching yourself on video).

5. Types of Imagery
Key:
Whether a person uses an internal or external image appears to be less important than his or her choosing a comfortable style that produces clear, controllable images.
Some suggest internal imaging is better for performance enhancement

6. Vividness Keys to Effective Imagery
Use all the senses to make images as vivid and detailed as possible.
Exercise: Imagine being at home, a positive performance of a skill, a best performance.

7. Controllability Keys to Effective Imagery
Learn to manipulate your images so they do what you want them to.
Exercise: Imagine a desired action/outcome, or controlling your emotions in competition or in response to an opponent or difficult person

8. Uses of Imagery Improve concentration Relaxation Build confidence
Control emotional responses - coping
Acquire and practice physical sport skills
Control pain
Solve problems
Acquire and practice strategy

9. Does Imagery Work? Anecdotal reports: Case studies: myself
Jack Nicklaus, Olympic athletes and coaches
Case studies:
myself
Multiple-baseline case studies:
VMBR investigations with skiers and karate performers
Experimental evidence:
Many supportive experiments; 200+
However, imagery effectiveness depends on a number of factors.

10. Factors in Effectiveness of Imagery
Nature of the task: Imagery affects performance the most on cognitive tasks.
Skill level of the performer: Imagery helps performance for both novice and experienced performers; effects are stronger for experienced performers…may have clearer, more vivid images of specific skills compared to beginners
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11. Factors in Effectiveness of Imagery
Imaging ability: Imagery is more effective when individuals are higher in their ability to image (have better vividness and control).
Combination with practice: Using imagery along with physical practice works better than just using imagery alone…BUT...

12. Developing an Imagery Training Program
Tailor imagery programs to an athlete’s individual needs, abilities, and interests.
The first step in developing an imagery program is evaluating the athlete’s imagery skills.
Imagery must be practiced...should be built into an athlete’s daily routine.

13. Developing an Imagery Training Program
Imagery guidelines:
Proper setting
Relaxed concentration
Realistic expectations; sufficient motivation
Vivid and controllable images
Positive focus
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14. Developing an Imagery Training Program
Imagery guidelines:
Use Videotapes; create them of yourself or use expert models
Imagining execution and outcome
Imagining in real time

15. When to Use Imagery Before and after practice
Before and after competition
During breaks in action (in practice and competition)
During personal time
When recovering from injury
Immediate correction of technical or mental mistakes (e.g., golf swing)

16. How Imagery Works: Five Theories
Psychoneuromuscular theory
Symbolic learning theory
Psychological skills hypothesis
Bioinformational theory
Triple code model

17. Psychoneuromuscular Theory Imagery programs muscles for action.
How Imagery Works
Psychoneuromuscular Theory
Imagery programs muscles for action.
Imagery facilitates learning of motor skills because imagined events innervate the muscles like physical practice of the movement; they strengthen neural pathways.

18. Symbolic Learning Theory
How Imagery Works
Symbolic Learning Theory
Imagery helps us understand movement patterns.
Imagery functions as a coding system (as mental blueprints) to help people understand and acquire movement patterns.

19. Psychological Skills Hypothesis: Attentional Arousal Set
Theory 3
How Imagery Works
Psychological Skills Hypothesis: Attentional Arousal Set
Imagery ---> other mental skills
Imagery develops and refines mental skills (i.e., concentration and confidence) and reduces anxiety.

20. Bioinformational Theory
How Imagery Works
Bioinformational Theory
Images are made of stimulus and response propositions.
It is critical to imagine not only stimulus propositions (statements that describe the scenario to be imagined) but also response propositions (imaginer’s response to the scenario).

21. Triple Code Model How Imagery Works
Theory 5
How Imagery Works
Triple Code Model
Imagery comprises the image, somatic response, and image meaning.
understanding how these 3 components of imagery meld together...
Most all theories try to explain motor performance and skill learning, leaving a lot out

22. Future of Imagery Neuroscience and imaging
Other applications and directions?