Imagining a brighter future: The effect of positive imagery training on mood, prospective mental imagery and emotional bias in older adults

Abstract Destination memory errors (inability to remember to whom information was shared) affects all ages, but older adults are particularly vulnerable due to poor source monitoring. Individuals may assume information was already shared when it was not or repeat previously shared information. The current study explored two mental imagery strategies (vivid imagery, visualizing context) to improve destination memory. Using a software program, younger and older adults told randomly generated facts to random celebrity faces. Participants were unaware of the upcoming memory tests. The control group did not use a strategy. The imagery group used vivid imagery to connect the fact and face (e.g., visualize Oprah on a dime to remember Oprah was told that dimes have 118 ridges). The context group visualized a provided context (e.g., grocery store) when telling a fact to a face. Assessments of performance on item memory (facts, faces) as well as destination memory (face-fact pairings) were counterbalanced. Results indicated an associative memory deficit among older adults, which was driven by a higher rate of false alarms. However, across all adults, the vivid imagery condition was more accurate than the control condition, and they demonstrated fewer false alarms. These findings suggest that older adults can use mental imagery to reduce false alarms and improve destination memory performance. Implications include reducing age stereotypes, improving conversations, and decreasing potentially dangerous situations (e.g., withholding important health information thinking it already was shared with a doctor).

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Mental imagery training for treatment of central neuropathic pain: a narrative review

Acta Neurologica Belgica ◽

10.1007/s13760-019-01139-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 119 (2) ◽

pp. 175-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jaskirat Kaur ◽

Shampa Ghosh ◽

Asish Kumar Sahani ◽

Jitendra Kumar Sinha

Keyword(s):

Neuropathic Pain ◽

Mental Imagery ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Central Neuropathic Pain ◽

Imagery Training

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Mental Imagery in Volleyball Settings: A Scoping Review

Journal of Imagery Research in Sport and Physical Activity ◽

10.1515/jirspa-2018-0012 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Joana Ribeiro ◽

Cláudia Dias ◽

Valter Cardoso Barbosa Filho ◽

José Cruz ◽

António Fonseca

Keyword(s):

Mental Imagery ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Training Programs ◽

Selection Process ◽

Future Research ◽

Psychological Skills ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Imagery Training ◽

Certification Programs ◽

Volleyball Players

Abstract This article presents a scoping review of the published literature on mental imagery in the context of volleyball. Four online databases and one peer-reviewed journals were searched, based on the inclusion criteria. Publication information, procedures and research methods, sample characteristics, sport type and type of mental imagery were analyzed. The selection process found 52 studies, and results showed that from 1987 to 2018 the mental images, along with other psychological skills, have gained popularity in volleyball settings. The examined studies used cross-sectional and experimental approaches, and the analysis was assessed by quantitative data and/ or mental imagery training programs (with relaxation and scripts), mainly focusing on the isolated analysis of the mental imagery construct, and evaluating its use. The studies included both male and female participants, but only 11% were volleyball players. Additionally, the focus was on adolescents and young adult athletes, mostly from high school/ university or international/ elite levels. However, just two studies examined athletes under the age of 16. Considering the present study’s results, limitations, and its implications for practice (e. g. to provide the coach certification programs with specific mental imagery contents), future research directions were highlighted, such as improve mental imagery training programs for children and youth volleyball players.

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The Effect of Mental-Imagery Training on Performance Enhancement with 7-10-Year-Old Children

The Sport Psychologist ◽

10.1123/tsp.6.3.230 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 230-241 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Zhang Li-Wei ◽

Ma Qi-Wei ◽

Terry Orlick ◽

Louise Zitzelsberger

Keyword(s):

Mental Imagery ◽

Performance Enhancement ◽

Field Studies ◽

Table Tennis ◽

Technical Quality ◽

Tennis Players ◽

Imagery Training ◽

Comparison Groups ◽

Shed Light

Field studies investigating the potential benefit of mental-imagery training with young children have been lacking in the literature. The purpose of this investigation was to shed light on the appropriateness of mental training for children. Three groups of 7–10-year-old table tennis players participated in this study to assess the value of mental-imagery training, specifically with respect to children’s performance enhancement. The results indicated that children who used mental imagery experienced significantly greater improvement in the accuracy and technical quality of their shots than children in comparison groups. This study suggests that mental-imagery training, combined with videotaped images and relaxation, may be particularly promising for children.

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Low-Fidelity Haptic Simulation Versus Mental Imagery Training for Epidural Anesthesia Technical Achievement in Novice Anesthesiology Residents

Anesthesia & Analgesia ◽

10.1213/ane.0000000000001260 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 122 (5) ◽

pp. 1516-1523 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Grace Lim ◽

Robert G. Krohner ◽

David G. Metro ◽

Bedda L. Rosario ◽

Jong-Hyeon Jeong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Imagery ◽

Epidural Anesthesia ◽

Imagery Training ◽

Haptic Simulation ◽

Technical Achievement

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Telephone-based Behavioral Activation with Mental Imagery for depression: a pilot randomized clinical trial in isolated older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic

10.31234/osf.io/uxa6y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Johnny Pellas ◽

Fritz Renner ◽

Julie Lin Ji ◽

Mattias Damberg

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Clinical Trial ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Randomized Clinical Trial ◽

Mental Imagery ◽

Treatment Condition ◽

Behavioral Activation ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Increased Risk

ObjectivesTo shield vulnerable persons, particularly the eldery, during the Covid-19 pandemic governments around the world have adviced to use social distancing and self-isolation. Social isolation might put older adults at an increased risk for mental health problems such as depression. There is a need for brief, easy-accessible psychological treatments for depressive symptoms that can be delivered remotely. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of telephone-delivered Behavioral Activation with Mental Imagery for the treatment of depressive symptoms in individuals 65 years and older living in isolation during the covid-19-pandemic.MethodsIn this open-label pilot randomized clinical trial, N = 41 individuals aged 65 years or older with clinically significant symptoms of depression were randomly assigned to either a Behavioral Activation with Mental Imagery treatment condition, or an Attention-Assessment control condition delivered over the telephone over a four week period.ResultsDepressive symptoms decreased more in the treatment condition compared to the control condition. At post treatment 2 out of 16 participants in the treatment condition met diagnostic criteria for depression compared to 9 out of 13 in the control condition. Most participants in the treatment condition were satisfied with the treatment and few adverse effects were observed.ConclusionsThis pilot study suggests that behavioral activation with mental imagery delivered over the telephone is feasible, acceptable and potentially efficacious for the treatment of depressive symptoms in older individuals living in isolation. Replication in larger samples is needed.

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Positive Imagery Training Increases Positive Self-Referent Cognition in Depression

10.31234/osf.io/7xkhg ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Justin Dainer-Best ◽

Jason Shumake ◽

Christopher G Beevers

Keyword(s):

Mental Imagery ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

The Self ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Imagery Training ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

Referential Processing ◽

Online Methods ◽

Positive Stimuli ◽

Self Reference

Depressed adults often show a bias towards negative self-referent processing at the expense of positive self-referent processing. The current study assessed whether a mental imagery intervention (Positive Self Reference Training -- PSRT) delivered via the Internet could improve self-referent processing and depressive symptomatology among adults with moderate or greater depression symptoms. Participants were recruited via online methods and randomly assigned to one of two computerized interventions: active PSRT (n = 44) or control training (NTC; n = 43). The PSRT involved visualizing the self in response to different positive cues (e.g., an achievement) every other day for two weeks. The NTC provided neutral cues about objects. Self-referential processing of positive and negative adjectives and depression symptoms were measured at baseline, one week, and two weeks after initiating training. Over those two weeks, PSRT participants showed a greater increase in positive self-referent processing than did NTC participants. Negative self-referent processing and symptoms of depression declined comparably in both groups. Similarly, for both groups, increase in positive and decrease in negative self-referent processing was associated with a greater reduction in depression. These results indicate that mental imagery has the potential to improve self-referential processing, especially for positive stimuli, which may, in turn, help reduce depressive symptomatology.

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