Efficacy of Mental Imagery in Enhancing Mental Rehearsal of Motor Skills

1982 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Dean Ryan ◽  
Jeff Simons
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Style ◽  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Visual Images ◽  
Single Session ◽  
Physical Practice ◽  
Mental Rehearsal ◽  
Learning Improvement ◽  
Better Than

To investigate the mental imagery aspect of mental rehearsal, 80 male traffic officers from the California Highway Patrol learned a novel balancing task during a single session. Based on a pretest questionnaire, subjects were categorized as imagers, nonimagers, or occasional imagers and assigned to one of six groups accordingly: imagers asked to use imagery in mental rehearsal, imagers asked to try not to use imagery, nonimagers asked not to use imagery, nonimagers asked to try to use imagery, physical practice, or no practice. It was hypothesized that a person's preferred cognitive style would prove most effective for use in mental rehearsal and that using another style would cause a decrement in learning. Improvement scores indicated no differences between subjects who initially reported typically using imagery and those reported typically not using it, but groups asked to use imagery in mental rehearsal were superior to those asked not to (p<.001). Overall, physical practice was better than the grouped mental rehearsal conditions, and both were better than no practice. Subjects reporting strong visual imagery were superior to those with weak visual images (p<.03), and those reporting strong kinesthetic imagery were superior to those with weak kinesthetic images (p<.03). Regardless of one's typical cognitive style, the use of vivid imagery appears quite important for enhancement of motor performance through mental rehearsal.

Effect of Mental Rehearsal with Part and Whole Demonstration Models on Acquisition of Backstroke Swimming Skills

1982 ◽  
Vol 54 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1067-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuaki Yamamoto ◽  
Kimihiro Inomata
Keyword(s):  
Motor Imagery ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Image Formation ◽  
Physical Practice ◽  
General Motor ◽  
Mental Rehearsal ◽  
Differential Effects ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Part Model

36 undergraduates were randomly divided into three groups: (1) mental rehearsal with a whole model demonstration, (2) mental rehearsal with a progressive part model demonstration, and (3) controls. Each group participated in a 1-wk. swimming program (140 min. a day) and took 3 tests related to vividness of general motor imagery, swimming imagery, and accuracy of the imagined skill. Dependent variables were speed and distance scores for performance of the backstroke. There were no differential effects of the two demonstrations on motor performance and image formation in the acquisition of skill. Some trends were observed, however. Physical practice as well as mental rehearsal increased vividness and accuracy of imaging the swimming stroke. The effect of mental rehearsal on vividness of imaging a skill was somewhat related to vividness of general motor imagery.

Mental Imagery Combined with Physical Practice of Approach Shots for Golf Beginners

2005 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 203-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Brouziyne ◽  
C. Molinaro
Keyword(s):  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Mental Training ◽  
Physical Practice ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Teaching Technique ◽  
Sporting Activities ◽  
The University

Recent research on motor skills of golf have pointed to the usefulness of mental imagery. In golf, such training is rarely used as a teaching technique for beginners on the grounds that only top professionals stand to gain from mental imagery. This study tested whether mental imagery combined with physical practice can improve golf performance for the approach shot. 23 volunteer beginners, 8 women and 15 men, M age 23.4 yr. ( SD = 3.7), enrolled in the University Physical and Sporting Activities Department, were divided into three groups, using a combination of physical practice of the approach shot plus mental imagery, physical practice only, and a third group engaging in various sporting activities instead of either mental or physical practice of the chip shot. Analysis showed that the beginners' approach shot performance improved most in the group combining physical practice and mental imagery when compared with the group just physically practising the approach shot. It seems mental training can be used effectively to improve performance even with beginners.

What is Learned in Mental Practice of Motor Skills: A Test of the Cognitive-Motor Hypothesis

1983 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Dean Ryan ◽  
Jeff Simons
Keyword(s):  
Performance Improvement ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Rest Period ◽  
Mental Practice ◽  
Practice Effects ◽  
Physical Practice ◽  
Male College ◽  
Better Than

To test the cognitive-motor hypothesis, mental practice effects were examined using two tasks judged to differ only in the degree of motor involvement. Male college students (N = 60) learned either the high motor task or the low motor task under conditions of physical practice (PP), mental practice (MP), or no practice (NP). On each task, the PP group received 12 physical trials; the MP group received one physical, nine mental, then two physical trials; and the NP group received one physical trial, a rest period, and then two physical trials. As predicted, the relative effectiveness of mental practice differed between the two tasks. On the low motor task there was no difference between MP and PP and both groups were superior to NP (p < .05). For the high motor task MP was no better than NP and PP was superior to both (p < .05). It was concluded that performance improvement through mental practice takes place predominantly within the cognitive aspects of motor skills.

scholarly journals The Effect of Red and Blue on Gross and Fine Motor Tasks: Confirming the Inverted-U Hypothesis

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaobin Hong ◽  
Aiai Xu ◽  
Yan Shi ◽  
Lu Geng ◽  
Rong Zou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Skills ◽  
Motor Skill ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Blue Color ◽  
Motor Tasks ◽  
Gross Motor ◽  
High Arousal ◽  
Dart Throwing ◽  
Better Than

Previous studies have shown that the color red can affect basic motor functioning. However, these studies utilized simple gross motor tasks rather than those assessing complex fine motor skills. Moreover, these empirical studies were theoretically based on the threat–behavior link in human and non-human animals, and neglected the relationship between arousal and motor performance. According to the Yerkes–Dodson law and the inverted-U hypothesis in sport psychology, for simple motor tasks, high arousal (associated with the color red) is more advantageous than low arousal (associated with the color blue); for complex motor tasks, low arousal (blue color) is more advantageous than high arousal (red color). The current research examined the effect of color on different kinds of motor skills (fine motor and gross motor) based on the inverted U-hypothesis. In Experiment 1, we examined the effect of red and blue on dart-throwing performance, whereas in Experiment 2, we examined the effect of red and blue on grip strength performance. The results showed that performance of fine motor skill (dart-throwing) in the blue condition was better than in the red condition, and performance of gross motor skill (handgrip) in the red context was better than in the blue context. These results indicate that the type of motor skill assessed moderates the influence of red and blue on motor performance.

scholarly journals Skill and strategic control

Synthese ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Fridland
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Sports Psychology ◽  
Mental Practice ◽  
Strategic Control ◽  
Cognitive Representations ◽  
Personal Level ◽  
The Right ◽  
Better Than

AbstractThis paper provides an account of the strategic control involved in skilled action. When I discuss strategic control, I have in mind the practical goals, plans, and strategies that skilled agents use in order to specify, structure, and organize their skilled actions, which they have learned through practice. The idea is that skilled agents are better than novices not only at implementing the intentions that they have but also at forming the right intentions. More specifically, skilled agents are able formulate and modify, adjust and adapt their practical intentions in ways that are appropriate, effective, and flexible given their overall goals. Further, to specify the kind of action plans that are involved in strategic control, I’ll rely on empirical evidence concerning mental practice and mental imagery from sports psychology as well as evidence highlighting the systematic differences in the cognitive representations of skills between experts and non-experts. I’ll claim that, together, this evidence suggests that the intentions that structure skilled actions are practical and not theoretical, that is, that they are perceptual and motor and not abstract, amodal, or linguistic. Importantly, despite their grounded nature, these plans are still personal-level, deliberate, rational states. That is, the practical intentions used to specify and structure skilled actions are best conceived of as higher-order, motor-modal structures, which can be manipulated and used by the agent for the purpose of reasoning, deliberation, decision-making and, of course, the actual online structuring and organizing of action.

scholarly journals Assessing Motor Performance in Preschool Children: The Zurich Neuromotor Assessment-2 and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2

2021 ◽  
pp. 003151252110252
Author(s):  
Gerda van der Veer ◽  
Erica Kamphorst ◽  
Alexander Minnaert ◽  
Marja Cantell ◽  
Tanja H. Kakebeeke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Assessment Battery ◽  
Movement Assessment ◽  
Zurich Neuromotor Assessment ◽  
Pearson Correlations

Comparing motor assessment tools that are available for young children is important in order to select the most appropriate clinical and research tools. Hence, this study compared motor performance assessed with the Zurich Neuromotor Assessment-2 (ZNA-2) to the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2). The sample consisted of 169 children, aged 3–5 years (87 boys; 51%). We used Pearson correlations to examine relationships between the ZNA-2 and MABC-2 component and total scores. In addition, Pearson correlations were performed between individual fine motor and balance items of the ZNA-2 and MABC-2. Results were that the total scores of the ZNA-2 and MABC-2 correlated moderately ( r = .40, p < .001). Non-significant to moderate correlations were found between components ( r = −.00 to .47) and between individual items of fine motor skills ( r = .04 to .38) and balance ( r = −.12 to .38). Thus, the ZNA-2 and MABC-2 measure partly similar and partly different aspects of motor performance.

La competencia motriz en estudiantes chilenos de 3° y 4° de educación básica. Aprendizajes esperados versus realidad (Motor competence in Chilean students in 3rd and 4th grade of primary school. Expected learning versus reality)

Retos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 515-524
Author(s):  
Daniel Rodríguez-Briceño ◽  
Felipe Castro-Vilugron ◽  
Mauricio Díaz-Alvarado ◽  
Jaime Carcamo Oyarzun
Keyword(s):  
Motor Performance ◽  
Fourth Grade ◽  
Learning Objectives ◽  
Motor Competence ◽  
Object Control ◽  
Third Grade Students ◽  
Fourth Grade Students ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Better Than

  Este estudio busca determinar los niveles de competencia motriz de estudiantes chilenos y las posibles diferencias en función del grado y del sexo. Participaron 377 estudiantes (37.7% niñas) de tercer y cuarto básico. La competencia motriz fue evaluada a través del test MOBAK 3-4. Se encontraron bajos niveles de competencia motriz. Los estudiantes de cuarto grado presentan un mejor desempeño motriz que los de tercero. Los niños presentan un mayor desempeño que las niñas en control de objetos, mientras que las niñas obtienen puntajes más altos que los niños en control del cuerpo, aunque con un tamaño del efecto irrelevante. Al contrastar estos resultados con los objetivos del currículum, muchos estudiantes no alcanzan los aprendizajes esperados, siendo necesario poner mayor énfasis en el fomento de la competencia motriz.  Abstract. This study aims to determine the levels of motor competence of Chilean students and possible differences according to grade and gender. 377 students (37.7% girls) of the third and fourth grade participated in the study. Motor competence was evaluated through the MOBAK 3-4 test. Low levels of motor competence were found. Fourth grade students showed a better motor performance than third grade students. Boys performed better than girls in object control, while girls scored higher than boys in self-movement, although with an irrelevant effect size. When these results are contrasted with the learning objectives stipulated in the curriculum, many students do not achieve the expected skills, what makes it necessary to place greater emphasis on the promotion of motor competence.

Efficacy of fine motor and balance exercises on fine motor skills in children with sensorineural hearing loss

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Elsayed S. Mehrem ◽  
Lamyaa A. Fergany ◽  
Said A. Mohamed ◽  
Hany M. Fares ◽  
Roshdy M. Kamel
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fine Motor Skills ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Balance Exercises ◽  
Fine Motor Performance

Background: Childhood hearing impairment is a major disability associated with delayed motor development. The affected Fine motor performance in children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) could be due to dynamic balance deficits and visual-motor incoordination. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effects of fine motor exercises with or without balancing exercises on fine motor skills in children with SNHL. Methods: One hundred and eighty (180) children their age ranged from 8 to 18 years old diagnosed with SNHL were selected. They were divided into three groups, 60 children (control group) practiced only their ordinary activities of daily living, 60 children (fine motor exercises group) practiced fine motor exercises, and 60 children (fine motor and balance exercise) group practiced fine motor and balance exercises. The outcomes were assessed by the Bruininks Oseretsky Test of the motor proficiency second edition scale (BOT-2). Results: Generally, there was a statistically significant difference between control group and fine motor exercises group where (p <  0.05), besides, there was a statistically significant difference between control group and fine motor and balance exercises group where (p <  0.05). But, there was no statistically significant difference between fine motor exercises group and fine motor and balance exercises group where (p >  0.05). Conclusions: The Fine Motor performance of children with SNHL has been improved by Fine motor with or without balancing exercises according to (BOT-2).

scholarly journals Two is better than one: Social rewards from two agents enhance offline improvements in motor skills more than single agent

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0240622
Author(s):  
Masahiro Shiomi ◽  
Soto Okumura ◽  
Mitsuhiko Kimoto ◽  
Takamasa Iio ◽  
Katsunori Shimohara
Keyword(s):  
Motor Skills ◽  
Single Agent ◽  
Two Agents ◽  
Social Rewards ◽  
Better Than

scholarly journals A motor imagery during blind action is guided by the same foci of attention as actual performance in a sample comprising females

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Bassem Khalaf
Keyword(s):  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Direct Role ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Deviation Measure ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Internal Focus ◽  
Perceptual Representations ◽  
Better Than

There is strong evidence that focussing on the goal of an action improves performance relative to focussing on the concrete motor behaviours. The current study tests whether blind action guided by imagery relies on the same foci of attention. Thirty female participants took part in an experiment. In each condition there were 20 trials, they were asked to close their eyes and draw a straight line between two landmarks on a graphics tablet. We instructed them, in three conditions, to focus on (1) mental imagery of the goal landmark (external focus of attention), (2) drawing a straight line with the fingers (internal focus), or (3) without a specific focus of attention (control). We tested to what extent these attention instructions affected drawing performance, in terms of both deviations of the participants’ lines from an ideal straight line, and the time it took to complete the line. The study revealed that the manipulation specifically affected the deviation measure and that an external focus of attention was better than an internal focus and the control condition. These findings reveal that that mental imagery during blind action relies on same processes as actual performance. These data give perceptual representations of a direct role in motor control. They will be related to current theories of action control (constrained action hypothesis, ideomotor theories, and dual task accounts).

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