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Chapter 19Chapter 19
Mental PracticeMental Practice
Concept: Mental practice can be effective for learning and relearning motor skills and for preparing to perform motor skills
Mental PracticeMental Practice
Definition:Definition: The cognitive rehearsal of a physical The cognitive rehearsal of a physical skill in the absence of overt physical skill in the absence of overt physical movementsmovements
–It can take the form of thinking about the cognitive It can take the form of thinking about the cognitive or procedural aspects of a motor skill, or or procedural aspects of a motor skill, or
–Engaging in visual or kinesthetic imagery of the Engaging in visual or kinesthetic imagery of the performance of a skill or part of a skillperformance of a skill or part of a skill
Imagery can be internal or externalImagery can be internal or external
Mental practice is distinct from “meditation”Mental practice is distinct from “meditation”
Roles for Mental PracticeRoles for Mental Practice
Research has investigated two distinct Research has investigated two distinct roles for mental practiceroles for mental practice
1.1. A practice strategy to aid the acquisition A practice strategy to aid the acquisition of motor skillsof motor skills
2.2. A means of preparing to perform a well-A means of preparing to perform a well-learned skilllearned skill
Mental Practice Aids Motor Skill Mental Practice Aids Motor Skill AcquisitionAcquisition
To determine the influence of mental practice To determine the influence of mental practice on skill learning, researchers have typically on skill learning, researchers have typically compared three practice conditions:compared three practice conditions:
–Physical practice only (PP)Physical practice only (PP)–Mental practice only (MP)Mental practice only (MP)–No practice (NP)No practice (NP)
What do results consistently show?What do results consistently show?–PP > MP > NPPP > MP > NP
What do results show if a group is added that What do results show if a group is added that receives a combination of equal trials of receives a combination of equal trials of physical and mental practice?physical and mental practice?
–Similar to PP only Similar to PP only
Mental Practice Aids Motor Skill Mental Practice Aids Motor Skill Acquisition, Acquisition, cont’dcont’d
Some examples of learning situations that Some examples of learning situations that research has shown benefit from mental research has shown benefit from mental practice:practice:
–Rehabilitative settingsRehabilitative settings–Power trainingPower training–Part of a general preparation strategy that Part of a general preparation strategy that
aids learningaids learning
Singer 5 step general learning strategy Singer 5 step general learning strategy that involves elements of mental practice that involves elements of mental practice in 3 stepsin 3 steps– 1. Get ready physically, mentally, emotionally1. Get ready physically, mentally, emotionally– 2. Mentally imaging performing action, visually 2. Mentally imaging performing action, visually
and kinesthetically.and kinesthetically.– 3. concentrate intensely on only 1 relevant 3. concentrate intensely on only 1 relevant
cue cue – 4. execute action4. execute action– 5. evaluate performance outcome5. evaluate performance outcome
Error
Control 5 – StepStrategy
Control 5 – StepStrategy
Ball throw practice Lawn dart transfer
Results of study by Lidor, Tennant, and Singer
Types of Imagery Related to Motor Types of Imagery Related to Motor Skill Performance PreparationSkill Performance Preparation
5 types of imagery that athletes use 5 types of imagery that athletes use to improve performance:to improve performance:1.1. Motivational – specificMotivational – specific2.2. Motivational – general masteryMotivational – general mastery3.3. Motivational – general arousalMotivational – general arousal4.4. Cognitive – specificCognitive – specific5.5. Cognitive – generalCognitive – general
See Table 19.1 for specific descriptions of each
Mental Practice Aids Mental Practice Aids Peformance PreparationPeformance Preparation
Imagery is the most common mental Imagery is the most common mental practice strategy for skilled athletes practice strategy for skilled athletes preparing to perform a skill preparing to perform a skill ((Martin et al. Martin et al. 19991999))
–Between competitive eventsBetween competitive events–Immediately prior to a during a competitive Immediately prior to a during a competitive
eventevent–Rehabilitating an injuryRehabilitating an injury
Why is Mental Practice Why is Mental Practice Effective?Effective?
No comprehensive theories that explain why No comprehensive theories that explain why mental practice in the form of imagery is effective mental practice in the form of imagery is effective (Martin et al., 1999)(Martin et al., 1999)
Three generally accepted hypotheses:Three generally accepted hypotheses:1.1.Neuromuscular hypothesis:Neuromuscular hypothesis: EMG recordings in EMG recordings in
muscles showing involvementmuscles showing involvement
2.2.Brain activity hypothesis:Brain activity hypothesis: Brain activity during imagery Brain activity during imagery similar to activity during physical performance of a skillsimilar to activity during physical performance of a skill
3.3.Cognitive hypothesis:Cognitive hypothesis: Helps learner answer “what to Helps learner answer “what to do” questions that are common during the initial stage of do” questions that are common during the initial stage of motor skill learningmotor skill learning
Why is Mental Practice Why is Mental Practice Effective?Effective?
No comprehensive theories that explain why No comprehensive theories that explain why mental practice in the form of imagery is effective mental practice in the form of imagery is effective (Martin et al., 1999)(Martin et al., 1999)
Three generally accepted hypotheses:Three generally accepted hypotheses:1.1.Neuromuscular hypothesis:Neuromuscular hypothesis: EMG recordings in EMG recordings in
muscles showing involvementmuscles showing involvement
2.2.Brain activity hypothesis:Brain activity hypothesis: Brain activity during imagery Brain activity during imagery similar to activity during physical performance of a skillsimilar to activity during physical performance of a skill
3.3.Cognitive hypothesis:Cognitive hypothesis: Helps learner answer “what to Helps learner answer “what to do” questions that are common during the initial stage of do” questions that are common during the initial stage of motor skill learningmotor skill learning
Imagery AbilityImagery Ability
Some people have great difficult imaging a Some people have great difficult imaging a described actiondescribed action
Research indicates that the effectiveness of Research indicates that the effectiveness of imagery is based on people’s ability to visually or imagery is based on people’s ability to visually or kinesthetically image physical movement kinesthetically image physical movement
–Imagery ability is an individual differences variableImagery ability is an individual differences variable
Hall and colleagues developed an imagery ability Hall and colleagues developed an imagery ability questionnaire to assess a person’s imagery abilityquestionnaire to assess a person’s imagery ability
–See example questions in A Closer LookSee example questions in A Closer Look
Research shows that people with low imagery Research shows that people with low imagery ability can still benefit from mental practiceability can still benefit from mental practice
Movement Imagery Questionnaire Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ)(MIQ)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Very Easy Somewhat Neutral Somewhat Hard Very
Easy Easy Hard Hard