Mental imagery can be performed using one of two basic perspectives, namely internal or external. The internal perspective involves imaging from within the body and experiencing the motor act without overt movement, i.e., the subject imagines that he or she is really performing the motor act, that his or her muscles are contracting, and that he or she feels kinesthetic sensations. The external perspective, on the other hand, involves imagining the action as if it is outside the body, i.e., the motor task is generated in the mind of subjects. Internal imagery induces a greater improvement in strength performance compared with that induced by external imagery techniques(Slimani et al., 2016).
Mental imagery has been reported to induce a performance …show more content…
Motor imagery has become one of the most widely used simulation tools and performance enhancement strategies in sports psychological interventions. Recent research has shown that mental imagery improves motor tasks. The improvements associated with this technique have been related to several mechanisms, including psychological skills such as motivation, self-efficacy, self-confidence and managing competitive anxiety(Schuster et al., 2011). Strength gains would also be more directly related to the physiological adaptations and psychological effects (e.g., improve self-confidence and motivation) of mental imagery in healthy participants. Mental imagery training has been reported to increase the performance of strength-based tasks (e.g., voluntary muscular contraction: VMC) for both distal and proximal muscles of the human upper and lower extremities (Reiser et al., 2011). Recently, Tod et al.(2015) showed a significant effect of mental imagery on muscular strength (63%) similar to that reported in the studies detailed previously in the present review. In contrast, other studies showed no significant effect of mental imagery on strength performance (Herbert et al., 1998). This difference can be attributed to the variations in moderators’ factors, such as mental imagery perspectives, training duration, and muscle groups. Despite a voluminous literature on this subject, there is no definitive understanding of the effects of mental imagery perspectives on muscle strength. In fact, the literature presents different and sometimes opposing views, ow motor imagery is being delivered within and between populations is inconsistent, which may lead to difficulties in determining key elements of effectiveness(Harris & Hebert,
Mental imagery has been reported to induce a performance …show more content…
Motor imagery has become one of the most widely used simulation tools and performance enhancement strategies in sports psychological interventions. Recent research has shown that mental imagery improves motor tasks. The improvements associated with this technique have been related to several mechanisms, including psychological skills such as motivation, self-efficacy, self-confidence and managing competitive anxiety(Schuster et al., 2011). Strength gains would also be more directly related to the physiological adaptations and psychological effects (e.g., improve self-confidence and motivation) of mental imagery in healthy participants. Mental imagery training has been reported to increase the performance of strength-based tasks (e.g., voluntary muscular contraction: VMC) for both distal and proximal muscles of the human upper and lower extremities (Reiser et al., 2011). Recently, Tod et al.(2015) showed a significant effect of mental imagery on muscular strength (63%) similar to that reported in the studies detailed previously in the present review. In contrast, other studies showed no significant effect of mental imagery on strength performance (Herbert et al., 1998). This difference can be attributed to the variations in moderators’ factors, such as mental imagery perspectives, training duration, and muscle groups. Despite a voluminous literature on this subject, there is no definitive understanding of the effects of mental imagery perspectives on muscle strength. In fact, the literature presents different and sometimes opposing views, ow motor imagery is being delivered within and between populations is inconsistent, which may lead to difficulties in determining key elements of effectiveness(Harris & Hebert,