Mental Imagery Its Nature and Use with Regard to Motor Performance essays

Mental Imagery Its Nature and Use with Regard to Motor Performance essays Mental imagery is a technique that has been increasingly used to enhance motor performance, especially as this relates to fitness and sports. According to Annie Plessinger, mental imagery, visualization or mental rehearsal, is an experience in the mind that resembles the actual experience without any physical activity or stimuli. Another, and perhaps clearer, definition is that mental imagery involves the mental repetition of a certain skill or movement, without the accompanying physical movement ("The Use of Mental Imagery in Soccer"). Basically the definition of the term entails that in motor performance, mental imagery entails rehearsal using the mind only, without any physical involvement. Mental imagery thus means to imagine movement without carrying it out (Plessinger). In fitness and sports, this means visualizing a certain skill or movement in the mind. This can help the mind to become used to the skill in order to better prepare the body for physical performance. David Yukelson emphasizes the importance of the appropriate feeling that should accompany mental imagery. The image in the mind is then accompanied by the desired feeling of for example confidence and control. Various terms are used in association with mental imagery as applied to fitness and sports. One definition ("The Use of Mental Imagery in Soccer") for example includes a division of the term into external and internal mental imagery. External imagery occurs when a soccer player for example visualizes himself as if he is watching a separate person performing the actions. Internal imagery on the other hand occurs with the player imagining the actions performed by his own body. Yukelson uses the term "feelization" to denote the sensation created by internal imagery. The player feels as it were the actions being imagined. Different people have differen ...