No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
French translation and validation of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-third version (MIQ-3f) Science Motricité Movement Sport Sciences
Abstract
Objectives: Imagery ability is a variable influencing the effectiveness of imagery practice that can be estimated by means of questionnaires. Among them, the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised, translated and validated in French, is widely used by French speakers. However, it does not allow for the distinction between the two visual imagery perspectives (internal vs. external). The Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 has been recently proposed in the English literature to differentiate between the ease of performing internal visual, external visual and kinesthetic imagery. The aim of this study was to translate and validate a French version of this questionnaire (MIQ-3f). Method: We examined the validity of constructs, internal consistency, and test-retest inter-rate reliability of the visual and kinesthetic items of the MIQ-3f in 272 healthy participants ( Mage = 20.26 years, SD = 1.73). Results: The internal consistency (composite reliability scores ≥ 0.88 for the three subscales) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.87 for visual internal imagery, 0.86 for visual external imagery, and 0.88 for kinesthetic imagery) of the MIQ-3f were satisfactory. The three-factor structure (with 4 items for each factor) was supported by confirmatory factor analysis. The MIQ-3f appears to be a valid and reliable instrument that can be used to assess imagery ability in French speakers.
... Then a 15-min resting period was given, during which participants were accustomed with all questionnaires and scale instructions. They also completed the French version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire 3 (Robin et al. 2020). Following this resting period, participants were familiarized with the TTF tests. ...
... Participants from both groups completed the French version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire 3 [MIQ-3f; Robin et al. (2020)] during the familiarization session. The MIQ-3 is a self-report questionnaire composed of 12 items that evaluate the ability to imagine four specific movements (arm abduction and adduction, standing hip flexion, knee lift and jump) after actual physical performance, using external visual imagery, internal visual imagery, as well as kinesthetic imagery (Robin et al. 2020). ...
... Participants from both groups completed the French version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire 3 [MIQ-3f; Robin et al. (2020)] during the familiarization session. The MIQ-3 is a self-report questionnaire composed of 12 items that evaluate the ability to imagine four specific movements (arm abduction and adduction, standing hip flexion, knee lift and jump) after actual physical performance, using external visual imagery, internal visual imagery, as well as kinesthetic imagery (Robin et al. 2020). Participants rated the difficulty of forming external and internal visual imagery as Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. ...
Purpose
The perception of effort exerts influence in determining task failure during endurance performance. Training interventions blending physical and cognitive tasks yielded promising results in enhancing performance. Motor imagery can decrease the perception of effort. Whether combining motor imagery and physical training improves endurance remains to be understood, and this was the aim of this study.
Methods
Participants (24 ± 3 year) were assigned to a motor imagery (n = 16) or a control (n = 17) group. Both groups engaged in physical exercises targeting the knee extensors (i.e., wall squat, 12 training sessions, 14-days), with participants from the motor imagery group also performing motor imagery. Each participant visited the laboratory Pre and Post-training, during which we assessed endurance performance through a sustained submaximal isometric knee extension contraction until task failure, at either 20% or 40% of the maximal voluntary contraction peak torque. Perceptions of effort and muscle pain were measured during the exercise.
Results
We reported no changes in endurance performance for the control group. Endurance performance in the motor imagery group exhibited significant improvements when the intensity of the sustained isometric exercise closely matched that used in training. These enhancements were less pronounced when considering the higher exercise intensity. No reduction in perception of effort was observed in both groups. There was a noticeable decrease in muscle pain perception within the motor imagery group Post training.
Conclusion
Combining motor imagery and physical training may offer a promising avenue for enhancing endurance performance and managing pain in various contexts.
... MIQ-3 is a valuable instrument that has been used widely. In particular, it has been cross-culturally adapted and validated into French, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovenian, Spanish and Turkish [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] overall demonstrating good psychometric properties. Additionally, it is a brief scale consisting of 12 items and is easy to administer. ...
... Participants found the scale and the concepts examined interesting and easy to perform and rate. This study's results were generally similar to those of previous validations of the scale [3,9,10,14,15]. Specifically, the internal consistency showed similar scores to the original English validation of the questionnaire. Similarly, the absolute reliability, expressed by the SEM and examined in parallel with the ICC showed acceptable scores. ...
... The factor analysis of the questionnaire was examined with EFA. Other studies examined only confirmatory factor analysis [9,10,15] or both analyses [3,14]. The PAF confirmed the three-factor model [3]. ...
Objectives
Motor imagery is widely used to enhance patients’ response to treatment via cognitive and neurophysiological processes. As a result, cross-cultural validation of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) in the Greek population was deemed necessary.
Methods
The cross-cultural adaptation method in Greek was followed for the MIQ-3. It was then administered to 150 participants and its face, construct validity (exploratory factor analysis and known-groups validity), test-retest reliability, and internal consistency were assessed.
Results
The MIQ-3 demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.90). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for test-retest reliability of each factor were low: ICC=0.049−0.293. However, the standard error of the measurement (SEM) data was within acceptable limits (13.5–17.2 % of the grand mean) for all three sub-sections of the MIQ-3. Factor analysis confirmed the three-factor structure of the questionnaire. No differences between male and female participants or those with different levels of athletic involvement (intensity of physical activity and practice level) were identified.
Conclusions
The MIQ-3 appears to be a valid instrument that can be used to assess motor imagery in a Greek population. It can be uniformly applied to participants of different sexes and athletic involvement. Its reliability, though, requires further research.
... The MIQ-3 was translated into a French version (MIQ-3f) by Robin et al. (2020). Before test session, it was well explained to the participants the descriptions of perspectives of EVI ("try to visually imagine the movement from an external point of view, as if you are watching on TV or from a third person point of view"), IVI ("try to visually imagine the movement from an interior point of view or a first person perspective, it is about visualizing the action through your own eyes"), and KI ("trying to feel the movement actually produced, which will generate a sensation of contractions in the involved muscles or feeling an object with which your body comes into contact ") (Williams et al., 2012). ...
... The MIQ-3 demonstrated good internal reliability for each subscale, with ICC values of 0.81 (IVI), 0.89 (EVI), and 0.89 (KI), and AVE values of 0.51 (IVI), 0.66 (EVI), and 0.67 (KI) (Williams et al., 2012). Mean scores and standard deviations of the three-dimensional structure of the MIQ-3f (IVI, EVI, and KI) was previously analyzed by Robin et al. (2020). ...
Previous studies have not considered the potential influence of maturity status on the relationship between mental imagery and change of direction (CoD) speed in youth soccer. Accordingly, this cross-sectional study examined the association between mental imagery and CoD performance in young elite soccer players of different maturity status. Forty young male soccer players, aged 10-17 years, were assigned into two groups according to their predicted age at peak height velocity (PHV) (Pre-PHV; n = 20 and Post-PHV; n = 20). Participants were evaluated on soccer-specific tests of CoD with (CoDBall-15m) and without (CoD-15m) the ball. Participants completed the movement imagery questionnaire (MIQ) with the three- dimensional structure, internal visual imagery (IVI), external visual imagery (EVI), as well as kinesthetic imagery (KI). The Post-PHV players achieved significantly better results than Pre-PHV in EVI (ES = 1.58, large; p < 0.001), CoD-15m (ES = 2.09, very large; p < 0.001) and CoDBall-15m (ES = 1.60, large; p < 0.001). Correlations were significantly different between maturity groups, where, for the pre-PHV group, a negative very large correlation was observed between CoDBall-15m and KI (r = –0.73, p = 0.001). For the post-PHV group, large negative correlations were observed between CoD-15m and IVI (r = –0.55, p = 0.011), EVI (r = –062, p = 0.003), and KI (r = –0.52, p = 0.020). A large negative correlation of CoDBall-15m with EVI (r = –0.55, p = 0.012) and very large correlation with KI (r = –0.79, p = 0.001) were also observed. This study provides evidence of the theoretical and practical use for the CoD tasks stimulus with imagery. We recommend that sport psychology specialists, coaches, and athletes integrated imagery for CoD tasks in pre-pubertal soccer players to further improve CoD related performance.
... This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). different and specific imagery modalities: internal and external VMI (Hall, 2001;Robin et al., 2020;Williams et al., 2012). For external VMI, participants have to imagine realizing a specific motor action as spectators of their own action (third-person imagery perspective), which can be likened to watching themself on a television or from another person's perspective. ...
... Studies report distinctively different brain activities when participants are asked to imagine internal and external perspectives (Jiang, et al., 2015;Seiler et al., 2015). Differentiating internal and external VMI can be essential for achieving optimal motor performance, thus providing beneficial motor imagery interventions (Robin et al., 2020). Notably, KMI is considered to be closer to an internal than an external VMI perspective ). ...
Functional equivalence hypothesis and motor-cognitive model both posit that motor imagery performance involves inhibition of overt physical movement and thus engages control processes. As motor inhibition in internal motor imagery has been fairly well studied in adults, the present study aimed to investigate the correlation between internal motor imagery and motor inhibition in children. A total of 73 children (7-year-olds: 23, 9-year-olds: 27, and 11-year-olds: 23) participated the study. Motor inhibition was assessed with a stop-signal task, and motor imagery abilities were measured with a hand laterality judgment task and an alphanumeric rotation task, respectively. Overall, for all age groups, response time in both motor imagery tasks increased with rotation angles. Moreover, all children’s response times in both tasks decreased with age, their accuracy increased with age, and their motor inhibition efficiency increased with age. We found a significant difference between 7-year-olds and 9-year-olds in the hand laterality judgment task, suggesting that the involvement of motor inhibition in internal motor imagery might change with age. Our results reveal the underlying processes of internal motor imagery development, and furthermore, provide practical implications for movement rehabilitation of children.
... The MIQ-3 was translated into a French version (MIQ-3f) by Robin et al. (2020). Before test session, it was well explained to the participants the descriptions of perspectives of EVI ("try to visually imagine the movement from an external point of view, as if you are watching on TV or from a third person point of view"), IVI ("try to visually imagine the movement from an interior point of view or a first person perspective, it is about visualizing the action through your own eyes"), and KI ("trying to feel the movement actually produced, which will generate a sensation of contractions in the involved muscles or feeling an object with which your body comes into contact ") (Williams et al., 2012). ...
... The MIQ-3 demonstrated good internal reliability for each subscale, with ICC values of 0.81 (IVI), 0.89 (EVI), and 0.89 (KI), and AVE values of 0.51 (IVI), 0.66 (EVI), and 0.67 (KI) (Williams et al., 2012). Mean scores and standard deviations of the three-dimensional structure of the MIQ-3f (IVI, EVI, and KI) was previously analyzed by Robin et al. (2020). ...
Previous studies have not considered the potential influence of maturity status on the relationship between mental imagery and change of direction (CoD) speed in youth soccer. Accordingly, this cross-sectional study examined the association between mental imagery and CoD performance in young elite soccer players of different maturity status. Forty young male soccer players, aged 10-17 years, were assigned into two groups according to their predicted age at peak height velocity (PHV) (Pre-PHV; n = 20 and Post-PHV; n = 20). Participants were evaluated on soccer-specific tests of CoD with (CoDBall-15m) and without (CoD-15m) the ball. Participants completed the movement imagery questionnaire (MIQ) with the three- dimensional structure, internal visual imagery (IVI), external visual imagery (EVI), as well as kinesthetic imagery (KI). The Post-PHV players achieved significantly better results than Pre-PHV in EVI (ES = 1.58, large; p < 0.001), CoD-15m (ES = 2.09, very large; p < 0.001) and CoDBall-15m (ES = 1.60, large; p < 0.001). Correlations were significantly different between maturity groups, where, for the pre-PHV group, a negative very large correlation was observed between CoDBall-15m and KI (r = –0.73, p = 0.001). For the post-PHV group, large negative correlations were observed between CoD-15m and IVI (r = –0.55, p = 0.011), EVI (r = –062, p = 0.003), and KI (r = –0.52, p = 0.020). A large negative correlation of CoDBall-15m with EVI (r = –0.55, p = 0.012) and very large correlation with KI (r = –0.79, p = 0.001) were also observed. This study provides evidence of the theoretical and practical use for the CoD tasks stimulus with imagery. We recommend that sport psychology specialists, coaches, and athletes integrated imagery for CoD tasks in pre-pubertal soccer players to further improve CoD related performance.
... Ses 3 principales modalités sont visuelle interne, visuelle externe et kinesthésique [4]. Une version française d'un questionnaire de capacité d'imagerie a été validée pour public adulte sans difficulté de mobilité [5] mais comporte des mouvements latéralisés, complexes et des sauts. En rééducation, l'IM associée à la physiothérapie facilitent améliorations fonctionnelles, réorganisations corticales et récupération à long terme [6]. ...
... Les résultats de validité de construit, cohérence interne et fiabilité test-retest sont cohérents avec la littérature [5,7]. Cependant, même si méthodes de validation similaires aux études précédentes proposant des questionnaires d'IM pour les rééducateurs [3,8,9] Il peut être utilisé en contexte de rééducation par des kinésithérapeutes ou d'autres rééducateurs/ réadaptateurs. ...
Introduction. L'imagerie motrice (IM) est un processus conscient consistant à simuler mentalement une action motrice sans exécution réelle [1]. L’IM a montré des effets bénéfiques dans différents domaines comme l’apprentissage, la performance motrice, ou la réadaptation [2]. Cependant, son efficacité peut être influencée par la capacité d'imagerie (i.e., facilité ou difficulté à s’imaginer réaliser une action) des participants [3]. Les trois principales modalités d’IM sont l’IM visuelle interne, l’IM visuelle externe et l'IM kinesthésique [4]. Une version française d’un questionnaire évaluant la capacité d’imagerie pour ces modalités a été validée [5] pour un public adulte sans difficulté de mobilité ou troubles moteurs, et comportait des mouvements latéralisés, complexes et des sauts. Or, en contexte de rééducation, l'IM associée à la physiothérapie est connue pour faciliter les améliorations fonctionnelles, la réorganisation corticale et la récupération à long terme [6]. Il parait donc important de proposer aux professionnels de santé un outil validé et adapté permettant de contrôler la capacité d’IM des participants avec des mouvements simples non latéralisés. L’objectif de cette étude était de tester la validité des construits (structure factorielle et cohérence interne) ainsi que la reproductibilité du questionnaire en imagerie du movement 3 seconde version (MIQ-3Sf), composé de mouvements quotidiens (pousser une porte, soulever un verre) issus d’une précédente version du questionnaire [3] et distinguant les modalities d’IM visuelles internes, externes et kinesthésiques comme dans le MIQ-3f [5].
Méthode. Nous avons examiné la validité de construits avec une analyse factorielle confirmatoire, la cohérence interne avec un score de fiabilité et la fiabilité test-retest avec un coefficient de corrélation intra-classe, des items visuels internes, externes et kinesthésiques du MIQ-3Sf chez 553 participants (Mage=38,4 ; SD=20,7 ans) en bonne santé.
Résultats. La cohérence interne (scores de fiabilité composite ≥ 0,92 pour les trois sous-échelles) et la fiabilité test-retest (corrélation intraclasse : 0,90 pour l'IM kinesthésique, 0,93 pour l’IM visuelle interne et 0,88 pour l'IM visuelle externe) du MIQ-3Sf étaient satisfaisantes et les corrélations de Pearson ont révélé une forte relation entre le MIQ-3Sf et le MIQ-3f qui a aussi été réalisé.
Discussion. Les résultats concernant la validité de construit, la cohérence interne et la fiabilité test-retest sont cohérents avec ceux de la littérature [5, 7]. Cependant, bien que l’ont ait utilisé des méthodes de validation similaires à celle d’études précédentes proposant des questionnaires d’IM à destination des rééducateurs [3, 8, 9], notre échantillon était composée principalement de jeunes adultes et d’adultes (N = 459) et dans une moindre mesure de moins de 60 ans (N = 32), moins de 70 (N = 32) et plus de 70 ans (N = 30), ce qui peut être une limite car le MIQ-3Sf a été conçu pour être utilisé par des patients en contexte de réadaptation.
Conclusion. Le MIQ-3Sf est un questionnaire valide et fiable qui permet d’évaluer la capacité d’IM et qui pourrait être utilisé en contexte de rééducation notamment par des kinésithérapeutes.
Références bibliographiques
1. Robin N, Dominique L, Toussaint L, Blandin Y, Guillot A, Le Her M. Effects of motor imagery training on service return accuracy in tennis: The role of imagery ability. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2007:5(2):175-186.
2. Guillot A, Collet C. Construction of the Motor Imagery Integrative Model in Sport: a review and theoretical investigation of motor imagery use. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2008;1(1):31-44.
3. Loison B, Moussaddaq A, Cormier J, Richard I, Ferrapie A, Ramond A et al. Translation and validation of the French Movement Imagery Questionnaire – Revised Second version (MIQ-RS). Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 2013;56(3):157-173.
4. Williams S, Cumming J, Ntoumanis N, Nordin-Bates S, Ramsey R, Hall C. Further Validation and Development of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2012;34(5):621-646.
5. Robin N, Coudevylle G, Guillot A, Toussaint L. French translation and validation of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-third version (MIQ-3f). Movement & Sport Sciences - Science & Motricité. 2020;(108):23-31.
6. Rulleau T. Application clinique de l’imagerie motrice en rééducation. Thèse de Doctorat, Université de Poitiers, France. 2017.
7. Budnik-Przybylska D, Szczypińska M, Karasiewicz K. Reliability and validity of the Polish version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3). Current Issues in Personality Psychology. 2016;4:253-267.
8. Gregg M, Hall C, Butler A. The MIQ-RS: A Suitable Option for Examining Movement Imagery Ability. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2010;7(2):249-257.
9. Paravlić A, Pišot S, Mitić P. Validation of the Slovenian version of motor imagery questionnaire 3 (MIQ-3): Promising tool in modern comprehensive rehabilitation practice. Slovenian Journal of Public Health. 2018;57(4):201-210.
... Body mass and percentage of fat mass were measured using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan (Hologic Discovery A, WA, USA). During this session, participants completed the 3 rd version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-3) (Robin et al., 2020) to determine volunteers' self-estimation of MI ability. The initial mean MIQ-3 score was 14.3 ± 2.1 out of 21, indicating a good imagery ability in all participants. ...
Motor imagery (MI) or post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) have shown acute benefits for sports performance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cumulative effects of MI and PAPE when combined within a warm-up routine. Ten men boxers participated in this study. They underwent four experimental sessions composed of a standardized warm-up followed by 1) maximal leg press extensions (CONTROL-PAPE), 2) mental imagery of force and sprint tasks (CONTROL-MI), 3) maximal leg press extensions followed by mental imagery of force and sprint tasks (PAPE-MI) and 4) mental imagery of force and sprint tasks followed by then maximal leg press extensions (MI-PAPE). Post-tests consisted of boxing reaction time, average and maximal boxing force, maximal handgrip strength, repeated sprint ability and the NASA-TLX fatigue questionnaire. No difference was obtained between PAPE-MI and MI-PAPE for the different measurements. Compared to CONTROL-PAPE and CONTROL-MI, both the PAPE-MI and MI-PAPE significantly enhanced boxing average force (P < 0.05) and repeated sprint ability (P < 0.01). Compared to CONTROL-PAPE, both the PAPE-MI and MI-PAPE increased boxing reaction time (P < 0.05), PAPE-MI increased the handgrip strength (P < 0.05) and MI-PAPE increased boxing maximal force (P < 0.01). Compared to CONTROL-MI, both the PAPE-MI and MI-PAPE increased boxing maximal force (P < 0.001), handgrip strength (0 < 0.01) and MI-PAPE increased boxing reaction time (P < 0.05). The NASA-TLX questionnaire was not affected by the warm-up modalities (P = 0.442). Combining PAPE-MI and MI-PAPE protocols within the warm-up produced cumulative positive effects on acute muscular performance without increasing subjective fatigue. PAPE-MI and MI-PAPE are both interesting modalities for optimizing warm-up routines.
... Vallerand (1989) proposes seven steps to validate the French translation of an English psychological questionnaire: (a) prepare a preliminary version of the translated questionnaire; (b) evaluate and eventually modify this preliminary version; (c) members of the targeted population evaluate the items' clarity; (d) evaluate the concurrent validity and questionnaire content; (e) evaluate the temporal stability and internal consistency of the questionnaire; (f) evaluate the structure of the questionnaire; and finally, (g) establish norms. Some authors have proposed different steps, such as the analysis of exploratory, reliability, and confirmatory factors (Nolte et al., 2017;Robin et al., 2020); others do only some of the proposed steps, such as the temporal stability (Lacroix et al., 2018;Nusbaum et al., 2001), or the internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha (Montazeri et al., 2003). Several of these steps have been used to validate pet attachment questionnaires, such as internal consistency or temporal stability (Johnson et al., 1992;Kurdek, 2008;Poresky et al., 1987;Zilcha-Mano et al., 2011a). ...
Companion animal ownership has been reported to be beneficial for human health. Attachment is an important mechanism involved in interpersonal relationships and potentially in health concerns. In this study, we investigated the influence of companion animal species and owners’ gender on owners’ attachment to their animals. To do this, we validated the French translation of the Pet Attachment Questionnaire (Zilcha-Mano et al., 2011), the Attachment Figure Questionnaire, and the Closeness and Care scales (Kurdek, 2008). Our translations have the requisite psychometric properties, high internal consistency, structure, and temporal stability. Women had significantly higher scores than men in several attachment dimensions and closeness. Owners preferring a cat had higher avoidance and lower attachment figure scores than owners preferring a dog. It is not yet clear what causes these differences; we recommend more investigations into specific aspects of attachment to companion animals.
... Participants had no former experience of MI training to improve force performance, and were subjected to two MI familiarization sessions before the experiment. Participants were also screened based on their ability to engage appropriately in MI practice using the movement imagery questionnaire-3f (MIQ-3f; Robin et al., 2020). There was no other exclusion criteria, and no information concerning the purpose of the study was provided until completion of the design. ...
Introduction
There is compelling evidence that motor imagery (MI) contributes to improve muscle strength. While strong effects have been observed for finger muscles, only few experiments with moderate benefits were conducted within applied settings targeting large upper or lower limb muscles. The aim of the present study was therefore to extend the investigation of embedded MI practice designed to improve maximal voluntary strength on a multi-joint dynamic exercise involving the lower limbs. Additionally, we tested whether targeting the content of MI on another movement than that physically performed and involving the same body parts might promote inter-task transfer of strength gains.
Methods
A total of 75 participants were randomly assigned into three groups who underwent a physical training on back squat. During inter-trial recovery periods, a first MI group (n = 25) mentally rehearsed the back squat, while a second MI group (n = 25) performed MI of a different movement involving the lower limbs (deadlift). Participants from the control group (n = 25) completed a neutral cognitive task during equivalent time. Strength and power gains were assessed ecologically using a velocity transducer device at 4 different time periods.
Results
Data first revealed that participants who engaged in MI of the back squat improved their back squat performance (p < 0.03 and p < 0.01, respectively), more than the control group (p < 0.05), hence supporting the positive effects of MI on strength. Data further supported the inter-task transfer of strength gains when MI targeted a movement that was not physically trained (p = 0.05).
Discussion
These findings provide experimental support for the use of MI during physical training sessions to improve and transfer force development.
... Participants were asked to maintain a regular sleep-wake cycle the night before participation to ensure they were not sleep-deprived, and to refrain from all caffeine-and alcohol-containing beverages 24h before the experimentation. Participants in the MI group were also required to complete the French version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Third version (MIQ-3f) 85 before starting the experimental protocol. The MIQ-3f is a twelve-item self-report questionnaire, in which participants are asked to perform a given movement followed by its mental execution either by external visual imagery, internal visual imagery ...
Sleep benefits the consolidation of motor skills learned by physical practice, mainly through periodic thalamocortical sleep spindle activity. However, motor skills can be learned without overt movement through motor imagery or action observation. Here, we investigated whether sleep spindle activity also supports the consolidation of non-physically learned movements. Forty-five electroencephalographic sleep recordings were collected during a daytime nap after motor sequence learning by physical practice, motor imagery, or action observation. Our findings reveal that a temporal cluster-based organization of sleep spindles underlies motor memory consolidation in all groups, albeit with distinct behavioral outcomes. A daytime nap offers an early sleep window promoting the retention of motor skills learned by physical practice and motor imagery, and its generalizability toward the inter-manual transfer of skill after action observation. Findings may further have practical impacts with the development of non-physical rehabilitation interventions for patients having to remaster skills following peripherical or brain injury.
... We included participants aged 20-30 years old (body mass index ranging 19-24 kg·m −2 ), with a regular practice of physical or sporting activities (>2 sessions of 1 h/week over the last 6 months). We also screened for low MI ability by including participants with a score > 5 out of 7 on kinesthetic subscale of the French translation of the MIQ-3f questionnaire, which assesses MI ease on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 = "Very hard to perceive" to 7 = "Very easy to perceive" [32]. The experiment received ethical approval by the local review board of the University. ...
In the present study, we examined the development of mental fatigue during the kinesthetic motor imagery (MI) of isometric force contractions performed with the dominant upper limb. Participants (n = 24) underwent four blocks of 20 MI trials of isometric contractions at 20% of the maximal voluntary contraction threshold (20% MVCMI) and 20 MI trials of maximal isometric contractions (100% MVCMI). Mental fatigue was assessed after each block using a visual analogue scale (VAS). We assessed maximal isometric force before, during and after MI sessions. We also assessed MI ability from self-report ratings and skin conductance recordings. Results showed a logarithmic pattern of increase in mental fatigue over the course of MI, which was superior during 100% MVCMI. Unexpectedly, maximal force improved during 100% MVCMI between the 1st and 2nd evaluations but remained unchanged during 20% MVCMI. MI ease and vividness improved during 100% MVCMI, with a positive association between phasic skin conductance and VAS mental fatigue scores. Conversely, subjective measures revealed decreased MI ability during 20% MVCMI. Mental fatigue did not hamper the priming effects of MI on maximal force performance, nor MI’s ability for tasks involving high physical demands. By contrast, mental fatigue impaired MI vividness and elicited boredom effects in the case of motor tasks with low physical demands.
... Body mass and percentage of fat mass were measured using a Tanita BC420 (Tanita, Tokyo, Japan). During this session, participants completed the 3rd version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-3) [20] to determine volunteers' self-estimation of MI ability. The initial mean MIQ-R score was 13.6 ± 1.8 out of 21 indicating a good imagery capacity in all participants. ...
Warm-up routines include various tasks focused on the peripheral contractile properties and nervous motor command. This present study was aimed at investigating the acute effects of different warm-up routines, emphasizing either peripheral (post-activation performance enhancement, PAPE) or central (motor imagery, MI) contributions on sport-specific tasks. Eleven young female athletes took part in this cross-over, randomized, controlled trial. They underwent three experimental sessions composed of a standardized warm-up followed by 10 min of (1) rest (CONTROL), (2) maximal concentric leg press (PAPE), or (3) mental repetitions of sprint tasks (MI). Post-tests consisted of reaction time, arrowhead agility test, 20 m sprint, repeated sprint ability, and NASA-TLX fatigue questionnaire. PAPE and MI significantly enhanced the arrowhead agility test (p < 0.001 and p = 0.012, respectively) and repeated sprint ability (p = 0.002 and p = 0.035, respectively) compared to CONTROL, without any difference between PAPE and MI. The 20 m sprint time was better after PAPE as compared to MI (p = 0.005) and CONTROL (p < 0.001), without any difference between MI and CONTROL. Reaction time and the NASA-TLX questionnaire were not affected by the warm-up modalities (p > 0.05). PAPE was the most efficient to optimize warm-up due to its greater peripheral contribution that would improve muscle contractility. MI specifically improved the imagined tasks mostly by central contribution.
... Participants had to time themselves for each trial using a manual chronometer. Participants filled out the MIQ-3F questionnaire, which assessed their motor imagery ability (Robin, Coudevylle, Guillot, & Toussaint, 2020). They reported a mean score of 67.5 ± 11.7 (maximum: 84), which represents a good imagery capacity. ...
Virtual reality (VR) is the computer simulation of a three-dimensional environment that a person can interact with using special electronic equipment, such as a headset with an integrated display. Often coupled with VR, exergames are video games that involve physical exercise. Little is known regarding the chronic effects of exergaming through VR chon cognitive functions. Eleven young participants were enrolled in this crossover exploratory study. They had to follow two trainings of 5 consecutive days, 15 min per day, interspaced by a 1-month washout period. Trainings were performed in a random order: (1) a video training using shadow boxing fitness videos (SBV) and (2) a VR training using a three-dimensional game where the aim is to cut moving cubes with a sword in each hand. Before and after each training period, a battery of cognitive tests was performed to assess executive functions, such as attention (change blindness), reaction time, response inhibition (go/no-go, Stroop task), or flexibility (trail making test). Fine motor skills were also evaluated through a Fitt's task. No effect of the SBV training was observed on any of the cognitive functions tested. On the contrary, a significant increased performance in selective attention and observation tests was found after VR training, as well as in inhibitory processes (Stroop and go/no-go). Other performances were unaffected by either VR or SBV training. The present study argues that VR exergaming is a promising tool to promote cognitive enhancement but targets specific functions according to the type of interface/game that is used.
... Twenty-eight golf players of regional level (16 men, 12 women, mean age 37.24 ± 12.38 years) volunteered to participate in this study. Before the experiment, they completed the French third-version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-3f; Robin, Coudevylle, Guillot & Toussaint, 2020 ). Participants' scores (Mean ± Standard Deviation) was 24.04 ± 2.86 for the EVI dimension, 23.43 ± 5.01 for the IVI dimension, and 24.03 ± 3.00 for the KI dimension. ...
Over the last three decades, a large amount of experimental research aimed at determining the optimal motor imagery practice guidelines, and provided a comprehensive overview of the main recommendations to develop effective interventions. Yet, the scientific literature paid little attention to transfer effects resulting from motor imagery practice. In the present paper, we examined whether performance gains following motor imagery were task-specific or likely to be transferred to partially distinct motor skills. Twenty-eight golf players of intermediate level were involved in a 12-weeks test-retest design, where swing and putting performances were measured. All participants were subjected to three 4-week imagery interventions (internal visual imagery, external visual imagery and kinesthetic imagery), which were contrasted to a control pre-test measure. During each imagery intervention, they were requested to imagine only the swing shot. All imagery interventions contributed to enhance swing performance, and gains largely transferred to the putting performance in spite of a complete absence of training. A slight superiority of external visual imagery was observed for both shots. Interestingly, individual motor imagery ability scores predicted performance gains under the corresponding motor imagery training condition. Taken together, present findings support transfer effects of motor imagery interventions. Practically, this effect should be considered to achieve optimally effective interventions to enhance performance in relation to individual motor imagery ability profiles.
... Au regard des résultats de cette étude, il semblerait que nous puissions recommander aux joueurs de tennis de recourir à des routines de préparation au service incluant des éléments permettant de favoriser la concentration et également de l'IM selon une modalité visuelle externe (i.e., centrée notamment sur la cible ou la trajectoire de la balle). Une première limite à cette étude pourrait être que la capacité d'imagerie des participants n'a pas été évaluée au moyen d'un questionnaire comme le MIQ-3f (Robin et al., 2020). En effet, ce questionnaire permet de faire la distinction entre les imageries kinesthésique, visuelle interne et visuelle externe. ...
This study investigates the effects of a service routine mainly composed of external visual mental imagery (MI) focused on the trajectory of the ball and the target area to be reached before the actual strike on the performance of the tennis service. Forty expert tennis players were divided into two experimental groups: Control and imagery. They performed a pre-test (i.e., 25 first service balls in match condition), 20 acquisition sessions (i.e., physical practice + IM or physical practice only) and a post-test similar to the pre-test in ecological condition. The percentage of the first service balls, the speed and efficiency scores, evaluated by experts observing the return of services in match condition, served as performance indicators and dependant variables. The results of this experiment notably show an improvement in performance in the participants of the imagery group only. It therefore seems beneficial for expert tennis players to use routines based on breathing, ball rebound and mental imagery of the trajectory of the ball and the target to be hit before serving the first balls in match condition.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of motor imagery (MI: imagining the success or failure of a forehand or backhand shot) training according to an internal visual modality centred on the movement and the target to be reached on tennis performance. 66 young (Mage = 12.1 years) players were randomly divided into three groups: control, failure MI or success MI, and performed 3 experimental phases. The pre-test consisted of performing 6 blocks of 5 forehand and backhand groundstrokes (sent randomly by a ball launcher towards the baseline) and a super tie-break. The acquisition phase consisted of 12 sessions, each including a standardized warm-up followed by 15 min of background rally in pairs. The participants of the MI group were instructed, after unprovoked errors on their part, to imagine performing the previous shot correctly (positive MI) or missing (failure MI). The post-test was identical to the pre-test. The efficiency score of shots and the number of errors committed at the pre- and post-test served as dependent variables. The results of this study indicate that participants in the success MI group performed better than the control and failure MI groups at post-test. The success MI, performed after errors, has positive effects on the quality of the shot and reduces the number of unforced errors of tennis players, while failure MI induces negative outcomes. The use of success MI, integrated in training session, is recommended.
Motor imagery (MI) is frequently used in tennis players. This pilot study aimed to assess whether the MI modality and preference of skilled tennis players could influence their service performance when using MI before serving first balls. Twenty expert players (M age = 18.6 years) completed the movement imagery questionnaire (third version) to assess their MI modality scores (internal visual, external visual, and kinesthetic) and their MI preference. Participants completed 4 experimental counterbalanced sessions spread over 4 weeks, each including the completion of 20 first-serve balls in match condition. The sessions included a control condition (i.e., only physical practice trials) and three MI conditions during which the players had to mentally imagine themselves performing a serve according to one of the imagery modalities, either internal visual, external visual, or kinesthetic, before serving. The percentage of success, the speed of the service balls (measured by a tablet with SWING VISION and a radar gun), and an efficiency score were recorded and then evaluated by experts and served as performance indicators and dependent variables. The results of this study showed that players benefited from MI before serving and that almost a third of the participants achieved a higher percentage of success and efficiency scores when using their preferred MI modality. These results lead us, in an applied way, to suggest to skilled tennis players to determine their MI preference and to have recourse to the mental simulation of a successful serve before serving the first balls in match condition.
The aim of this study was to test the effects on the performance of experienced tennis players of a service pre-performance routine consisting of internal motivational discourse combined with mental imagery centred on the trajectory of the ball and the target zone to be reached in the service box. Twenty-seven male players (M = 17.5 years) from the second series (ranked between 5/6 and 3/6), who had been playing tennis for more than 10 years, volunteered to take part in this experiment. The participants were divided into 3 groups (control, self-talk, and self-talk + imagery) and carried out 3 phases: Pre-test (20 serves in playing condition), Acquisition: 16 sessions (warm-up + 20 serves + super tie-break), Post-test (20 serves in playing condition). The percentage of success, speed and efficiency of the serves were measured at the Pre-and Post-tests and served as dependent variables for statistical analyses (repeated measures ANOVAS). The results of this study show a further improvement in serve performance when internal motivational self-talk is combined with mental imagery. We recommend that experienced tennis coaches and players use internal self-talk as well as imagery in their preserve performance routines.
The aim of this original study was to evaluate the effects of positive motor imagery (MI: imagining the success of a forehand or backhand shot) according to an internal visual modality centred on the movement and the target to be reached on tennis performance. 24 young non-expert players were randomly divided into two groups: control and MI, and performed 3 experimental phases. The first (pre-test) consisted of performing 6 blocks of 5 forehand and backhand groundstrokes, sent randomly by a ball launcher, towards the baseline and then a super tie-break. The second phase consisted of 12 acquisition sessions, each including, after a standardized warm-up, 15 minutes of background rally in pairs. The participants of the MI group were instructed, after unprovoked errors on their part, to imagine performing the previous shot correctly. The last phase (post-test) was identical to the pre-test. The efficiency score of shots made and the number of errors committed at the pre- and post-test served as dependent variables. The results of this study indicate that participants in the MI group performed better than the control group at post-test. The MI, performed after errors, has positive effects on the quality of the shot and reduces the number of unforced errors of tennis players. The use of this strategy is discussed and applied recommendations are proposed.
Endurance sports require the sustained maintenance of high effort until the point of task failure. Psychological factors, particularly the perception of effort, exert considerable influence in determining task failure. Training interventions that blend physical and cognitive tasks yielded promising results in enhancing endurance performance. Motor imagery stands out as a method capable of modulating the perception of effort. However, the precise extent to which combining motor imagery and physical training can improve endurance performance remains to be understood. In a pre-post training design, this study aimed to investigate the impact of combining motor imagery with physical training on endurance performance, compared to physical training alone. Two groups of participants were constituted (motor imagery: n = 16; control: n = 17). Both groups performed physical exercises (i.e. isometric wall squat of incremental duration, with 12 training sessions over a period of 14 days), with participants from the motor imagery group also performing motor imagery sessions. Each participant visited the laboratory for experimental procedures twice before and twice after training, during which we assessed endurance performance through a sustained submaximal isometric contraction of the right knee extensors performed until task failure (time to task failure, TTF) at either 20 or 40% of the maximal voluntary contraction. Perceptions of effort and muscle pain were measured regularly during the endurance exercise. We reported no changes in endurance performance for the control group. Endurance performance in the motor imagery group exhibited significant improvements when the intensity of the sustained isometric TTF test closely matched that used in training (i.e. 20% of MVC). However, these enhancements were less pronounced when considering higher exercise intensities (i.e. 40% of MVC). No reduction in perception of effort was observed in both groups. There was a noticeable decrease in muscle pain perception within the motor imagery group following the training. Overall, combining motor imagery and physical training may thus offer a promising avenue for enhancing endurance performance and managing pain in various contexts, from sports to clinical rehabilitation.
1) Background: Motor imagery (MI) is relevantly used to improve motor performance and promote rehabilitation. As MI ability and vividness can be affected by circadian modulation, it has been proposed that MI should ideally be performed between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Whether such a recommendation remains effective in a hot and humid environment, such as a tropical climate, remains unknown. (2) Methods: A total of 35 acclimatized participants completed a MI questionnaire and a mental chronometry test at 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. Visual (VI) and kinesthetic imagery (KI) abilities, as well as temporal congruence between actual walking and MI, were collected. Ambient temperature, chronotypes, thermal comfort, affect, and fatigue were also measured. (3) Results: VI scores were higher at 6 p.m. than at 7 a.m., 11 a.m., and 2 p.m., and temporal congruence was higher at 6 p.m. than at 7 a.m. Comfort, thermal sensation, and positive affect scores were higher at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. (4) Conclusion: Data support greater imagery ability and accuracy when participants perceive the environment as more pleasant and comfortable. MI guidelines typically provided in neutral climates should therefore be adapted to tropical climates, with MI training sessions ideally scheduled in the late afternoon.
Introduction
Les activités motrices sont guidées par des représentations mentales sensorimotrices permettant la planification, la programmation et le contrôle des actions [1] qui se construisent sur la base d’informations sensorimotrices issues de l’environnement ou du corps [2]. L’évolution du traitement de celles-ci, liée à l’apprentissage et l’expertise [3] est peu décrite pour la pratique professionnelle et l’apprentissage de métiers où le corps est un outil (par exemple, le masseur-kinésithérapeute MK). Ce métier évolue au cours des années avec l’utilisation de la pratique basée sur les preuves aidant au choix thérapeutique avec les données scientifiques tout en gardant une pratique physique quotidienne. Ces compétences physiques apprises et répétées feront évoluer le système sensori-moteur. Cette évolution pourra être évaluée par différents moyens comme l’imagerie motrice qui sollicite des zones corticales, responsables de la programmation et du contrôle moteur, similaires à celle des actions réelles.
Matériel et méthodes
Cette étude a pour but de comparer l’évolution de la sensorimotricité d’étudiants et de MK diplômés ainsi que leur modalité et perspective préférentielle (visuelles 1re et 3e personne et kinesthésique). Un questionnaire en ligne (MIQ-3sf [4]), évaluant la capacité d’imagerie de mouvements simples pour différentes modalités et perspectives, a été envoyé à des MK et étudiants.
Résultats
Au total, 337 sujets (278 étudiants MK, 59 MK ; âge moyen = 24,9 ans) ont répondu. Une différence significative d’imagerie kinesthésique entre étudiants et MK diplômés (p = 011) a été observée. L’analyse de la comparaison des segments corporels révèle des scores d’imagerie kinesthésique supérieurs chez les diplômés par rapport aux étudiants, que ce soit pour le membre supérieur (p = 0,011), le tronc (p = 0,030) ou les deux (p = 0,002). Aucune différence n’a été observée entre les deux cycles de formation des étudiants chez qui la modalité et perspective préférentielle est l’imagerie visuelle 1re personne.
Discussion/conclusion
L’amélioration des scores d’imagerie kinesthésique avec les années de pratique pourrait être liée à une quantité de pratique supérieure, de par une utilisation quotidienne de leur corps comme outils de soin, chez les MK diplômés. L’absence de groupe contrôle et les différences de taille d’échantillon entre les groupes sont des limites. Les résultats de cette étude suggèrent un développement de la sensorimotricité une fois l’obtention du diplôme et non en formation initiale.
Pour favoriser la performance, certains entraîneurs ont souvent recours au feedback (FB) verbal, à l’Observation d’un Modèle (OM) ou à l’imagerie motrice (IM) consistant à simuler mentalement réaliser une action. Cette étude avait pour but de tester les effets d’une combinaison de FB, d’OM et d’IM sur la performance du 25 m départ plongé en natation chez des non-experts. Cent-six étudiants volontaires (M age = 19,3), aléatoirement divisés en 3 groupes : FB, FB+OM et FB+OM+IM, ont réalisé 3 phases réparties sur 6 séances. Séance 1 (pré-test), ils ont réalisé 5 × 25 m départs plongés (filmés et chronométrés). Les 4 séances suivantes (8 × 25 m départ plongé), ils recevaient un FB verbal (chaque 2 essais), ceux du groupe FB+OM bénéficiaient en plus de la vidéo et ceux du groupe FB+OM+IM s’imaginaient réaliser un plongeon après la vidéo. Séance 6 (post-test) : similaire à la séance 1. Les résultats montrent que tous les participants ont amélioré leur vitesse de coulée, mais seul le groupe FB+OM+IM a amélioré la distance de coulée et le temps sur 25 m. L’intérêt de combiner les modalités de pratique, pour améliorer le 25 m départ plongé, est discuté au regard de la littérature.
Mental Imagery (MI), which can be defined as the brain’s ability to recreate motor experiences in the absence of actual actions, is a mental strategy commonly used by tennis players and coaches in the context of learning and performance. The purpose of this review was to examine the MI use, interventions and effects on the performance of tennis players. Preferred reporting items for reviews and meta-analyses guidelines were employed and research studies were collected via SCOPUS, PubMed, PsycINFO, Science Direct and Google Scholar, in English and French, from the earliest record up to August 2021. Forty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. This review (number 2020-05-87) resulted in a wide variety of MI use in tennis and its beneficial effects, whatever the level or age of the players. MI interventions generally improve motor performance, motivational or affective outcomes. Moreover, MI is frequently combined with other mental skills and integrated in pre-performance routines including breathing, positive self-talk, and/or concentration. This study also highlighted the weak representation of female tennis players that’s why future research is needed to better explore the gender effect in MI interventions in tennis. Overall, MI appears to be beneficial for players, whatever their age or level, and should be incorporated in training programs. Practical implications are discussed.
Introduction. Motor imagery (MI) can be defined as the mental simulation of an action without performing it. Its effectiveness can be substantially influenced by imagery ability, and it is currently accepted that three main modalities are used in MI (kinaesthetic imagery, and internal or external visual imageries). In the context of rehabilitation, MI combined with physical therapy is further known to facilitate functional improvements, and promote cortical reorganization and long-term recovery. This study aimed to test the reproducibility and the validity of constructs (internal consistency and factorial structure) of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 Second
French version (MIQ-3Sf).
Method. The internal consistency as well as the validity of constructs and the test-retest inter-rate reproducibility of the MIQ-3Sf was examined, in 553 participants, for the kinaesthetic and visual items.
Results. The composite reliability scores (≥ 0.92) and the intraclass correlation coefficients (> 0.88) for the kinaesthetic, internal visual and external visual imagery subscales revealed satisfactory internal consistency and reproducibility. Moreover, Pearson correlations revealed a
strong relationship between the MIQ-3Sf and the MIQ- 3f.
Conclusions/Implications. The MIQ-3Sf can be considered as a valid, reliable and useful questionnaire for examining MI ability in the context of rehabilitation.
Keywords: Motor imagery, ability, French, questionnaire, rehabilitation
McNeill et al. (2020) recently published a study that first aimed to assess the effect of a combination of motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) on golf putt performance and then to determine if the evolution of this performance could be moderated by participants’ kinesthetic imagery ability. To assess golfers’ MI ability, the authors used the third version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire. Participants notably self-estimated their kinesthetic MI ability by using a Likert-type scale, with scores ranging from 1 “very difficult to feel” to 7 “very easy to feel”. Athletes were categorized as either “poor” or “good” kinesthetic imagers, with mean scores of 4.93 and 6.63, respectively, in the intervention groups. Although a similar categorization procedure had previously been used in the literature for “good imagers”, the mean scores for “poor” imagers were much higher than those noted in previous studies evaluating the effect of MI ability on motor accuracy. Moreover, the low number of participants in the intervention group (n = 22) meant that participants were considered “poor” imagers even though their mean scores corresponded to “quite easy to feel” kinesthetic images of movements. This could notably explain the lack of differences between “poor” and “good” imagers in terms of putting performance in the intervention group. Despite these methodological limitations, the results of McNeill et al.‘s study show promising evidence for the efficacy of an AO plus MI intervention in relation to putting performance and should lead to further investigations. We suggest that research in the area of motor imagery ability include larger samples to explore, in individuals with very low imagery ability scores, the effects of the combination of AO and MI on motor performance.
The Oxford Handbook of Sport and Performance Psychology includes the latest research and applied perspectives from leaders in the field of performance psychology, presenting sport and performance psychology from myriad perspectives. It looks at individual psychological processes in performance such as attention, imagery, superior performance intelligence, motivation, anxiety, confidence, cognition, and emotion. Articles also consider the social psychological processes in performance including leadership, teamwork, coaching, relationships, moral behavior, and gender and cultural issues. The book further examines human development issues in performance, such as the development of talent and expertise, positive youth development, the role of the family, the end of involvement transitions, and both youth and masters-level sport and physical activity programs. Finally, the text looks at interventions in sport and performance psychology and counseling of performers in distress including such important issues for all performers as: appearance- and performance-enhancing drug use, injuries, managing pain, eating and weight issues, burnout, and the role of physical activity in maintaining health. The articles collected here also cover the history of sport and performance psychology; the scope and nature of the field; ethical issues in sport and performance psychology; performance psychology in the performing arts and other non-sporting fields; perfectionism and performance; the role of the performance coach and of the sport psychologist with a coach and team; supervision; and a look ahead to the future of the field.
Purpose
The high rate of injury incidence and its severity is estimated to cause approximately 9% of global mortality, while a large proportion of people surviving their injuries experience temporary or permanent disabilities. To reduce the occurrence of disability and improve general health of survivors, a more comprehensive rehabilitation approach is needed. Motor imagery is recognized as the promising cognitive strategy to counteract impaired functional capacity of the neuromuscular system. Thus, we aimed to provide to the Slovenian-speaking community a valid and reliable version of Motor Imagery Questionnaire – 3 [MIQ-3], that consists of kinaesthetic imagery [KI] and visual [i.e., Internal Imagery [IMI] and external imagery [EVI]] items.
Methods
We investigated both absolute and relative test-retest repeatability; construct validity and internal consistency of the KI, IMI and EMI items of the Slovenian version of MIQ-3 in 86 healthy adult subjects.
Results
Results showed high to very high average intra-class correlation coefficient [ICC] for the visual items [ICC=0.89] and KI items [ICC=0.92], whilst the measure of absolute variability presented as coefficient of variation [CV%] ranged from 4.9% [EVI] to 6.7% [KI]. The internal consistency was satisfactory [Cronbach α=0.91 [KI] and 0.89]) for both visual items. Confirmatory analysis confirmed a two-factorial structure of MIQ-3.
Conclusion
Understanding the content of the questionnaire is of utmost importance to ensure its effectiveness in rehabilitation practice. The Slovenian translation of the MIQ-3 is culturally and linguistically equivalent to the original English version.
Empirical studies in psychology commonly report Cronbach's alpha as a measure of internal consistency reliability despite the fact that many methodological studies have shown that Cronbach's alpha is riddled with problems stemming from unrealistic assumptions. In many circumstances, violating these assumptions yields estimates of reliability that are too small, making measures look less reliable than they actually are. Although methodological critiques of Cronbach's alpha are being cited with increasing frequency in empirical studies, in this tutorial we discuss how the trend is not necessarily improving methodology used in the literature. That is, many studies continue to use Cronbach's alpha without regard for its assumptions or merely cite methodological papers advising against its use to rationalize unfavorable Cronbach's alpha estimates. This tutorial first provides evidence that recommendations against Cronbach’s alpha have not appreciably changed how empirical studies report reliability. Then, we summarize the drawbacks of Cronbach's alpha conceptually without relying on mathematical or simulation-based arguments so that these arguments are accessible to a broad audience. We continue by discussing several alternative measures that make less rigid assumptions which provide justifiably higher estimates of reliability compared to Cronbach’s alpha.. We conclude with empirical examples to illustrate advantages of alternative measures of reliability including omega total, Revelle’s omega total, the greatest lower bound, and Coefficient H. A detailed software appendix is also provided to help researchers implement alternative methods.
Recent brain imaging research demonstrates that the use of internal visual imagery (IVI) or kinesthetic imagery (KIN) activates common and distinct brain areas. In this paper we argue that combining the imagery modalities (IVI & KIN) will lead to a greater cognitive representation (with more brain areas activated), and this will cause a greater slalom-based motor performance compared to when using IVI alone. To examine this assertion, we randomly allocated 56 participants to one of three groups: IVI, IVI & KIN, or a math-control. Participants performed a slalom based driving task in a driving simulator, with average lap time used as a measure of performance. Results revealed the IVI & KIN group achieved significantly quicker lap times than IVI and the control groups. The discussion includes a theoretical advancement on why the combination of imagery modalities might facilitate performance, with links made to the cognitive neurosciences literature and applied practice.
Background
Imagery is often beneficial not only in gaining a psychological advantage when competing but also in building self-esteem and self-confidence. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Polish adaptation of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3), consisting of 12 questions measuring 3 dimensions: visual internal imagery, visual external imagery and kinesthetic imagery.
Participants and procedure
A sample of athletes (N = 276 – 102 women, 174 men (M = 21.25, SD = 6.35)) of various disciplines (football, volleyball, karate, swimming, etc.) with different sport experience (from recreation to the national team) filled in the MIQ-3 questionnaire in the Polish language.
Results
The results of the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with maximum likelihood confirmed that the established three-factor model reflects well the relationships observed in the respondents’ answers (satisfactory value of RMSEA below the recommended value of .05 (RMSEA = .04) and a high value of the index above .90 CFI (CFI = .93)). Reliability indicators (composite reliability – CR) observed for individual factors indicated a very high internal consistency (external visual imagery = .75, internal visual imagery = .79 and kinesthetic imagery = .82). The results indicated that good stability and internal consistency were maintained over a 3-week period. In addition, analyses were examined across age, level of experience and gender.
Conclusions
The results of the present study support the psychometric properties of the Polish adaptation of the MIQ-3.
Within contemporary sport psychology there is a need to highlight those psychological skill that distinguish performers at the height of their sport from the subsequent levels. The present study compares movement Imagery perspectives in Elite, Sub-Elite and non Elite Athletes. The researchers embarked on a descriptive survey design and employed the questionnaire method during the data collection process. In Study, 256 (men 145 & women 111) at those three levels selected by simple sampling method completed the movement Imagery questionnaire (MIQ-3; Williams & et al., 2012). Validity and reliability of this questionnaire assessed in a pilot study that was confirmed (with alpha cronbach in three sub-scales). After collecting data, descriptive and inferential statistics methods were used. The Multiple one way ANOVA and LSD post-hoc tests revealed that there are significant difrences between in three levels of athletes in internal visual imagery and kinesthetic imagery. Scores were significantly higher in elite than the sub-elite and non-elite players. Also sub-elite showed higher score tah the non elite. Vice versa, there are not significant diffrences between three level athletes in external visual imagery. According to these result it looks athletes in highest level most use of internal visual imagery and kinesthetic imagery.
Imagery is a cognitive process that can play an important role in planning and execution of movements or
actions. Several instruments have been developed in order to evaluate the ability of Imagery in sport.
However, none focused on the kinesthetic, visual internal and visual external modalities. The objective of
this study was to translate and validate preliminary for the Portuguese sports population the Movement
Imagery Questionnaire-3, determining its initial psychometric qualities through an exploratory factor
analysis model that supports it. The sample comprised 176 subjects (N = 176) (N = 134 male, female N
= 42) with a mean age of 20.8 years (SD = 5.94), consisting of soccer (N = 113), basketball (N = 43) and
tennis (N = 20) players. Initially it was found that the procedures of translation and adaptation originated
a Portuguese version MIQ - 3 similar to the original version. Secondly we found that the psychometric
qualities prove their suitability of adaptation performed, demonstrating that its factor structure is the same
as the original version (12 items grouped into 3 factors, with 4 items each factor), with quite acceptable
levels of validity and reliability (Cronbach's alpha: 0.88 to MIQ - 3, 0.79 for the three modalities),
concluding that this questionnaire can be used to assess Imagery capacity in Portuguese athletes.
This study extended motor imagery theories by establishing specificity and verification of expected brain activation patterns during imagery. Eighteen female participants screened with the Movement Imagery Questionnaire- 3 (MIQ-3) as having good imagery abilities were scanned to determine the neural networks active during an arm rotation task. Four experimental conditions (i.e., KINESTHETIC, INTERNAL Perspective, EXTERNAL Perspective, and REST) were randomly presented (counterbalanced for condition) during three brain scans. Behaviorally, moderate interscale correlations were found between the MIQ-3 and Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2, indicating relatedness between the questionnaires. Partially confirming our hypotheses, common and distinct brain activity provides initial biological validation for imagery abilities delineated in the MIQ-3: kinesthetic imagery activated motor-related areas, internal visual imagery activated inferior parietal lobule, and external visual imagery activated temporal, but no occipital areas. Lastly, inconsistent neuroanatomical intraindividual differences per condition were found. These findings relative to recent biological evidence of imagery abilities are highlighted.
The primary purpose of this study was to use synchronized skaters to examine the influence of imagery perspective on the cognitive and motivational functions of imagery during a five-week imagery training program. To this end, 16 novice synchronized skaters participated in an imagery intervention that incorporated both cognitive and motivational imagery. The Sport Imagery Questionnaire (SIQ; Hall, Mack, Paivio, & Hausenblas, 1998) was used to assess changes in the skaters' use of cognitive and motivational images as a result of the training program. The results of a MANOVA indicated that skaters increased their use of cognitive specific and cognitive general imagery, regardless of their preferred imagery perspective. Furthermore, neither group showed changes in their use of imagery for motivational functions. The findings are discussed within the context of Hardy's (1997) proposal that a particular imagery perspective is beneficial for the learning and performance of motor skills if it provides visual information that is otherwise not available to the performer.
Imagery is a cognitive process fundamental to motor learning and performance. When we con-sciously internally represent an action through imagery, the same brain areas involved in the unconscious planning and execution of movements are activated (Lotze & Halsband, 2006; Munzert, Lorey, & Zentgraf, 2009). Importantly, imagery shares neural and behavioral similarity to the gen-uine experience. Th is functional relationship pro-vides researchers with a direct approach to studying covert motor processes important in everyday life, such as anticipating the eff ects of an action, pre-paring or intending to move, learning or relearning motor skills (e.g., recovery after stoke), or remem-bering an action (Jeannerod, 1995). Due to this wide application and ability to gain insights into underlying mechanisms, imagery is of interest to a range of fi elds including cognitive psychology, 11 Abstract Imagery is both a fundamental cognitive process for producing motor actions and a performance-enhancing technique widely used by athletes and dancers. In this chapter, we review findings from basic and applied research to comprehensively define imagery and describe its key characteristics. Using a cognitive neuroscience explanation, we discuss how imagery is involved with motor skill performance and the practical implications for this explanation in planning more effective interventions through application of the PETTLEP model (Holmes & Collins, 2001). We also focus on the development of imagery ability, an important individual difference variable impacting the value of imagery, and discuss how certain aspects of this characteristic can be improved. We then describe other imagery outcomes and offer a revised model based on our review to guide further research and application. We conclude with future directions for imagery research and its practical use for performers, including contemporary issues to be addressed by researchers in the field.
The following paper presents current thinking and research on fit indices for structural equation modelling. The paper presents a selection of fit indices that are widely regarded as the most informative indices available to researchers. As well as outlining each of these indices, guidelines are presented on their use. The paper also provides reporting strategies of these indices and concludes with a discussion on the future of fit indices.
This study examined how imagery ability could affect motor improvement following motor imagery training in tennis. Skilled tennis players were divided into 3 groups with regard to their MIQ scores (good imager, poor imager and control group). During a pre-test, participants physically performed 15 service returns towards a target. The motor imagery training period was included during physical training for 15 sessions and each session consisted of 2 series of 15 imagined trials and 15 physical trials. Some of the participants were required to use internal visual imagery (good and poor imager groups) while others were given a reading task (control group). Finally, 48 hours after the last training session, participants were submitted to a post-test similar to the pre-test. Results indicated that motor imagery improved service return, and that this improvement was better in good imagers than in poor imagers. The impact of motor imagery practice on motor performance, for skilled tennis players, is discussed .
This study examined how imagery ability could affect motor improvement following motor imagery training in tennis. Skilled tennis players were divided into 3 groups with regard to their MIQ scores (good imager, poor imager and control group). During a pre-test, participants physically performed 15 service returns towards a target. The motor imagery training period was included during physical training for 15 sessions and each session consisted of 2 series of 15 imagined trials and 15 physical trials. Some of the participants were required to use internal visual imagery (good and poor imager groups) while others were given a reading task (control group). Finally, 48 hours after the last training session, participants were submitted to a post-test similar to the pre-test. Results indicated that motor imagery improved service return, and that this improvement was better in good imagers than in poor imagers. The impact of motor imagery practice on motor performance, for skilled tennis players, is discussed.
The objective of this study was to get a valid and reliable French version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (Hall & Pongrac, 1983). Using a sample of 127 men and 68 women, the results showed that the French version had construct validity and reliability comparable to those found with the English version. The findings suggest that level of practice, duration of practice, sex, and nature of practice are factors that should be integrated in future studies in order to improve predictive validity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Three experiments examined the relative efficacy of different imagery perspectives on the performance of tasks in which form was important. In Exp 1, 25 experienced karateists (mean age 24.95 yrs) learned a new kata using either external or internal visual imagery or stretching. Results indicate that external visual imagery was significantly more effective than internal visual imagery, which was significantly more effective than stretching. In Exp 2, 40 sport science students (aged 18–35 yrs) learned a simple gymnastics floor routine under one of four conditions: external or internal visual imagery with or without kinesthetic imagery. Results reveal a significant main effect for visual imagery perspective (external visual imagery was best) but no effect for kinesthetic imagery. Exp 3 employed the same paradigm as Exp 2 but with 20 high-ability rock climbers (mean age 23.35 yrs) performing difficult boulder problems. Results show significant main effects for both visual imagery perspective (external visual imagery was best) and kinesthetic imagery. The findings are discussed in terms of the cognitive processes that might underlie imagery effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Ss were administered a spatial test and a new measure of "kinesthetic sensitivity," and then received extended practice on a Two-Hand Coordination (THC) task. The results confirm the hypothesis that sensitivity to proprioceptive cues are more important later in perceptual-motor learning while sensitivity to exteroceptive (spatial-visual) are more critical earlier in learning. The study extends previous work which showed that abilities which contribute to learning early in practice may be different from those which facilitate later learning. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
This research validated and extended the Movement Imagery Questionnaire- Revised (MIQ-R; Hall & Martin, 1997). Study 1 (N = 400) examined the MIQ-R's factor structure via multitrait-multimethod confirmatory factor analysis. The questionnaire was then modified in Study 2 (N = 370) to separately assess the ease of imaging external visual imagery and internal visual imagery, as well as kinesthetic imagery (termed the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3; MIQ-3). Both Studies 1 and 2 found that a correlated-traits correlated-uniqueness model provided the best fit to the data, while displaying gender invariance and no significant differences in latent mean scores across gender. Study 3 (N = 97) demonstrated the MIQ-3's predictive validity revealing the relationships between imagery ability and observational learning use. Findings highlight the method effects that occur by assessing each type of imagery ability using the same four movements and demonstrate that better imagers report greater use of observational learning.
This research aimed to develop and provide initial validation of the Sport Imagery Ability Questionnaire (SIAQ). The SIAQ assesses athletes' ease of imaging different types of imagery content. Following an extensive pilot study, 375 athletes completed a 20-item SIAQ in Study 1. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 4-factor model assessing skill, strategy, goal, and affect imagery ability. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) established this 4-factor structure in Study 2 (N = 363 athletes). In Study 3 (N = 438 athletes), additional items were added to create a fifth mastery imagery subscale that was confirmed through CFA. Study 4 (N = 220 athletes) compared the SIAQ to the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3. Significant bivariate correlations (p < .05) confirmed the SIAQ's concurrent validity but demonstrated differences in imagery ability of different content. Overall, the SIAQ demonstrates good factorial validity, internal and temporal reliability, invariance across gender, and an ability to distinguish among athletes of different competitive levels. Findings highlight the importance of separately assessing imagery ability of different content.
The revised Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-R: Hall & Martin, 1997) assesses visual and kinesthetic movement imagery abilities and has become a popular questionnaire in sport and exercise psychology research. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the MIQ-R including internal consistency, stability, factor structure, and gender invariance. There were 325 male (n = 136) and female (n = 189) athletes/dancers who participated in the study. Gender-specific internal consistency coefficients ranged from .83 to .89 and the test-retest reliabilities over a one week period for the subscales were .80 for visual and .81 for kinesthetic imagery abilities. The best model fit from confirmatory factor analyses results was for a 2-factor structure with an interrelationship between the subscales. These results support the finding that visual and kinesthetic imagery abilities are separate but related constructs. An examination of invariance by gender indicated that the model fit females better than males.
Within rehabilitation settings, mental imagery helps to promote long-term recovery and facilitates compliance to rehabilitation exercises. Individuals who are able to effectively engage in imagery practice are likely to gain the most benefit from imagery training. Thus, a suitable imagery ability measurement tool for individuals with movement limitations is needed. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised second version (MIQ-RS), and compare the results of this new version with Hall and Martin's (1997) MIQ-R. Three-hundred and twenty participants from a variety of sports and performance levels agreed to take part. Results showed the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the MIQ-RS were satisfactory, the two-factor structure of the MIQ-RS was supported by confirmatory factor analysis, and Pearson correlations indicated a strong relationship between the MIQ-R and MIQ-RS. It appears the MIQ-RS is a suitable option for examining movement imagery ability primarily aimed at the upper extremity.
The purpose of this work was to analyze the factor structure, estimate reliability of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire of Hall and Pongrac, and examine differences between men and women on factor scores. The results for 63 men and 47 women supported the bifactorial structure and reliability of this self-report and its adequacy in comparisons of visual and kinesthetic imagery scores.
Perspective taking is an essential component in the mechanisms that account for intersubjectivity and agency. Mental simulation of action can be used as a natural protocol to explore the cognitive and neural processing involved in agency. Here we took PET measurements while subjects simulated actions with either a first-person or a third-person perspective. Both conditions were associated with common activation in the SMA, the precentral gyrus, the precuneus and the MT/V5 complex. When compared to the first-person perspective, the third-person perspective recruited right inferior parietal, precuneus, posterior cingulate and frontopolar cortex. The opposite contrast revealed activation in left inferior parietal and somatosensory cortex. We suggest that the right inferior parietal, precuneus and somatosensory cortex are specifically involved in distinguishing self-produced actions from those generated by others.
Is it important to adopt the perspective of the model when learning a new skill? Is the "mirror system" equally involved when the teacher is facing or side-by-side with students? In this functional MRI study, we measured the cerebral hemodynamic changes in participants who watched video-clips depicting simple hand or foot actions. The participants either watched passively or imitated these actions. Half the video-clips depicted actions filmed from the perspective of the participant (1st-person perspective) and half from a frontal view as if watching someone else (3rd-person perspective). Behavioral results showed that latency to imitate was significantly shorter for the 1st-person perspective than the 3rd-person perspective. Functional imaging results demonstrate that the observation of intransitive actions engaged primary visual and extrastriate visual areas, but not the premotor cortex. Imitation vs. observation of actions yielded enhanced signal in the contralateral somatosensory and motor cortices, cerebellum, left inferior parietal lobule and superior parietal cortex, and left ventral premotor cortex. Activity in the lateral occipital cortex around the extrastriate body area was significantly enhanced during imitation, as compared to observation of actions confirming that this region involvement reaches beyond the perception of body parts. Moreover, comparisons of the two visual perspectives showed more activity in the left sensory-motor cortex for 1st-person, even during observation alone, and in the lingual gyrus for 3rd-person perspective. These findings suggest that the 1st-person perspective is more tightly coupled to the sensory-motor system than the 3rd-person perspective, which requires additional visuospatial transformation.
The purpose of this research was to amend the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ; Isaac, Marks, & Russell, 1986) in line with contemporary imagery modality and perspective conceptualizations, and to test the validity of the amended questionnaire (i.e., the VMIQ-2). Study 1 had 351 athletes complete the 3-factor (internal visual imagery, external visual imagery, and kinesthetic imagery) 24-item VMIQ-2. Following single-factor confirmatory factor analyses and item deletion, a 12-item version was subject to correlated traits / correlated uniqueness (CTCU) analysis. An acceptable fit was revealed. Study 2 used a different sample of 355 athletes. The CTCU analysis confirmed the factorial validity of the 12-item VMIQ-2. In Study 3, the concurrent and construct validity of the VMIQ-2 was supported. Taken together, the results of the 3 studies provide preliminary support for the revised VMIQ-2 as a psychometrically valid questionnaire.
In two studies, we examined the strength of relationship between internal and external visual imagery with kinaesthetic imagery. In Study 1, 56 participants completed the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire and the Movement Imagery Questionnaire. Pearson's product-moment correlations failed to reveal a significant correlation between external visual imagery and kinaesthetic imagery. However, the correlation between internal visual imagery and kinaesthetic imagery approached significance. In Study 2, the instructional set of the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire was changed to make the participant the 'agent' of the external visual perspective images rather than somebody else. Sixty-four participants completed the two questionnaires. The results indicated a significant correlation between external visual imagery and kinaesthetic imagery (r = 0.60, P < 0.01). However, the correlation between internal visual imagery and kinaesthetic imagery was non-significant (r = 0.23, P > 0.01). The results are discussed in relation to who is the agent of the image and the processes that may underlie kinaesthetic imagery. The implications for researchers trying to establish the functional, behavioural and neurological differences within, and across, imagery modalities are considered.
We investigated whether tropical climate and an external load would influence mental
chronometry and whether imagery ability would act as a moderator. The Movement Imagery Questionnaire‒Revised was used to determine good and poor imagers. Participants had to walk and imagine walking toward three targets with and without a 10-kg weight in an air-conditioned setting (AC) or tropical climate (TC). Movement times were recorded with a stopwatch. The isochrony index was used to evaluate motor imagery quality. The results revealed that poor imagers had slower times in motor imagery that in actual walking condition and had a lower isochrony index in the AC than in the TC condition at 10-m and 15-m. Regardless of the climate condition, good imagers had a lower isochrony index in the unloaded than in the loaded condition and had a significantly lower isochrony index than poor imagers in all conditions. Tropical climate and poor individual imagery ability can negatively influence mental chronometry.
Keywords: imagery ability, mental chronometry, tropical environment, walk.
The present study investigated the relationship between two of the most common measures of motor imagery ability, self-report ratings, and chronometric assessment. This was done for three types of imagery modalities: external visual imagery (EVI), internal visual imagery (IVI), and kinesthetic imagery (KI). Measures of imagery ability (i.e. self-report and mental chronometry) were also compared across skill levels. Participants (N = 198) completed the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) to generate self-report ratings. Chronometric assessment was obtained by recording the duration of each MIQ-3 movement imaged and physically performed and then calculating a discrepancy score. There were no significant correlations between self-report and mental chronometry for any of the three motor imagery types (p > .05). When assessing the different types of motor imagery ability using self-report ratings, elite athletes had significantly higher KI than IVI, which was in turn significantly higher than EVI (p < .05). When assessing motor imagery ability using mental chronometry, there were no significant differences in imagery type (p > .05). Findings suggest both measures address different components of MI quality and should be used together to obtain a more comprehensive assessment of motor imagery ability.
The aim of this study is to provide to French-speaking researchers a valid and reliable version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised (MIQ-R) of Hall & Martin (1997). With a population constituted by 62 men and 72 women, results verify construct validity and reliability, confirm that visual imagery ability is better than kinesthetic imagery ability whatever sex, level of practice and that a high level of kinesthetic imagery ability is connected to a more important duration of practice.
To examine the circadian modulation on motor imagery quality for elderly inpatients to determine the best time-of-day to use motor imagery in rehabilitation activities.
Inpatient rehabilitation clinic.
elderly inpatients rehabilitation center.
Thirty-four elderly inpatients. They were hospitalized for diverse geriatric or neurogeriatric reasons. They were able to sit without assistance, to manipulate objects and to walk 10 meters in less than 30 seconds without technical help or with a simple stick.
none.
The executed and imagined durations of writing and walking movements were recorded 7 times a day (from 9:15 to 16:45 h), at times compatible with the hours of rehabilitation activities. Motor imagery quality was evaluated by computing the isochrony index (i.e., the absolute difference between the average duration of executed and imagined actions) for each trial and each inpatient. The cosinor method was used to analyzed time series for circadian rhythmicity.
Imagined movements duration and isochrony index exhibited circadian modulations, whereas no such rhythmic changes appeared for executed movements. Motor imagery quality was better late in the morning, at approximately 10:18 and 12:10 h for writing and walking, respectively.
Cognitive and sensorimotor aspects of motor behaviors differed in the elderly inpatients. The temporal features of motor imagery showed a clear circadian variation. From a practical perspective, the present study offers information on an effective schedule for motor imagery in rehabilitation activities with elderly inpatients.
Copyright © 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction:
Motor imagery can be defined as a dynamic state during which the representation of a movement is internally rehearsed in the absence of voluntary movements. There are two strategies to mentally simulate the movements, either a visual representation of the movements (visual imagery), or kinesthetic feeling of the movement (kinetic imagery). In stroke rehabilitation, studies indicate that motor imagery associated with physical therapy results in cortical reorganization and correlative functional improvements.
Aim:
The aim of this study is to provide to the French-speaking community a valid and reliable version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire - Revised Second Version (MIQ-RS).
Method:
We examined the test-retest, inter-rate reliability and the internal consistency of the visual and kinesthetic items of our French version of MIQ-RS in 153 healthy subjects.
Results:
Results showed the internal consistency (Cronbach α=0.90) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient for visual items=0.68 and for kinesthetic items=0.78) of the French version of MIQ-RS were satisfactory; the two-factor structure was supported by confirmatory factor analysis.
Conclusion:
The French version of MIQ-RS is a valid and reliable instrument in French-speaking population and therefore useful as a measure for motor imagery ability.
Assessed the use of mental imagery by rowers by administering the Imagery Use Questionnaire to 348 rowers at high school, college, and national team levels (aged 15–54 yrs). Most rowers reported using imagery and other mental training techniques. They reported using imagery most just prior to competition (more internal than external imagery), and reported that incorporating "feel" into their images was an important aspect of their imagery sessions. However, these sessions were not very structured or regular and varied in duration. A discriminant function analysis to determine which of the imagery use items best distinguished between novice and elite rowers (ELR) showed that ELR had more structure and regularity to their imagery sessions. Novices indicated seeing themselves rowing incorrectly more often than the ELR, whereas experienced rowers saw themselves executing a prerace routine. (French, Spanish, German & Italian abstracts) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Analyzed 2 waves of survey data from 373 elite track and field athletes before the 1988 US Olympic trials and after the Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. Focus was on measures of mental practice and visualization, including internal and external perspectives and association with sociodemographic data, prior collegiate experience, coaching influences, and Olympic team selection. 84.7% of the Ss practiced some form of visualization or mental practice. Education was significantly associated with mental practice. Also, field athletes used significantly more imagery than other athletes. Analyses suggest that mental practice may be associated with more successful track and field performance for selected groups of athletes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Thirteen male gymnasts were given a standard questionnaire and interviewed during the final trials for the U.S. Olympic team. Particular attention was given to psychological factors and cognitive strategies in their training and competition. Using their final competitive grouping as the primary dependent variable, correlations were performed to assess the relationship between these factors and superior athletic performance. Data from this exploratory study suggested that varying patterns of cognition may be strongly correlated with successful and superior gymnastic performance. Specifically, dream frequency, self-verbalizations, and certain forms of mental imagery seemed to differentiate the best gymnasts from those who failed to make the Olympic team. These two groups also appeared to show different anxiety patterns and different methods of coping with competitive stress. The implications of these results for sport psychology are briefly discussed.
When variations in imagery ability are used to predict task performance, distinct and consistent relationships do not tend to emerge. A selective review of studies is undertaken to outline some basic reasons why individual difference measures of imagery are often so unsuccessful. Relevant studies concerning the learning and performance of motor skills are examined in some detail. It is concluded that the major problem in these studies is the types of imagery tests that have been employed; these tests have not adequately measured imagery ability. A recently developed instrument, the Movement Imagery Questionnaire, which has been designed to assess individual differences in visual and kinesthetic imagery of movement is discussed.
It is assumed that imagining oneself from a first-person perspective (1PP) is more embodied than a third-person perspective (3PP). Therefore, 1PP imagery should lead to more activity in motor and motor-related structures, and the postural configuration of one's own body should be particularly relevant in 1PP simulation. The present study investigated whether proprioceptive information on hand position is integrated similarly in 1PP and 3PP imagery of hand movements. During functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning, 20 right-handed female college students watched video sequences of different hand movements with their right hand in a compatible versus incompatible posture and subsequently performed 1PP or 3PP imagery of the movement. Results showed stronger activation in left hemisphere motor and motor-related structures, especially the inferior parietal lobe, on 1PP compared with 3PP trials. Activation in the left inferior parietal lobe (parietal operculum, SII) and the insula was stronger in 1PP trials with compatible compared with incompatible posture. Thus, proprioceptive information on actual body posture is more relevant for 1PP imagery processes. Results support the embodied nature of 1PP imagery and indicate possible applications in athletic training or rehabilitation.
This paper examines the relationship between imagery and the acquisition of motor skills. Since most of the research in the motor domain has considered imagery under the topic of mental practice, a comparison between imagery and mental practice is first drawn. Then the basic mental practice paradigm is outlined and research on the effects of imagery is summarized. Factors influencing the use of imagery are considered, including the task, the imagery instructions, and individual imagery abilities. Implications for employing imagery in the teaching of motor skills are discussed and, finally, an approach to studying imagery and motor skills is put forward.
In this study, we examined the relationship between imagery ability, as measured by the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ),
and the acquisition, retention, and reacquisition of movements. Based on their MIQ scores, 10 subjects were selected for the
following imagery groups: high visual/high kinesthetic (HH), high visual/low kinesthetic (HL), and low visual/low kinesthetic
(LL). The subjects learned four movements to a criterion level. Before each trial, subjects kinesthetically imaged the movement
about to be produced. Following each acquisition trial, subjects were provided visual feedback. The acquisition phase was
followed by a 2-day retention interval, a retention test consisting of three trials on each movement (no feedback provided),
and a reacquisition phase. The HH group acquired the movements in the least number of trials, the LL group required the greatest
number of trials, and the HL group required an intermediate number of trials. The data for the reacquisition phase showed
the same trend. There was only weak evidence for a relationship between imagery ability and the retention of the movements.
These findings support the position that high imagery ability facilitates the acquisition, but probably not the short term
retention, of movements.
It can be argued that imaginary practice and physical practice are functionally similar. Evidence in support of this hypothesis comes from several experiments demonstrating that interference effects from imaginary practice in motor learning and motor memory are similar in both direction and size to those resulting from physical practice. The purpose of the present study was to provide additional support for this finding using a retroactive interference paradigm. Sixty participants were required to practise performing a simple motor task that was to be completed in a criterion time of 700 ms. They then were randomly assigned to one of six groups. These groups differed in the amount and type of interpolated practice they experienced. One physical practice group attended one session of interpolated activity involving physical practice of another motor task. The other physical practice group participated in two such sessions. One imagery group attended a single session entailing imaginary practice of the same interpolated motor task, while the other imagery group had two such sessions. A fifth group experienced a combination of physical practice and rest periods for two interpolated sessions. A control group did not experience any interpolated activity sessions. Following the interpolated activity sessions, all groups were given a retention/reacquisition test on the original motor task. Imaginary and physical practice during the interpolated activity sessions caused similar interference effects on retention/reacquisition. All groups showed greater deviation from the criterion movement time (700 ms) during the retention test than the control group, and these deviations were in the expected direction given the nature of the interpolated motor task.
Two experiments are reported which examine the relative efficacy of different imagery perspectives on a slalom type and a gymnastic type task. Twenty-four able-bodies sport, health and physical education students were allocated to either an internal visual imagery group or an external visual imagery group. In both experiments subjects watched video-recordings of someone completing the tasks, then performed five blocks of three trials with feedback after each block, and internal/external visual imagery before each trial. A transfer/retention trial was performed one week later. The tasks were a wheelchair slalom task and a pseudogymnastics routine performed using rhythmic gymnastics clubs to show static positions. The slalom task results suggested that in the retention test, the external visual imagery group focused on the speed of performance, whilst the internal visual imagery group focused on the accuracy of performance. These findings were interpreted as suggesting that internal visual imagery was more effective for the planning of action in response to changes in a visual field. However, in the gymnastics task, contrary to previous suggestions, external visual imagery was found to be more effective than internal visual imagery for both learning and subsequent retention. The roles of internal and external visual imagery are discussed in terms of task characteristics and the observational learning literature.
Imagery ability and movement
- G Fishburne
- C Hall
Fishburne, G., & Hall, C. (1989). Imagery ability and movement. In M. Lashuk (Eds.),
Proceedings of the Alberta Teacher Educatores in Physical Education 3 rd Annual
meeting (pp. 9-23). Calgary Publication.