An emerging paradigm: a strength-based approach to exploring mental imagery

Abstract

Mental imagery, or the ability to simulate in the mind information that is not currently perceived by the senses, has attracted considerable research interest in psychology since the early 1970's. Within the past two decades, research in this field—as in cognitive psychology more generally—has been dominated by neuroscientific methods that typically involve comparisons between imagery performance of participants from clinical populations with those who exhibit apparently normal cognitive functioning. Although this approach has been valuable in identifying key neural substrates of visual imagery, it has been less successful in understanding the possible mechanisms underlying another simulation process, namely, motor imagery or the mental rehearsal of actions without engaging in the actual movements involved. In order to address this oversight, a “strength-based” approach has been postulated which is concerned with understanding those on the high ability end of the imagery performance spectrum. Guided by the expert performance approach and principles of ecological validity, converging methods have the potential to enable imagery researchers to investigate the neural “signature” of elite performers, for example. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explain the origin, nature, and implications of the strength-based approach to mental imagery. Following a brief explanation of the background to this latter approach, we highlight some important theoretical advances yielded by recent research on mental practice, mental travel, and meta-imagery processes in expert athletes and dancers. Next, we consider the methodological implications of using a strength-based approach to investigate imagery processes. The implications for the field of motor cognition are outlined and specific research questions, in dynamic imagery, imagery perspective, measurement, multi-sensory imagery, and metacognition that may benefit from this approach in the future are sketched briefly.

Metacognition and action: a new pathway to understanding social and cognitive aspects of expertise in sport

“…Sport in the more traditional sense emphasizes motor skill execution under stressful conditions typically in a dynamic environment ( Baker and Young, 2014 ). One legacy of the chess expertise literature was that this perceptual-cognitive lens was subsequently applied in the sport domain ( MacIntyre et al, 2013 ). Two interlinked events led researchers to become enthusiastic in their study of visual cognition and sport ( Williams and Ford, 2007 ).…”

“…The tenet that sport could be a dynamic natural laboratory was well made ( Moran, 1996 ; Williams and Ericsson, 2005 ) and the development of innovative methodologies occurred in parallel (e.g., eye-tracking as a measure of attention). A burgeoning literature developed and sport as a domain of study gained popularity as a result ( Moran, 2009 ; MacIntyre et al, 2013 ).…”

“…The acquisition of motor skills in the traditional sporting context is arguably more complex ( Voss et al, 2010 ). For example, even defining deliberate practice among athletes is more challenging than with chess grandmasters ( MacIntyre et al, 2013 ; Healy et al, 2014 ). Nevertheless, the conclusion by Hambrick et al (2014b , p. 114) that “the question now is what else matters” suggests that we should consider a broader range of constructs in order to more comprehensively understand expertise.…”

Comparison of the Metacognitive Awareness Levels between Successful and Unsuccessful Teams in the Turkish Men's Second Volleyball League

“…It is not possible to explain expert sports performance with the relation of automaticity and procedural information because declarative knowledge and metacognitive skills can also play a role in the acquisition of expertise [17,18]. It should be remembered that while procedural knowledge is inherently linked to optimum sport performance, declarative knowledge may play both negative [19] and positive role [20][21][22].…”

A review and critical analysis of how cognitive neuroscientific investigations using dance can contribute to sport psychology

“…This work has given rise to the notion of a human mirror system, which comprises multiple cortical regions and shows evidence of behaving in a similar manner to individual mirror neurons found within non-human primate brains (Molenberghs et al, 2012). 1 The implications of a neural link between perception and action are broad-reaching and have been explored by scientists from disciplines and perspectives beyond neurophysiology and cognitive neuroscience, including the sport sciences, cognitive psychology, philosophy and occupational therapy (Braun, Beurskens, Borm, Schack, & Wade, 2006;Goldman, 2009;Guillot & Collet, 2010;Jacob, 2008;Johnson-Frey, 2004;MacIntyre, Moran, Collet, & Guillot, 2013;Yarrow et al, 2009). Keil and colleagues have outlined several ways in which research on the human mirror system might inform and advance theoretical models for understanding psychological processes in a sporting context (Keil et al, 2000).…”