Visualization is a common technique that is mainly used as an acceptable alternative for the practice of an action. The cognitive and structuralist approaches approve of the mental imagery as an effective approach, but the behaviorist school rejects it. The primary concern of most schools of thought with mental imagery is the nature of image, its association with an actual action, its role on motivation, and the conceptualized idea of how action and thought are comparative with physical effects. Nonetheless, visualization has significant effects on how an individual perceives an action and the action itself. In most instances, visualization is used to bring a person to a state of relaxation and is considered as a successful approach in many aspects of a person’s life such as succeeding in tournaments or overcoming a disease.
Visual Imagery
The concept of mental representation refers to the functional anatomy of visual imagery. According to Slimani et al. (2016), visual imagery is closely related to how a person interprets the visual characteristics of an image. Therefore, mental representation may take three different forms including propositions, mental models or images. Visualization assists a person to successful complete a task since it involves the process of creating a mental picture of the skills that a person has received training for. Consequently, this form of imaging is as effective as performing the actual function. Slimani et al. (2016) asserts that this method of visual imagery is applicable in different areas of a person’s life. This is because, brain patterns are created as a person repeatedly performs the same activity, and after a period, the will to act or perform an action without physically doing it generates a brain pattern.
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Visual imagery is applied in the daily life and enables a person to use their imagination and improve the environment where an action takes place. For instance, the brain pattern can be described as a muscle memory that involves the repeated practices that lead to neural organization, which can easily imitate an action irrespective of its actual performance. According to Phulkar and Kagzi (2017), visualization is effective since it fuels the same neuronal patterns that are used when performing an activity. In sports visualization provides athletes with the psychic edge that enables them to become champions. For instance, in golf, the players use visual imagery to predict where the golf ball will land and depend on this visual memory when aiming to shoot their shot.
The concept of imagery and its impact on performance continues to be a subject of debate. According to the cognitive school of thought, image must be associated with the action being performed or at least aid a person in remembering the activities involved in performing an action. Thus, imagery describes the experience that is created through imagination or the processes that are required to develop the necessary environment to create an image. According to Slimani et al. (2016), the relationship between image and action defines the deliberate thought of a practical experience that a person is familiar with. This suggests that the image is a memory of an action that ignites an involuntary physical response in a person. Therefore, a physical response must occur when a person visualizes or performs an action.
The psychoneuromuscular theory suggests that when a person has a mental perception of a skill, the neural pathways that are activated are similar to those that occur when physically engaging in the skill. Cumming and Williams (2013) argue that the feedback that a person receives from the muscle innervation as a result of the imagined skill influences their motor behaviors. This means that mental imagery occurs due to two basic perspectives the internal and external. The internal perspective refers to imaging that occurs within a person’s body capacity that enables them to experience the motor behavior without explicit movements. In this case, the person imagines that they are performing a motor act, which causes their muscles to contract and they start experiencing kinesthetic sensations. On the other hand, the external perspective describes the approach of imagining an action as though it is occurring outside one’s body; thus, the motor behavior is generated in the mind of an individual.
Mental imagery has the ability to provide individuals with the opportunity of improving their physical strength during performance. However, Slimani et al. (2016) argue that there is no specific modality that is perceived as the most effective in enhancing physical strength performance. Researchers continue to investigate the relationship between mental imagery perspectives and strength performance to ascertain the impact that visualization has on physical action. Visualization and imagery is commonly used among athletes as an approach that will enable them to gain a competitive edge over their rivals and assist them to perform optimally. Although some may argue that imagery is a form of mystical or magical approach of manipulating the mind, it is considered as a legitimate method of treatment that has proved to be effective in generating positive outcomes (Phulkar & Kagzi, 2017). For instance, visualization and imagery training can be used in different aspects of a person’s life to attract positive change – as it enables a person to develop and nurture desirable habits and behaviors, while letting go of unhealthy character traits and emotions. As a result, some athletes engage in visualization and imagery training with certified hypnotherapists to enhance their personal performance in their respective games.
Imagery training is effective since it allows an individual to take control of their unconscious mind. According to Phulkar and Kagzi (2017), the unconscious mind is the central part of the brain that controls a person’s beliefs and behaviors. Therefore, visualization and imagery training is applied as an effective technique that enables a person to change their behaviors and habits from the unconscious level. In athletes, visualization and imagery training is used as a method that helps athletes to overcome the feelings of self-doubt and enable them to regain their sense of confidence and self-belief. Once an athlete acquires a sense of self-belief and confidence they are likely to excel in their sports and become champions beyond what they had previously envisioned. Through imagery training, athletes learn of some of the talents and abilities that they possess and are able to overcome their fears – since they acquire an intense focus to showcase their best performance.
The underlying mechanisms that improve strength performance act as effective approaches of practical imagery interventions. According to Slimani et al. (2016) such mechanisms play a critical role as a neurophysiological variable. Neural factors contribute to muscle strength gains and motor recovery during injuries. This shows the existing gap in imagery training and why it is important to conduct extensive empirical examination to improve the different approaches of mental imagery. Therefore, it is important for researchers to investigate the relationship between mental imagery and the underlying mechanisms of increasing strength.
Conclusion
Although psychologists, athletes and coaches perceive mental imagery as an effective psychological technique of improving performance, it is evident that experimental models that assess the relationship between brain imagery and performance improvement are necessary to further understand the underlying concept of visual imagery. Future research is necessary to evaluate the brain, physiological responses and muscle activity in order to gain an in-depth understanding the relationship between imagery and strength performance. The main challenge in future research is to identify the exact nature of neuromuscular and hormonal adaptation and their role in mental imagery.
References
Cumming, J., & Williams, S. E. (2013). Introducing the revised applied model of deliberate imagery use for sport, dance, exercise, and rehabilitation. Movement & Sport Sciences , 82 (4), 69–81.
Phulkar, A. & Kagzi, I. (2017). Effect of visualization and imagery training on sports performance using sports hypnosis. IJPESH ; 4(4): 330-333. Retrieved from: http://www.kheljournal.com/archives/2017/vol4issue4/PartF/4-4-85-798.pdf
Slimani, M., Tod, D., Chaabene, H., Miarka, B., & Chamari, K. (2016). Effects of Mental Imagery on Muscular Strength in Healthy and Patient Participants: A Systematic Review. Journal of sports science & medicine , 15 (3), 434–450.
