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Mental Imagery and the Senses: Performance on a Sport-Related Task for Eastern Kentucky University Women Soccer Players Presented By: Stephanie LynchApril 16, 2011

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OutlineInspiration of thesis Mental Imagery IntroductionReview of Literature Research Question and DefinitionsOriginal ResearchResearch ProceduresMaterials and MethodsResults Limitations Further Direction

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InspirationDivision I Athlete Does mental imagery give an athlete an edge in performance?

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I played for EKU as a goalkeeper for four years and always tried to picture myself making a big save or cleanly catching the ball during the pre-game time in the locker-room. I thought it helped me focus and wanted to see if mental imagery would give an athlete an edge in performance.

What is Mental Imagery? Create or re-create an experience in the mindGoal: To enhance performanceGoal: Learn a new taskImagery example: Taking a walk in the ravine

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So you may be asking what mental imagery is. Mental imagery can be used in the sports domain as well as everyday life. I will use the definition of mental imagery for my thesis as using as many of the senses (or at least those appropriate) to create or re-create an experience in the mind. The ultimate goal is to enhance performance or do a new task.

Mental imagery can also be used in everyday life typically to help you learn a task or reach a goal. But I will run through an example with you so you can begin to understand how to practice mental imagery.

Close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting in the grass at the ravine. The warm air surrounds your skin but there is just enough breeze to keep you comfortable. The sharp blades of grass tickle your skin. You take a deep breath and you smell the pollen in the air, you hold back your sneeze. The birds are chirping and you close your eyes and enjoy the nice spring day.

Could you feel the blades of grass or hear the birds chirping?

Review of Literature

Robert Weinberg, Does Imagery Work? Effects on Performance and Mental Skills Preparatory Imagery improves performanceFactors affecting effectiveness of imageryPerspectiveTask type open or closedSkill levelTime of imagery Simulation to actual environment

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I did a lot of reading during the first part of the term when trying to finalize my topic idea. The following slides include the research that is most relevant to my topic.

Robert Weinbergs work was published in 2008 and answers the question that preparatory imagery does in fact improve performance. However he mentions several factors that affect the effectiveness of imagery including:

Perspective: During mental imagery does the athlete imagine external: having an out of body type of perspective or internal: imagining 1st person

Task type: open- there are several avenues for the skill, as in dribbling down the soccer fieldclosed- there are two options, a success or a failure, so like in golf- putting the golf ball into the hole.

Skill type: Recreational to elite athletes

Time of imagery: real time vs. slow motion

Simulation to the actual environment- the imagery should be as close to the actual setting as possible. A basketball player should imagine their court, for example.

Weinberg continuedFuture Directions for research Imagery and the Use of Different Senses

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Weinberg mentions future directions for research including imagery and the use of different senses. He conveyed the idea that there is a need to determine if, in fact, the use of different senses will enhance the effectiveness of imagery. So I took this idea and ran with it by creating imagery scripts.

Review of LiteratureThe McWhiters Increasing Human Potential: Relaxation and Imagery Training (RIT) with Athletic and Performing Art TeamsDeveloping guided fantasy scripts1. 5 senses2. Vividly set the scene3. Outside to inside environment 4. Guide the fantasy from the viewpoint of performer 5. Use positive statements.

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One source I used to help develop my imagery scripts was McWhiters Journal article. In my scripts I tried to follow these guidelines.

Research QuestionOriginal Idea- Does mental imagery give an athlete an edge in performance? ComplicationsMental Imagery and the Senses... Does the number of senses imagined effect performance on a closed-skill task for EKU Women soccer players in the off-season?

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I had to change my original idea due to complications with finding research subjects. I initially wanted to see if mental imagery gave an athlete an edge in performance. However, since I would be working with Division I athletes, I realized I didnt want to try to interfere with an established pre-game routine that an athlete may have already in place or be seen as intrusive by the players or the coach.

I wanted to work with the basketball team but was told I would have to wait until the season was over, so decided against it.

I finally settled on working with the Women's soccer team, in their non-competitive or off-season trying to mirror a practice session and skills done during an indoor training session.

DefinitionsMental Imagery- Using all of the senses, or at least the ones that are most appropriate to create or re-create an experience in the mindClosed-skills task (Shooting a free-throw)Off-season (non-competitive season)

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So just to review, here are the definitions that go with my thesis title.

Original ResearchObjectives: Investigate athletes use of mental imageryImplement mental imagery scriptsDetermine what was imagined during scriptsAthletes perception of performanceDetermine if the number of senses imagined effect performance on a closed skills task

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Existing use of mental imageryDevelop and implement scripts and determine what was actually imagined during the scripts The athletes perceptions of their performance Determine if the number of senses imagined effect performance on a closed skills task

Subject PopulationReturning players on the Varsity EKU Women's Soccer teamNon-competitive season in Spring 201116 athletes, freshman to junior status Ages 18 to 21Recruitment

Informed and encouraged by the coachhttp://www.ekusports.com/images/2010/8/24/xsmall_Basalyga_Lindsay.jpg

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Research ProceduresInstitutional Review Board (IRB) ApprovalDemographics QuestionnaireMental Imagery SurveyInformed ConsentInformational Session Vividness of Sport Imagery Questionnaire Experiment Interviews

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Demographics: Age, number of years playing soccer, position other variables that could contribute to their performance on the skill Mental imagery survey: their perceptions of mental imagery, if they are familiar with, or use itInformed consent: details of the experiment - randomly selected 11 individuals from the 16 to participate and invited them to joinInformational session: Tell them about mental imagery, famous athletes, the best way to practice mental imagery. Gave a personal example and let them practiceVSIQ : as a take home assignment when they had some time. Gave them an idea of how vivid they were able to imagine. The more vivid the images more likely to perform better using mental imagery

Materials and Methods

After I had the subject population, I secured the Alumni coliseum for the permanent location of the experiment. 13

Materials and MethodsAuxiliary Gym, Alumni Coliseum 10 size 3 soccer balls 3 brightly colored poster boardsDuct tape3 conesIndoor shoes

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We met in the Auxiliary Gym and as you can see from the slide, the following materials were used in the experiment. The athletes were asked to dress in appropriate attire.

Materials and Methods 3 Randomly selected groupsControl group, 3 subjects No mental imagery Group A, 4 subjectsGroup B, 4 subjects

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Control group: help to see if the athletes are improving based on time alone. Group A and Group B each with 4 athletes, who the imagery scripts were administered to.

1st Trail- Baseline 2nd Trial- Use mental imagery script

3rd Trial- Use mental imagery script

Time trial run competition The Experiment:

WHAT DID THEY DO? - Warmed upBaseline: no mental imagery2nd and 3rd trial used mental imagery scripts with either 2 or 5 senses, the order was randomly assigned to Group A and Group B. Volleyed size 3 soccer ball from 14 paces from wall at the poster target. Hitting the poster is a success.Took turns in a cycle one after another and recorded success out of 10 attempts. 16

Materials and MethodsRecorded Imagery Script EffectivenessRecorded Vividness of ImageryIndividual Interviews Q: Were you able to hear and see certain things? What do you think kept you from imagining this? Q: Were you able to taste, feel and smell? What do you think kept you from imagining this?

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Recorded perceptions of the script effectiveness on performance and the how vivid they were able to imagine.

ResultsSubjectGroupBaseline Trial 1Experimental Trial 2Experimental Trial 31Green0112Green0103Green0324Green0005Pink1036Pink1117Pink2128Yellow2329Yellow12210Yellow03111Yellow254

Green: 2 Senses, 5 Senses Pink: ControlYellow: 5 Senses, 2 Senses

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Results Quantitative Fishers Exact Test

QualitativeSignificant Findings

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Quantitative ResultsFishers Exact TestChi-Squared test preferred but has assumptionsOne or more of your cells has unexpected frequency of five or lessFisher's exact test has no assumption and is used regardless of how small the frequency is

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Statistical analysis

Quantitative ResultsFisher's Exact TestBaseline scores for the 3 groups P-value 0.0545 Groups significantly different at starting point Gain-scores not significantly different for the 3 groups

Insufficient evidence to show the number of senses used in mental imagery was effective in improving performance

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Groups significantly different: one group was better at the skill than the other group, makes it hard to look at improvementGain-scores not significantly different, so no difference in the scripts to performance

ResultsSubjectGroupBaseline Trial 1Experimental Trial 2Experimental Trial 31Green0112Green0103Green0324Green0005Pink1036Pink1117Pink2128Yellow2329Yellow12210Yellow03111Yellow254

Green: 2 Senses, 5 Senses Pink: ControlYellow: 5 Senses, 2 Senses

22- Almost seem like they are random numbers.

Qualitative Results Significant FindingsReport they felt like they improved based on the distance from the poster Were not able to imagine smelling and tasting in most casesSome where not able to picture themselves in the gym

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3/ 8 rated the script with 5 senses higher than the script with just 2.

5/8 could hear 6/8 could feel8/8 could see Only 2/8 smell and 1/8 could taste

Thought of the field instead

LimitationsSmall sample size with low numbersMany variablesImagery ability Different positions on the field Difficult task Understanding the nature of the task and experiment

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Sample size is only 11, very small numbersNeed to have 100 attempts instead of 10 to see any significance

Imagery ability differed claiming they use mental imagery and some do not

Difficult task- too many variables- striking ball out of air vs. ball on ground, much harder

Understanding the nature of the task and experiment: although there was an informational session, most subjects were laid back and just had fun with it instead of actually mimicking a real practice environment.

Further DirectionPerform in the competitive seasonLimit variablesDevelop multiple scripts of useable senses Allow more practice using mental imagery and more repetitions

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Normal environment- outside on the soccer field. Penalty kick- ball is rested on the ground. Athlete could how they set up, what direction to shoot, an the imagery script can be further tailored to them this is more game like! Smell and taste was of strong example smell: freshly cut grass

Questions?

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That is the conclusion of my presentation, I know open the floor up to questions.

Special ThanksDr. Wardell Johnson, mentor Lindsay Basalyga, EKU Women's Soccer CoachEKU Women's Soccer TeamDr. Michelle Smith, Statistical Consultant Eastern Kentucky University

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