Motor imagery

Motor imagery is a mental process by which an individual rehearses or simulates a given action. It is widely used in sport training as mental practice of action, neurological rehabilitation, and has also been employed as a research paradigm in cognitive neuroscience and cognitive psychology to investigate the content and the structure of covert processes (i.e., unconscious) that precede the execution of action.[1][2] In some medical, musical, and athletic contexts, when paired with physical rehearsal, mental rehearsal can be as effective as pure physical rehearsal (practice) of an action.[3]

  1. ^ Decety, J. & Ingvar, D. H. (1990). "Brain structures participating in mental simulation of motor behavior: A neuropsychological interpretation". Acta Psychologica. 73 (1): 13–34. doi:10.1016/0001-6918(90)90056-L. PMID 2180254.
  2. ^ Decety, J. & Stevens, J. (2009). "Action representation and its role in social interaction". In K.D. Markman; W.M.P. Klein & J.A. Suhr (eds.). The Handbook of Imagination and Mental Simulation. New York: Psychology Press. ISBN 9781841698878.
  3. ^ Kappes, Heather Barry; Morewedge, Carey K. (2016-07-01). "Mental Simulation as Substitute for Experience" (PDF). Social and Personality Psychology Compass. 10 (7): 405–420. doi:10.1111/spc3.12257. ISSN 1751-9004. S2CID 4823141.