Kinesthetic imagery provides additive benefits to internal visual imagery on slalom task performance

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.