TY - GEN

T1 - Is there ‘feedback’ during imagery: Evidence from a specificity of practice paradigm

AU - Reilly, Niamh

AU - Lawrence, Gavin

AU - Khan, Michael

PY - 2010/6/21

Y1 - 2010/6/21

N2 - Incorporating the specificity of practice hypothesis, Krigolson et al. (2006) investigated the possibility that the feedback obtained through the use of visual imagery could produce specificity of practice effects during a line walking task. The present study furthered that of Krigolson et al. (2006) by investigating the specificity of practice effects of both visual and kinesthetic imagery. More specifically, whether the ‘feedback’ obtained from practicing with either visual imagery or kinesthetic imagery would lead to the development of a similar movement plan as that acquired during actual practice. Participants (n = 40) performed a novel 10m line walking task for 100 acquisition trials in one of four feedback groups; full vision (FV), no vision (NV), visual imagery (VI) and kinesthetic imagery (KI). For every 10 trials of acquisition, participants in the VI and KI groups performed one actual trial (under normal vision conditions) followed by 9 imagined trials. During the imagery trials participants were instructed to imagine either the visual feedback (VI group) or kinesthetic feedback (KI group) received from the previous acquisition trial. All participants were provided with movement time (ms) KR after each acquisition trial. Participants performed two no vision no KR transfer tests; one after 10 acquisition trials and one at the end of acquisition. The number of steps taken, movement time and endpoint error (both amplitude and direction) were measured and specificity of practice was investigated by comparing performance on these variables between early and late transfer. Results revealed that the FV and VI groups performed significantly worse in late transfer compared to early transfer, whereas performance was maintained in the KI group and actually improved in the NV group. These findings suggest that the imagined visual feedback obtained from the use of visual imagery is utilized in a similar fashion to the visual feedback acquired during actual practice when developing movement plans for future performance.

AB - Incorporating the specificity of practice hypothesis, Krigolson et al. (2006) investigated the possibility that the feedback obtained through the use of visual imagery could produce specificity of practice effects during a line walking task. The present study furthered that of Krigolson et al. (2006) by investigating the specificity of practice effects of both visual and kinesthetic imagery. More specifically, whether the ‘feedback’ obtained from practicing with either visual imagery or kinesthetic imagery would lead to the development of a similar movement plan as that acquired during actual practice. Participants (n = 40) performed a novel 10m line walking task for 100 acquisition trials in one of four feedback groups; full vision (FV), no vision (NV), visual imagery (VI) and kinesthetic imagery (KI). For every 10 trials of acquisition, participants in the VI and KI groups performed one actual trial (under normal vision conditions) followed by 9 imagined trials. During the imagery trials participants were instructed to imagine either the visual feedback (VI group) or kinesthetic feedback (KI group) received from the previous acquisition trial. All participants were provided with movement time (ms) KR after each acquisition trial. Participants performed two no vision no KR transfer tests; one after 10 acquisition trials and one at the end of acquisition. The number of steps taken, movement time and endpoint error (both amplitude and direction) were measured and specificity of practice was investigated by comparing performance on these variables between early and late transfer. Results revealed that the FV and VI groups performed significantly worse in late transfer compared to early transfer, whereas performance was maintained in the KI group and actually improved in the NV group. These findings suggest that the imagined visual feedback obtained from the use of visual imagery is utilized in a similar fashion to the visual feedback acquired during actual practice when developing movement plans for future performance.

U2 - 10.1123/jsep.32.s1.s36

DO - 10.1123/jsep.32.s1.s36

M3 - Conference contribution

VL - 32

SP - S211

BT - Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology

ER -