Think of an elite athlete at the top of their game, just before they perform. They close their eyes. What are they imagining in those final seconds? Watch them closely, and chances are that you’ll see them go through some of the motions of their event.
These strange movements are proposed to prime the many neural pathways involved. Imagining successful performance therefore helps an athlete to deliver the planned action.
It might be a gymnast mentally running through a vault, a footballer imagining scoring a penalty or a Formula 1 driver anticipating the twists and turns of the circuit. Some athletes might overtly rehearse their motions while imagining the event. This is called dynamic motor imagery. Whereas, for others, it may be a more covert rehearsal of the task.
Motor imagery is where a person rehearses physical movement in their head before physically carrying out the action. It can be a helpful tool to support athletes in achieving their potential or developing their skills. It simulates the required physical activity in their minds, and is used in sport psychology, as well as in training, recovery, and rehabilitation.