Imagery is the process by which you can create, modify, or strengthen pathways important to the co-ordination of your muscles, by training purely within your mind. It rests on the important principle that you can exercise these parts of your brain with inputs from your imagination rather than from your senses. The studies done on the effectiveness of imagery use has very conflicting results.

Not every athlete behaves in the same matter. Whether it be Michael Jordan, Barry Bonds, Pele, or any of the other great athletes in the world there will always be a different approach to the game. Imagery is a very unique thing especially when it breaks down to different sports. For golf you may imagine the perfect hole in one. For basketball you could imagine every free throw going in. Soccer

could break down to the perfect upper ninety shot. These things going through your head creates not only confidence but also a repeat of action when it comes down to doing the real thing.

In 1992 Anne Isaac did a study which examined the influences on mental imagery practice on sport skills. Most of the tests show positive results on the mental imagery process. Although, these results are positive none of them were actually performed in an actual field context using subjects who are familiar with actual sport skills rather than a beginner who is just athletically capable. She also tested whether or not the people who had better images of their skills perform and are successful at a higher level. Seventy-eight subjects were tested on the basis if they were novice or experienced trampolinist. The groups were divided into who had good mental images and who did not. The two groups were then trained in three skills over a six-week period. The bad imagers practiced the skill for two and a half minutes, then went over in their head what they did right and wrong. Meanwhile the good imagers practiced the skill for two in a half minutes as well, then thought abou!

All of the above experiments basically come out with the same results. The groups that use mental imagery succeed and are a lot more successful than the non-users. Several theories of imagery rehearsal mechanism had been made. The sports psychologists have been trying to figure out the exact way that the imagery works. The earliest theory that came about was by a man named Carpenter in 1894. The theory he came up with was called psychoneuromuscular theory. This theory is basically saying that the use of imagery is basically going over the actual task at hand before you attempt that particular task. Carpenter thinks that the same exact way that you imagine the motor pattern, than that will be the same exact way you perform it physically. Another theory that has been suggested is the symbolic learning theory. This is different from the above theory because it is saying that it does not have to do with the muscles at all. The symbolic learning theory says that mental practice of the action will help you in performing the physical task. So it basically states that imagery relates to use of cognitive learning. The arousal activation theory states that someone who is at a certain point of arousal will be at the highest point of his or her game. The arousal gets your muscle roaring and ready to go to make you perform better.

Imagery is a definite need in all sports. You are bound to be more successful when you imagine it out in your head doing it successfully. You can not go into anything with a negative attitude. Going in with a negative attitude

Imagery can work with anyone, not just athletes. Whoever works with their mind he or she can deal with the pain as well. Every thing in our body is receptive to the thoughts that we have. Our health is the most important thing. Imagery can be use to help maintain the proper health and avoid damaging the body.

Some topics in this essay:
Anne Isaac, Bonds Pele, Janine Rankin, Sports Imagery, Mark McGuire, Jimmy Connors, Herbert Benson, Kerry Strug, Michael Jordan, mental imagery, Carl Malone, imagery help, imagery process, imagery block pain, imagery athlete, imagery block, sports imagery, team team, half minutes, block pain, using imagery, symbolic learning theory, results mental imagery, practiced skill half, skill half minutes,