Imagery

This chapter provides an overview of how imagery works from a neurocognitive perspective as well as Lang’s Bioinformational Theory of emotional imagery. It focuses on the application of imagery guided by the revised applied model of deliberate imagery use and PETTLEP model. There are different explanations for how imagery works. From a neuroscience perspective, imaging movement engages an athlete’s motor system in the absence of physical movement. The application of imagery in sport has been informed by different explanations for why imagery works. The chapter concludes with suggestions for furthering research into the application of imagery with sports performers. However, personal characteristics such as age, gender, ability/playing level, type of sport played, as well as dispositional tendencies of the athlete will likely affect the different components of RAMDIU. RAMDIU posits that personal meaning forms a bridge between imagery function and content, with meaning describing the extent to which an image is facilitative or debilitative for achieving the intended outcomes.