Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

296

Date

2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Health and Sport Science

Concentration

Exercise and Sport Science

Committee Chair

Yuhua Li

Committee Member

Richard Dale

Committee Member

Zsolt Murlasits

Abstract

Mental imagery has been shown to effectively increase sport performances. However, limited studies have examined the underlying neurological influence of mental practice, especially with team sports. The current study investigated whether electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns differ based on an athlete's ability to use mental imagery and if differences exist between the two types of mental imagery, visual versus kinesthetic, when mentally rehearsing specific soccer scenarios. Ten college elite soccer athletes and seven novices participated in this study. EEG data and self-rating were collected during mental rehearsal of three simple movements and three soccer scenarios applying either visual or kinesthetic mental imagery. Although visual mental imagery was predominantly preferred for both groups, the alpha amplitude of EEG significantly decreased during kinesthetic mental imagery of the soccer scenarios for the elite group, suggesting a deeper brain involvement than the novice group.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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