Transformation Of Mental Images Research Articles

Strobe training as a visual training method that improves performance in climbing.

Strobe training is a form of visual training where the athlete has to practice during intermittently dark conditions. Strobe training improves visual, perceptual, and cognitive skills, which will enhance athletic performance. Strobe training can influence multiple training components in climbing: psychological, tactical, physical, and technical training. The study was conducted on 17 elite climbers from Romania (10 male and 7 female), representing the entire National Youth Climbing Team. The research group was divided into a control group (n = 8) and an experimental group (n = 9). The used instruments were the Cognitrom battery (for cognitive skills, such as spatial skills and reactivity), the Witty SEM system (for motor-cognitive skills, such as cognitive agility, visual processing speed, and visual memory), and the International Rock Climbing Research Association (IRCRA) performance-related test battery for climbers (climbing-specific motor skills). The experimental group had 20 strobe training sessions, which took place during one calendar year, as an additional session to their climbing schedule done with their principal trainer. The strobe session was once a week, depending on the periodization of the macrocycle (preparatory, competitional, and transition periods). The control group and the experimental group had similar climbing training sessions during the 1-year macrocycle in terms of intensity and volume of their training. Strobe training improved on-sight performance (d = 0.38) and red-point performance (d = 0.36). Strobe training improved the majority of cognitive skills [all spatial skills (d = 1.27 for mental image transformation; d = 1.14 for spatial orientation; d = 1.59 for image generation) and simple reaction time (d = 0.99)]. Strobe training improved all motor-cognitive skills (d = 0.16 for visual memory; d = 1.96 for visual memory errors; d = 1.39 for visual processing speed; d = 1.94 for visual processing errors; d = 1.30 for cognitive agility). Strobe training improved many climbing-specific parameters (flexibility and upper body strength) (d = 0.44 and d = 0.47 for flexibility parameters; d = 0.50 to 0.73 for upper body strength parameters). Strobe training is an effective training method for enhancing performance that should be used on more experienced climbers. It acts more on spatial skills, rather than on reactivity skills, developing the visual-motor coordination system. Strobe training has greater effects on climbers aged below 16 years, as youth athletes rely more on visual input compared to adults. The improvement in climbing-specific variables was due to the additional climbing session done weekly. Strobe training acts more on the cognitive component of training than on the motor component of training in climbing.

Imagery ability of elite level athletes from individual vs. team and contact vs. no-contact sports.

BackgroundIn the sport context, imagery has been described as the condition in which persons imagine themselves while executing skills to deal with the upcoming task or enhance performance. Systematic reviews have shown that mental imagery improves performance in motor tasksMethodsThe aim of the present study was to explore whether imagery vividness (i.e., the clarity or realism of the imagery experience) and controllability (i.e., the ease and accuracy with which an image can be manipulated mentally) differ by sport types (team vs. individual and contact vs. non-contact). Participants were athletes from team contact and non-contact sports (rugby and volleyball, respectively), and individual contact and non-contact sports (karate and tennis, respectively) between the ages of 20 and 33 years (M = 24.37, SD = 2.85). The participants completed the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2, and the Mental Image Transformation Tasks.ResultsA 2 ×2 × 2 (gender × 2 contact-no-contact × 2 sport type) between groups MANOVA showed differences in imagery ability by sport type. Practical indications deriving from the findings of this study can help coaches and athletes to develop mental preparation programs using sport-specific imagery.

Vividness and Transformation of Mental Images in Karate

Background: Systematic reviews have shown that imagery improves performance in motor tasks. Objective: In order to observe the function of imagery in sport, this study investigated modifications in Imagery Ability, in terms of both controllability (i.e., the accurateness with which an image can be operated mentally) and vividness (i.e., the precision richness of an image), in competitive and recreational karateka. Method: Thirty volunteers karateka completed the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2, and the Subtraction of parts Task. Results: Competitive athletes reported higher scores on imagery ability than recreational athletes. No correlations were found between the variables of Vividness and the Subtraction of parts Task for any of the two groups. All analyses were two-tailed with α at .05. Conclusion: The study has risen the investigation in the particular ambit of imagery ability, providing an additional support for the multidimensional nature of mental imagery and for its usefulness in athletes. Keywords: imagery, motor tasks, karate, static vividness

Imagery in Healthy and in Cognitively Impaired Aging

The aim of the study was to compare the performance of persons both with and without cognitive impairment in different imagery tasks and to correlate these tasks with others involving attention, memory, and spatial perception, but not requiring active generation and/or transformation of mental images. A battery of tests measuring mental imagery skills involving generation, maintenance, and manipulation of different categories of images was administered to 79 persons aged 65 to 89 years, subdivided in two paired groups based on the presence or absence of cognitive deterioration. In most tasks requiring both inspection and transformation of images, subjects with cognitive impairment showed significantly poorer performance. Relations among imagery and other cognitive functions in the two groups are analyzed and discussed.

Vividness and transformation of mental images in karate and ballet.

While imagery research has become popular in recent years, little research has specifically investigated differences in imagery ability between open- and closed-skill sport activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the type of task, open or closed, affects vividness and controllability differently. Thirty female classic dancers (closed skill), 30 female karate athletes (open skill), and 30 female non-athlete students, between 14 and 20 years of age (M = 17.0, SD = 1.6), participated. They completed the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire, and the Subtraction of Parts Task. There was no difference in imagery ability between open- and closed-skill sport groups. Furthermore, dancers and karatekas had higher mean scores on imagery ability than the non-athlete group. A positive correlation was observed between the two questionnaires, supporting findings on the componential basis of imagery. This study contributed to increase the research in the specific area of open- and closed-skill sports and imagery ability.

Dynamic Parieto-premotor Network for Mental Image Transformation Revealed by Simultaneous EEG and fMRI Measurement

Previous studies have suggested that the posterior parietal cortices and premotor areas are involved in mental image transformation. However, it remains unknown whether these regions really cooperate to realize mental image transformation. In this study, simultaneous EEG and fMRI were performed to clarify the spatio-temporal properties of neural networks engaged in mental image transformation. We adopted a modified version of the mental clock task used by Sack et al. [Sack, A. T., Camprodon, J. A., Pascual-Leone, A., & Goebel, R. The dynamics of interhemispheric compensatory processes in mental imagery. Science, 308, 702-704, 2005; Sack, A. T., Sperling, J. M., Prvulovic, D., Formisano, E., Goebel, R., Di Salle, F., et al. Tracking the mind's image in the brain II: Transcranial magnetic stimulation reveals parietal asymmetry in visuospatial imagery. Neuron, 35, 195-204, 2002]. In the modified mental clock task, participants mentally rotated clock hands from the position initially presented at a learned speed for various durations. Subsequently, they matched the position to the visually presented clock hands. During mental rotation of the clock hands, we observed significant beta EEG suppression with respect to the amount of mental rotation at the right parietal electrode. The beta EEG suppression accompanied activity in the bilateral parietal cortices and left premotor cortex, representing a dynamic cortical network for mental image transformation. These results suggest that motor signals from the premotor area were utilized for mental image transformation in the parietal areas and for updating the imagined clock hands represented in the right posterior parietal cortex.

The effects of circadian phase, time awake, and imposed sleep restriction on performing complex visual tasks: Evidence from comparative visual search

Cognitive performance not only differs between individuals, but also varies within them, influenced by factors that include sleep-wakefulness and biological time of day (circadian phase). Previous studies have shown that both factors influence accuracy rather than the speed of performing a visual search task, which can be hazardous in safety-critical tasks such as air-traffic control or baggage screening. However, prior investigations used simple, brief search tasks requiring little use of working memory. In order to study the effects of circadian phase, time awake, and chronic sleep restriction on the more realistic scenario of longer tasks requiring the sustained interaction of visual working memory and attentional control, the present study employed two comparative visual search tasks. In these tasks, participants had to detect a mismatch between two otherwise identical object distributions, with one of the tasks (mirror task) requiring an additional mental image transformation. Time awake and circadian phase both had significant influences on the speed, but not the accuracy of task performance. Over the course of three weeks of chronic sleep restriction, speed but not accuracy of task performance was impacted. The results suggest measures for safer performance of important tasks and point out the importance of minimizing the impact of circadian phase and sleep-wake history in laboratory vision experiments.

Effects of microgravity on cognition: The case of mental imagery

Human cognitive performance is an important factor for the successful and safe outcome of commercial and non-commercial manned space missions. This article aims to provide a systematic review of studies investigating the effects of microgravity on the cognitive abilities of parabolic or space flight participants due to the absence of the gravito-inertial force. We will focus on mental imagery: one of the best studied cognitive functions. Mental imagery is closely connected to perception and motor behavior. It aids important processes such as perceptual anticipation, problem solving and motor simulation, all of which are critical for space travel. Thirteen studies were identified and classified into the following topics: spatial representations, mental image transformations and motor imagery. While research on spatial representation and mental image transformation continues to grow and specific differences in cognitive functioning between 1 g and 0 g have been observed, motor imagery has thus far received little attention.

The Effect of Global Precedence on Mental Rotation of Compound Stimuli

Perceptual global precedence referred to a priority in perceptual processing for the global features of a form or object. This phenomenon was firstly reported by Navon (1977) with compound stimuli (larger letters were constructed from smaller letters,e.g.,a large H made up of small Ss). Navon required observers to identify either the large (i.e.,global) or the small (i.e.,local) letters and found that global letters were identified more rapidly than local letters and also that irrelevant global letters were more difficult to ignore than irrelevant local letters. Perceptual global precedence had been widely replicated within certain boundary conditions (Dalrymple et al.,2007; Roalf et al,2006; Schatz Erlandson,2003; Han Shihui Chen Lin,1996; Kimchi,1992). However,it was still unclear that whether global precedence could exist in other higher cognitive processes,such as mental rotation. Mental rotation was one typical transformation of mental images,which was reported to be functional equivalence with visual perception. Whether there was an effect of global precedence on mental rotation was explored in the present research. Compound stimuli combined with rotation task were used in two experiments. Participants were required to judge whether the large letter or small letter of the compound stimulus was in its regular format or left-right mirror. In Experiment 1,2 (task:identification of normal image /mirror-reversed image for large or small letters )×2 (stimuli :congruence or incongruence of large-small letters) was designed to eliminate perceptual global precedence through prolonging the duration of target stimuli. Experiment 2 investigated the global precedence on mental rotation with a 4 (rotation degree:0,60,120,180 )×2 (rotation pattern:rotation of large letters or small letters)×2 (stimuli:congruence or incongruence of rotation angles of large-small letters) within-subject factorial design. Repeated measures analyses of variance were conducted separately for the two experiments. In experiment 1,perceptual global precedence could be eliminated by prolonging targets' duration. There was no significant difference between the RTs of identification of normal image for large and small letters,and the congruity of large-small letters had no effect on identification of normal image for large and small letters. However,in experiment 2,when mental rotation was added to the task,large letters were responded more quickly than small letters,though the congruity of rotation angles of large-small letters didn't influence the rotation of large and small letters; in addition,the difference between the rotation speeds of the large letters and small letters reached a marginal significant level. Based on these results,the conclusion was that global precedence did exist in mental rotation even when perceptual global precedence was excluded in mental rotation task. Time required in global rotation was much shorter than that in local rotation. In addition,neither large letters rotation nor small letters rotation was influenced by the congruity of rotation angles of large-small letters. That was to say,the global precedence in mental rotation was of a little difference from the perceptual global precedence. The present findings not only extended the field of mental image,but also shed light on the research of global precedence in higher cognitive processes,and the method of eliminating perceptual global precedence was also of great significance for future research.

The generation and maintenance of visual mental images: Evidence from image type and aging

Imagery is a multi-componential process involving different mental operations. This paper addresses whether separate processes underlie the generation, maintenance and transformation of mental images or whether these cognitive processes rely on the same mental functions. We also examine the influence of age on these mental operations for independence of components. In Experiment 1, younger (22 years) and older (69 years) adults generated and maintained general, specific, contextual and autobiographical visual mental images evoked in response to concrete nouns. The older adults had longer generation times, but there was no difference between the two groups on maintenance. Both groups had shortest generation and maintenance times for general images, whereas only the older adults took longest in generating autobiographical images. In Experiment 2, the total maintenance time and number of transformations for each type of image were compared in another group of younger and older adults. General images were less transformed and more subject to decay for both groups. The older people maintained the autobiographical mental images for longest compared to other image types. In conclusion, image generation, maintenance and transformation seem to be differently affected by type of image and aging, supporting a model of their cognitive segregation.

Non-identical neural mechanisms for two types of mental transformation: event-related potentials during mental rotation and mental paper folding

Reaction times, accuracy and 128-channel event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured from 14 normal, right-handed subjects while they performed two different parity-judgment tasks that require transformations of mental images: a relatively simple task requiring a single transformation (mental letter rotation), and a more complex task involving a coordinated sequence of transformations (mental paper folding). Reaction times increased monotonically with larger angular displacements from the upright (for mental rotation) and with number of squares carried (for mental paper folding). Both the tasks resulted in amplitude modulation of an approximately 420–700 ms latency ERP component at parietal electrodes. Scalp topographies indicated that right parietal cortex was activated during mental rotation, but bilateral parietal regions were activated during mental paper folding. Our results support the notion of a right hemispheric superiority for tasks involving simple, single mental rotations, but indicate greater involvement of the left hemisphere when a more complex sequence of transformations are required. This task-dependent lability of hemispheric function may account for some of the inconsistent results reported by previous neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies.

Motor processes in mental rotation

Much indirect evidence supports the hypothesis that transformations of mental images are at least in part guided by motor processes, even in the case of images of abstract objects rather than of body parts. For example, rotation may be guided by processes that also prime one to see results of a specific motor action. We directly test the hypothesis by means of a dual-task paradigm in which subjects perform the Cooper–Shepard mental rotation task while executing an unseen motor rotation in a given direction and at a previously-learned speed. Four results support the inference that mental rotation relies on motor processes. First, motor rotation that is compatible with mental rotation results in faster times and fewer errors in the imagery task than when the two rotations are incompatible. Second, the angle through which subjects rotate their mental images, and the angle through which they rotate a joystick handle are correlated, but only if the directions of the two rotations are compatible. Third, motor rotation modifies the classical inverted V-shaped mental rotation response time function, favoring the direction of the motor rotation; indeed, in some cases motor rotation even shifts the location of the minimum of this curve in the direction of the motor rotation. Fourth, the preceding effect is sensitive not only to the direction of the motor rotation, but also to the motor speed. A change in the speed of motor rotation can correspondingly slow down or speed up the mental rotation.

Familial handedness and its relation to spatial ability following strategy instructions

This study compared subjects from right-handed families with subjects from nonrighthanded families in their ability to solve a mental-rotation task when instructed to use one of two different spatial strategies. All subjects completed a pretest Vandenberg. Next, one of the following procedures was presented prior to administering the Vandenberg posttest: Group 1 was given mental-rotation instructions, Group 2 was given spatial-orientation instructions, and Group 3 (control group) was given no special directions. For familial right-handers, no condition effects were found. In contrast, familial nonright-handers benefited significantly from mental-rotation instructions when compared both to their own control group and to familial right-handed subjects given the same instructions. However, with orientation instructions, the familial nonright-handers showed significantly less posttest improventnt than their control group. These results suggests familial non-rright-handers may be stronger in ability to use one spatial strategy, transformation of mental images, and weaker on a second, reorientation in relation to left-right cues. The educational and research implications of these findings are discussed.

Size scaling in visual pattern recognition.

Human visual recognition on the basis of shape but regardless of size was investigated by reaction time methods. For successive matching of random figures, reaction time increased linearly with the linear size ratio of stimulus pairs. For single-character classification, reaction time increased with divergence between cued size format and stimulus format such that for character nonrepetitions, the increment in latency was approximately proportional to the logarithm of the linear size ratio of the two formats. However, when reactions to character repetitions were faster than those to nonrepetitions, the repetition reaction time function was similar to that for successive matching of random figures. The results suggested two processes of size scaling: mental-image transformation and perceptual-scale transformation. Image transformation accounted for matching performance based on visual short-term memory, whereas scale transformation accounted for size invariance in recognition based on comparison against visual representations in long-term memory.