Is controllability of imagery related to canoe-slalom performance?
This study investigated the relationship of controllability of mental imagery with canoe-slalom performance. Controllability of mental imagery was assessed by an objective test of mental rotation, the Mental Rotations Test. This test was administered to both elite (n = 19) and intermediate (n = 12) athletes. Predictive validity of the controllability test was supported by a significant correlation between test scores and race rank-order for the elite canoeing group (rs = 0.42, p<.05); however, it did not distinguish elite from intermediate groups (t29 = 0.98, p>.05). Researchers should attempt to evaluate vividness of imagery, controllability of imagery, and accuracy of reference to understand more fully the nature of athletes' imagery.
Department of Psychology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland. tadhg.macintyre@ucd.ie
Tadhg
T
MacIntyre
Aidan
A
Moran
Domhnall J
DJ
Jennings
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D011340:Problem Solving; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*