Effects of mental imagery styles on shoulder and hip rotations during preparation of pirouettes.
To analyze individual behavior in spatial navigation especially for pirouette preparations (complete whole-body rotations), the authors studied horizontal shoulder-hip interactions under 2 constraints: postural (right and left supporting legs [SL]) and spatial (clockwise [CW] and counterclockwise [CCW]). They performed kinematic analysis at the start and end of the shoulder-hip horizontal rotations (run-up) with regard to imagery of motor actions. On the basis of the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire, they classified 8 female expert ballet dancers and 7 untrained female participants according to their movement imagery style (kinesthetic and visual). At the run-up's end, the shoulders initiated the turn independently of SL but differently depending on training: CW for dancers and CCW for untrained participants (their commonly used direction). Kinesthetic and mixed imagery styles prevailed in dancers, whereas simply a mixed style appeared among untrained participants. Thus, dance training enhances the imagery of kinesthetic sensation and influences the choice of spatial direction, facilitating the body-space interaction.
Golomer
Eveline
E
Laboratoire EA 4070, Université Paris Descartes, France. e.golomer@wanadoo.fr
Bouillette
Arnaud
A
Mertz
Caroline
C
Keller
Jean
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003615:Dancing / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology*; D007206:Individuality; D007699:Kinesthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012399:Rotation; D012782:Shoulder / Q000502:physiology*; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology