Analysis and Improvement of Performance through Motor Imagery Study of the Case in Artistic Gymnastics

Introduction: The motor imagery is a cognitive process of mental simulation of actions in absence of movement. There are two methods to improve skills learning trough motor imagery: in first person and in third person. The biological basis on which the motor imagery theory is founded by mirror neurons. Aim: The aim wants to evaluate the effects of motor imagery practice in training, so it verifies the effects on the skills. Method: Method is experimental and it consists of two steps subsequently. To administrate the questionnaire at athletes in order to evaluate the perception of own skill, called round-off flic, and then to compare their perception with the evaluation of Italian federation of artistic gymnastics method. Results: The data will being compared with those of judge/technician. By the data there is a more effective internal evaluation and also an improvement in the performance on about 80% of the gymnasts that performed the round-off flic. Interpretation of data concerning evaluation of others emerged a more low outside awareness of the skills that is looked. Discussion: The innovative aspect of this study is the use of hetero-evaluation tool. It is rarely used, but the data show improvements in the performance and ability to evaluate, after using for 5 months of this methodology. Another innovative aspect is the use of motor imagery in the third person Conclusion: Finally, there’s and improvements learnings for about 80%. So providing the athletes and trainers could use practice of motor imagery as a possible application for the improvement of the performance.