Minjung, W., Myung-hwa, K., Sung-Woon, K., Hyeon-Jeong, J., Gun-Young, L, & Jingu, K. (June 02, 2010). The influence of visual imagery on cerebral cortical activity and rifle shooting performance. Presentation 1832 at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; June 2-5.

This study examined 1) the influence of visual imagery on cerebral cortical activity and rifle shooting performance, and 2) the relationship between imagery-induced EEG activity and shooting performance. College age students (N = 24), who had no previous experience with rifle shooting, were randomly assigned to a visual imagery group (N = 12) or a control group (N = 12). Ss performed 40 acquisition trials, followed by 20 retention trials. Analyses were conducted to evaluate the difference between groups on 1) powers of alpha, beta, and theta band at Fz, T3, and T4 electrode sites; and 2) shooting performance during four acquisition blocks and two retention blocks. Correlations between power values of each frequency band at each electrode site and shooting scores were analyzed.

The visual imagery group showed higher neural efficiency characterized by higher theta power at a task-irrelevant region (T3) compared to the control group. Shooting score was also higher in visual imagery group. A significant positive correlation between visual imagery and shooting scores was observed between the theta powers at T3 and T4.

Implication. Visual imagery positively influences shooting performance. The theta power induced by visual imagery may mediate shooting performance.

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