Re-imagining motor imagery: Optimizing attentional focus to improve basketball free throw shooting performance

Abstract

There is interest in developing efficacious imagery interventions to improve sport performance. However, the current literature has not examined how attentional focus may be manipulated within imagery. Previous research has found that an external attentional focus is more beneficial to motor performance outcomes than an internal attentional focus. The present study integrated mindfulness and flow into a modified imagery script to promote an external attentional focus during a free throw shooting task. This approach was termed attention-driven imagery and was compared to a technique comparison condition with an internal attentional focus. Twenty-six male and female university basketball players completed both conditions in a counterbalanced within-subject design. Free throw shooting performance was hypothesized to be better in the imagery condition than the technique condition. Repeated measures ANOVA results indicated that the attention-driven imagery condition resulted in greater performance across trials than the technique condition. Despite promising results for attention-driven imagery, precise underlying mechanisms remain ambiguous. Future research is needed to better understand attentional processes during imagery to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of motor imagery interventions.