A Comparison of Movement Imagery Ability Self-Report and Imagery Use in a Motor Task: A Preliminary Investigation

Abstract The present study used the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-3) to determine the relationship between self-report movement imagery ability and performance on a motor task requiring use of visual and kinesthetic imagery. Young adults were asked to view a number sequence of 4- and 5 digits, maintain the information over a 6 s delay (blank screen) using visual imagery maintenance, and complete the sequence by finger-tapping complementary numbers using motor (kinesthetic) imagery and actually executing movements. We predicted higher movement imagery ability scores would be associated with faster movement times, and imagery ability would be significantly related to the motor tasks. Correlation results indicated no significant differences between self-report and finger-tapping scores, suggesting that in the context of the motor tasks used here, performance was independent of movement imagery ability. Discussion of this preliminary study focuses on the role of visual working memory in the motor task used here and its lack of assessment using the MIQ-3 and other current self-reports.