Mental rehearsal and repetition.

The brain is composed of billions of interconected nerve cells. Electrical impulses travel from cell to cell along well defined pathways. The speed and accuracy with which the signals travel along these pathways determines the body's response.

For example, consider a soccer player about to head the ball towards goal. Many decisions have to be made by the brain and many signals, inputs, have to be evaluated. Signals are received from the sensors, such as the eyes, in order to determine the flight path and speed of the ball. The brain then has to coordinate appropriate muscle contraction in order to perform the most effective action. This seamingly effortless action requires communication between many parts of the brain and muscles of the body. This communication occurs along established nerve pathways.
Many athletes perform repetitive movements designed to improve speed of execution of coordinated muscle movements. They call it muscle memory. However, muscles have no way of remembering any movement. They are simply slaves to electrical impulses that instruct them to contract and relax. Students of karate will perform several hundred blocks and punches every training session in order to perfect their technique. This reinforces certain neural (nerve) pathways in the brain that are directly involved in the execution of the specific pattern of muscle contractions.

These pathways are composed of many interlinked nerve cells that form a definite and specific pathway throughout the many parts of the brain, nerves and muscles.

As shown on the left, electrical signals travel along this neural pathway in order to produce the required response.

Some athletes perform mental rehearsals as preparation for an event. Athletes go through the physical actions in their mind, visualising themselves performing exactly as they would in competition. Mental imagery serves like a computer program of the brain that controls the body's muscles. Mental rehearsal provides an opportunity for brain cells, involved in the specific pathway visualised, to be stimulated. Try it. Visualise the actions involved in kicking a football and you will notice that your leg wants to move in response to the brains signals.

Mental rehearsal is all about watching yourself performing the activity perfectly and is most useful in limiting the mental errors that can occur during competition.

 
Peter likes karate as a sport and in one of his training sessions his instructor made him do 100 front kicks. His instructor later said it would help to build muscle memory. Explain why this is not true.

Why would 100 front kicks help Peter perform a front kick perfectly?
What is the purpose of muscle?
How are muscle contractions coordinated?
How does mental visualisation help prepare the athlete for competition?
What travels along nerve fibres?
Why is mental visualisation described as programming of the mind?