The Role of Mirror Neuron on Different Speeds of Basketball Dribbling's Mental Imagery

Introduction and aim: Mental imagery is an important skill that athletes should always be applied; especially during competition, with high confidence, using it in order to relieve stress and improving performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of mirror neuron on different speeds of mental imagery on basketball dribbling performance.
The research method was semi-empirical manner conducted through a pretest-posttest design. The subjects included 30 female students (average age 22± 1.12) selected through a purposive sampling method and categorized in three groups of rapid-speed, equal-speed, and low-speed imagery. Following the basketball dribble function in pretests, the subjects were involved in imagery for a period of four consecutive days, and were subsequently tested for the real dribble function in the posttests. They were also subjected electroencephalographic assessment during imagery, focusing primarily on the reaction of the mirror neurons within the process. The findings were then analyzed using the intragroup analysis of variance.
The results demonstrated an improved dribble function in all groups (p≤0.05). However, investigation of the effect size indicated a significant improvement in the groups with slow-speed and equal-speed imagery compared to those receiving high-speed imagery. Mu rhythm suppression in areas C4 and Cz were observed in all groups (p≤0.05). C3 area active just in slow-speed group.
Mental imagery cause required movements encoding for performing skill in the brain by activating mirror neurons. In brain, this movement encoding leads to facilitate motor skills.