New insights on mind-muscle connection: motor imagery concomitant to actual resistance training enhances force performance

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Motor imagery (MI), the mental simulation of a movement without physical execution, has long been used to improve performance. While most studies focus on isometric contractions in lab settings, this study tested a novel approach: combining MI with the actual execution of resistance training movements in elite athletes. Specifically, researchers examined whether imagining the concentric or eccentric phase of a back squat while performing that same phase could enhance strength and power beyond physical training alone. The results reveal new insights into how concurrent mental and physical training affects performance, and what role movement phase specificity may play.

Combining Mental Imagery with Physical Training Boosts Performance

  • CrossFit® athletes who practiced motor imagery during the physical execution of the back squat significantly improved their force and power performance more than those who did not use MI.
  • Both experimental groups, imagining the concentric (MICONCENTRIC) or eccentric (MIECCENTRIC) phase, outperformed the control group on posttest 5-rep max (5RM) squat and power measures. 
  • Improvements followed a log-linear dose-response pattern, with benefits accumulating over weeks of training.
  • Participants in MI groups were 3x more likely to successfully complete posttest lifts at their pre-set 5RM loads compared to the control group.

Eccentric Imagery Provides Greater Strength Gains, But at a Cost

  •  The MIECCENTRIC group showed greater gains in 5RM strength than the MICONCENTRIC group, suggesting phase-specific advantages of imagining the eccentric motion.
  • This may be due to increased sensory input (e.g., muscle spindle activation) during eccentric contractions, which could enhance corticospinal facilitation from imagery.
  • However, this group also reported greater perceived effort and task difficulty, highlighting a tradeoff between effectiveness and cognitive/mental fatigue.

Power Improvements Are Comparable Across Imagery Conditions

  • Power increased significantly in both MI groups but did not differ between eccentric and concentric imagery conditions.
  • Weekly power assessments showed progressive adaptation with reduced fatigability over time, suggesting enhanced neuromuscular efficiency from MI-augmented training.

MI Effects Are Likely Due to Neural Priming, Not Attention Alone

  • The study suggests that MI practice enhances top-down corticospinal facilitation, rather than simply serving as an attentional strategy (like internal focus).
  • MI involves mentally building action representations from procedural memory, not just focusing on sensations, which may explain its additive effects during active movement.

Practical Applications for Coaches and Athletes

  • Integrating MI into resistance training, especially for experienced athletes, can enhance strength and power gains without altering the physical workload.
  • Imagery focused on the eccentric phase may yield slightly better gains but could increase mental fatigue.
  • Coaches may consider alternating imagery phases or tailoring MI strategies to athlete preferences and recovery status.
  • MI can be embedded directly into training sessions without extending their duration or requiring additional equipment.

Piveteau, E., Guillot, A., & Rienzo, F. D. (2025). New insights on mind-muscle connection: motor imagery concomitant to actual resistance training enhances force performance. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2025.03.005