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Biomedical subjects

A R Isaac

Publications and source records attributed to A R Isaac.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Topographical distribution of EEG activity accompanying visual and motor imagery in vivid and non-vivid imagers.

Brain mapping techniques were used to investigate the topographical distribution of electroencephalographic (EEG) activity accompanying visual and motor imagery in four different tasks. Participants were selected for their self-reported vivid or non-vivid imagery using the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) and the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ). Topographical maps of EEG activation revealed that alpha power was attenuated in vivid images during visual imagery, particularly in the left posterior quadrant of the cortex, but enhanced during motor imagery. The imagery vividness variable interacted with experimental condition or with experimental condition and location in all four tasks. Because demand characteristics and instrument artifacts can be eliminated as possible explanations of the results, these data provide strong evidence of the construct validity of the VVIQ and VMIQ as measures of visual and motor imagery experience.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Individual differences in mental imagery experience: developmental changes and specialization.

This research has two purposes: (1) to study developmental changes and differences in visual and movement imagery in male and female children and adults; (2) to investigate whether systematic differences in imagery vividness can be measured in specialist groups. In Study 1, the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire and the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire were administered to 547 individuals in age groups from 7-8 to 50+ years of age. Significant increases in imagery vividness were found in females at 8-9 and in males at 10-11 years. In general females report more vivid imagery than males but at about 50 females' movement imagery reduced in vividness. In Studies 2-5 imagery differences in specialist groups were examined using the same two questionnaires with a total of 655 participants. In Study 2, children aged 7-15 years with poor movement control were found to be extremely poor imagers with 42 per cent reporting no imagery at all. In Study 3, physical education students reported more vivid imagery than students specializing in physics, English, and surveying. In Study 4, significant differences were found between elite athletes' imagery and that of matched controls. In Study 5, air traffic controllers and pilots were found to have significantly more vivid imagery than matched control groups. Introspective reports of imagery experience show a systematic pattern of relationships with age, gender, and specialization requiring high-level performance of perceptual motor skills. These findings support the theory that mental imagery plays a key role in the planning and implementation of action.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Imagery ability and air traffic personnel.

The reliability and validity of procedures for selecting air traffic service personnel is a worldwide problem. There are practically no published research papers on standards, instruments, and procedures used to screen applicants for employment or training as air traffic control (ATC) personnel in New Zealand. Psychological factors have always been a primary concern in the recruitment and selection of air traffic controllers but the role of visual imagery within this area has afforded little attention. Results of recent research in New Zealand and Australia suggest that ATC personnel not only reported exceptionally high visual imagery but use this modality extensively in their work.

Adult↗