Exploring the synergistic effectiveness of music and mental imagery to improve motor skill performance in sports
A systematic review and meta-analysis
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21284179 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Fernando Castellar (0009-0000-4585-2731, The University of Sydney, corresponding author), Rocco Cavaleri (0000-0001-9499-1703, Western Sydney University), Liila Taruffi (0000-0002-6580-9164, Hong Kong Baptist University), Steffen A Herff (0000-0001-8396-1306, Western Sydney University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 265 |
| Pages | 106511 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Acta Psychologica (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0001-6918 • E-ISSN: 1873-6297 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106511 |
| PMID | 41825316 |
| OpenAlex | W7135067544 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 73 |
Prior literature suggests that both music and imagery have beneficial effects on motor skill performance in sport settings. However, evidence for their combined use is still scarce. We conducted a preregistered (PROSPERO protocol number CRD42024538656) systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines where we synthesized and critically appraised studies that have evaluated the efficacy of interventions that combine mental imagery and music (henceforth: MIMUS) on the learning, retention, and improvement of motor skills of athletes and healthy individuals, and compared their impact to imagery only, music only, or other control and treatment conditions. Ten experiments comprising data of 302 participants met the inclusion criteria. Further, we performed a meta-analysis using Bayesian mixed-effects models to quantify the overall evidence for the efficacy of MIMUS interventions, which revealed strong evidence that MIMUS influences post-tests motor skill performance and is overall more effective than imagery-only treatments. We discussed the findings and provided recommendations for an effective use of MIMUS in future interventions based on the consulted literature
Cognition · Creative visualization · Mental image · Motor imagery · Motor skill · Music Therapy and Health · Neuroscience and Music Perception · Sport Psychology and Performance
Does mental practice enhance performance?
When the brain plays music
A weakly informative default prior distribution for logistic and other regression models
Combining effect size estimates in meta-analysis with repeated measures and independent-groups designs.
A Re-Evaluation of Random-Effects Meta-Analysis
Neural foundations of imagery
Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Optimal Experience
Indices of Effect Existence and Significance in the Bayesian Framework
Advanced Bayesian Multilevel Modeling with the R Package brms
Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews
BRMS
Conducting Meta-Analyses in R with the metafor Package
The perceptual relevance of balance, evenness, and entropy in musical rhythms
When did that happen? The dynamic unfolding of perceived musical narrative
Three Insights from a Bayesian Interpretation of the One-Sided P Value
Appraising the Evidence
Mind-Wandering during Personal Music Listening in Everyday Life
Effects of music in exercise and sport
Standardized or simple effect size
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |