ABSTRACT
Mental simulation can be considered as a representation of an event or a series of events, including the person, the environment, and the task with regard to a particular action. This chapter explores their potential to induce changes in the motor system and to improve motor performance and learning in sport. It introduces motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO), summarizes the current state of AO+MI research with a focus on its influence for motor performance and (re)learning, and discusses future avenues for AO+MI research. The chapter discusses some of the recent research that has attempted to explore questions such as what is the content of the MI, especially when there is a vivid and controlled visual element of the action that may or may not be congruent with the observed action.
