Motor Imagery Protocol
The MI protocol included 2 components: relaxation and MI. During relaxation, the participants were guided through deep breathing for 5 minutes. The purpose of instructing the participants through relaxation was to facilitate gaining control of breathing and physiological responses (e.g., heart rate); however, the focus was not on obtaining a highly relaxed state but to prepare for MI. This was followed by 10 minutes of sport-specific MI, which aligned with the physical, environmental, task, learning, emotion, and perspective (PETTLEP) model (11). Based on neuroscience research findings, this model considers important practical components of motor based imagery interventions: Physical, Environmental, Task, Timing, Learning, Emotion, and Perspective. The physical nature of the imagery included wearing the same clothing and positioning themselves on the bike as when they are performing. The environmental component included performing imagery in the physical environment that the task was actually performed. To aid in addressing the rest of the components of the PETTLEP model, an imagery script was created specifically for the Wingate anaerobic test. An imagery script was used in which the participants were instructed to focus on their personal thoughts and feelings related to a performance event. A script was preferred during the imagery intervention, rather than video, because imagery took place in the actual environment (19). Specifically, the script addressed the task (i.e., reinforcing participants to focus on thoughts, feelings, and actions as during the physical performance and focusing on the kinesthetic nature of imagery), timing (i.e., same timing as performance of the Wingate anaerobic), learning (i.e., focusing on the ‘‘feel’’ of the movement), and emotion (i.e., experiencing all emotions and arousal associated with performance). With regard to the learning component, ‘‘feel’’ of the movement was emphasized rather than technique because participants were trained cyclists (11). The participants were not instructed on which perspective (internal or external) they should use during imagery. The participants were guided through imagery using the script a total of 2 times. To further reinforce individualizing imagery, the participants were instructed to use the remaining time (3 minutes) for their own use of imagery of the task in which incorporating all elements of the performance was emphasized.