Motor Imagery and the Yips

The podcast episode explores the connection between motor imagery and the yips, specifically in baseball players. The yips refers to a more severe form of choking under pressure that is characterized by a motor component, including tightness, tremors, and jitters. The study discussed in the episode aimed to investigate whether there is an impairment in motor imagery associated with the yips. The findings showed that while there were no significant differences in general imagery ability, individuals with the yips had higher vividness of negative imagery of missing their target in throwing-specific imagery. This suggests a possible relationship between the yips and an increased ability to vividly imagine negative outcomes, which could contribute to a vicious cycle.