EMG AND EEG PATTERNS IN JUVENILE TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS DURING IMAGERY

Many strdies have been conducted on imagery rehearsal to test psychoneuromascular theory,in which only adults or experienced athletes were taken as subjects. What about children who engage in athetictraining? Eighteen table tennis players of 8-11 years of age participated in the present experiment. Results showed that there was no significant difference of integrated EMG (IEMG) between baseline and imagery status. EEG test showed a different changing pattern during imagery compared with adults :EEG power ratio of 2HZ- 7. 9HZ in left and right occiputs and motor areas decreased,EEG power ratio of 11. 1HZ- 27HZ in left and rightmotor areas also decreased,while EEG power ratio of 8HZ-11HZ in all of four places and 1.11HZ-27HZ in both occiputs did not change. The correlation coeffcients botween IEMG and EEG power ratio of 8-11HZ inright occiput, 11.1-27HZ in left occiput,and 11.1 - 27HZ in right occiput were - 0. 88, -0.71 and 0. 65 respectively. The possible reasons for these differences from adults were discussed in terms of children’s characteristics and lateralization of brain.