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The aim of this study was to recognize the effect of different methods of mental
practice on serial reaction time in male students of University of Tehran. Method of
research is quasi experimental in which different training methods contain: mental
practice, physical practice, mental + physical practice, physical + mental practice as
independent variables and serial reaction time variations as the dependent variable.
60 male students with age range of 19-26 were randomly selected and randomly
assigned to 5 groups and each group had 12 students: mental practice group,
physical practice group, mental + physical group, physical + mental group and
control group. According to training schedule, the groups exercised for 20 sessions,
20 blocks and 36 trials each session. Physical practice group performed the training
schedule without knowing repetition stimulus arrangement in three section task.
Mental practice group performed the training stimulus arrangement in three section
task. Mental practice group performed the training schedule mental practice with
knowing repetition stimulus arrangement task. Mental + physical group performed
mental training first and then physical training. Physical + mental group performed
physical training first and then mental training. Subjects of the control group did not
do any exercise but experienced the related tests. They first were pretested. After the
completion of the exercise period (20 sessions), acquisition tests just like the pretest
to analyze data were kolomogorov – smironov test, paired T test , two way ANOVA
and Turkey follow up test. The result of analysis showed that mental practice had no
significant effect on serial reaction time. Using Turkey test, significant differences
were seen among the different composed mental + physical and physical + mental
methods of practice on serial reaction time.