Table 5. Relative changes (%) of physiological variables after imagined exercise. Study Characteristics (Age; n; Sex; AL) Intervention Physical task HR (%) BP (%) RR (%) Beyer et al. (1990) NR; 8; NR; Student Imagery Swimming (100 m) ↑71.42 NR NR Decety et al. (1993) 21-25; 6; Male; Healthy participants Imagery Actual exercise Leg exercise (ergometer) 15 kg load 19 kg load 15 kg load 19 kg load ↑53.57 ↑84.42 ↑101.59 ↑138.48 NR ↑226.92 ↑210.34 ↑110.93 ↑126.08 Decety et al. (1991) 18-26; 11; Male and female; SGPC Imagery Actual exercise Treadmill running (3 min each condition) 5 km/h 8 km/h 12 km/h 5 km/h 8 km/h 12 km/h ↑8.25 ↑13.20 ↑19.45 ↑44.20 ↑70.72 ↑106.08 NR NR Fusi et al. (2005) 22-24; 14; Male and female; Healthy participants Imagery Actual exercise Walking task (treadmill) 2 km/h 3.5 km/h 5 km/h 2 km/h 3.5 km/h 5 km/h ↑3.75 NSD ↑5 NSD ↑5 NSD ↑6.25 ↑12.5 ↑26.25 NR NR Ranganathan et al. (2004) 29.7±4.8; 16; NR; Healthy untrained participants Imagery Fifth finger abduction ↑8.33 ↑7.76 NR AL: activity level; HR: heart rate; BP: blood pressure; RR: respiratory rate; SGPC: subjects in good physical condition; NSD: no significant difference compared to pre-training; NR: not reported; ↑: increased.