Dynamic Neurocognitive Imagery (DNI)™ 

About Dynamic Neuro-Cognitive Imagery (DNI)™

Dynamic Neurocognitive Imagery (DNI)™  is an imagery-based systematic method for movement and postural control retraining. DNI uses progressive movement exercises combined with various methods of imagery to draw participants’ attention to anatomical structures and locations, body biomechanics, as well as spatial and functional relationships between body segments during movement. Thus, participants are trained to observe, contemplate, and use enhanced anatomical knowledge to enhance movement quality and optimize the movement of the body part (e.g., acknowledging the pelvis location and its counter-rotational motion during gait to facilitate normal gait patterns within the pelvis and lower extremities.) DNI practice integrates movement experience, anatomical and biomechanical knowledge, movement-related imagery inputs and sensory cues, proprioception, self-talk, and self-touch.

DNI^TM  is a novel, academic term comprising the “Franklin Method®” (the imagery method developed by Eric Franklin) and its associated knowledge together with current updates and advancements from our clinical experience and related academic research.

To-date, DNI^TM  is the only comprehensive imagery training approach that provides participants and students with a systematic approach towards learning and using imagery for sports, dance, and daily life performance. As such, it can be applied to all movement techniques and exercise regimen, including Yoga, Pilates, Feldenkrais, etc. DNI is also the only approach that offers regulated teachers’ training courses with well-established syllables and a faculty of officially trained teachers.

Scientific studies have shown that training to DNI^TM  resulted in improved biomechanical and qualitative aspects of dance movement performance in 18 college dance students and resulted in a significant improvement in jump height in 13 college dance students. Recently, we determined that performance of developpé (a complex dance movement), as measured by leg lift height, was significantly improved in 34 college dance students following an intensive, 3-day DNI^TM  training. This training also improved participants’ imagery ability (measured with a standardized questionnaire) (Abraham, Gose, and Hackney, in preparation).