Which of the following factors is crucial for maximizing motivation during mental practice?

Maximizing motivation during mental practice is closely tied to engaging in practice when an individual feels motivated. When learners are in a positive, motivated state, they are more receptive to enhancing their mental skills and focusing their attention on visualizing techniques or strategies. This high level of intrinsic motivation can lead to greater retention of information and skills, making the practice more effective. The desirable emotional state associated with being motivated can enhance neural connections related to the skills being practiced, leading to a greater likelihood of successful execution in real scenarios.

While factors such as structured feedback, setting specific goals, and pairing with another learner can be beneficial to learning and development in various contexts, they do not directly correlate with the intrinsic motivation that is often necessary for effective mental practice. Being motivated to practice mentally enables individuals to engage more thoroughly with the material and techniques, thereby fostering deeper learning and improvement.