Thank you so much for this value-packed response. As with anything, there are opposing schools of thought with regards to visualization.

Your claim that visualization tricks your brain into thinking it is real is valid. This is why many just mentally masturbate and don't take action.

On the other hand, visualization works at a subconscious level. Look up the notion of psychocybernetics.

There is tons of evidence backing the idea that humans work like servo mechanisms.

I'll check the journal paper out! Thanks for dropping by! Have a great day ahead!