I call it reverse picking when you start with an upstroke rather than a downstroke on things like scales. Like if you're doing this scale:
http://guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=3050&s_id=28
Instead of starting with a downstroke on the G like you normally would, start with an upstroke and continue with the whole scale that way, using alternate picking.
It gets you used to doing scales in the reverse way you're used to doing them and helps when you're in the middle of a lead...you don't have to pause for a second to go into a certain scale by downpicking.