Attentional Load and the Reproduction of Physical Work

Abstract

The effect of attentional focus on the perception of physical work was examined by using a work reproduction design. Subjects performed a fixed interval of work at either 50 or 75% of their predicted VO₂ max, during which they were required either to solve a continuous flow of arithmetic problems or to perform in an unfilled control condition. On a subsequent trial, without a concomitant attention-demanding task, subjects were asked to reproduce the amount of work that they had previously performed. It was found that individuals in the control condition produced a significantly greater amount of work on the reproduction trial, while those in the attentional focus condition performed about the same amount as on the previous trial. No interaction was found between attentional focus and work load.     

Influence of different attentional focus on EMG amplitude and contraction duration during the bench press at different speeds

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether using different focus affects electromyographic (EMG) amplitude and contraction duration during bench press performed at explosive and controlled speeds. Eighteen young male individuals were familiarized with the procedure and performed the one-maximum repetition (1RM) test in the first session. In the second session, participants performed the bench press exercise at 50% of the 1RM with 3 different attentional focuses (regular focus on moving the load vs contracting the pectoralis vs contracting the triceps) at 2 speed conditions (controlled vs maximal speed). During the controlled speed condition, focusing on using either the pectoralis or the triceps muscles increased pectoralis normalized EMG (nEMG) by 6% (95% CI 3–8%; p = 0.0001) and 4% nEMG (95% CI 1–7%; p = 0.0096), respectively, compared with the regular focus condition. Triceps activity was increased by 4% nEMG (95% CI 0–7%; p = 0.0308) at the controlled speed condition during the triceps focus. During the explosive speed condition, the use of different focuses had no effect. The different attentional focus resulted in comparable contraction duration for the measured muscles when the exercise was performed explosively. Using internal focus to increase EMG amplitude seems to function only during conditions of controlled speed.     

Mental fatigue alters the speed and the accuracy of the ball in table tennis

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of mental and muscle fatigue on table tennis performance. Mental fatigue (MF) was induced by completion of 90 minutes of the AX-CPT; muscle fatigue was induced by completion of an eccentric exercise performed with the elbow flexors (biceps fatigue, BF) or the knee extensors (quadriceps fatigue, QF). The control condition consisted of watching a movie. Stroke parameters (speed and accuracy of the ball), as well as feelings of fatigue and force production capacity of the elbow flexors (BF, MF and control conditions) and knee extensors (QF condition), were assessed pre and post fatigue protocols. Feelings of fatigue increased post fatigue protocols. Force production capacity decreased only in the BF and QF conditions. BF and MF induced a decrease in accuracy. This decrease in accuracy was associated with an increased ball speed in the BF condition, and a decreased ball speed in the MF condition. QF had a negligible effect on stroke performance. Our results suggest that both mental fatigue, and muscle fatigue, significantly impair table tennis performance and therefore coaches should take into account both the physical and mental state of table tennis players to optimize performance.     

我国18～69岁城市居民运动愉快感的调查研究

采用分层抽样法调查了我国上海市、天津市、成都市、武汉市和福州市5城市的2187名18～69岁的居民,主要调查了他们的运动愉快感产生情况,以及居民运动愉快感的产生与他们的体育锻炼方式和运动量的关系,并研究了有、无运动愉快感居民的心境状态、健康状况的区别。结果表明:有63.74%的居民体验到了运动愉快感,这部分居民大多是2人或2人以上结伴或集体进行体育锻炼,而且他们的运动量显著大于无运动愉快感的居民。有、无运动愉快感的居民其心境状态和健康状况也有差异,有运动愉快感的居民其心境状态显著性地好于无运动愉快感的居民,并且他们的总体健康状况(包括身体健康、心理健康、社会健康)也显著性地好于无运动愉快感的居民,说明运动愉快感是一种积极的情绪体验,是达到身心健康的一个重要的中间变量。因此,建议我国城市居民通过选择合适的运动项目、适宜的运动量,并采取结伴锻炼的方式进行体育锻炼。     

重点高中学生运动情绪人际关系与心理健康之间关系的研究

为了进一步探索运动对情绪、人际关系和心理健康的影响以及探寻它们之间关系。采用心境状态量表、人际关系综合诊断量表和症状自评量表,对扬州中学550名学生进行调查。结果显示：运动群体的情绪、人际关系和心理健康水平得分与非运动群体相比有统计学意义;情绪、人际关系与其心理健康状况之间存在较强的相关关系,且对心理健康回归非常显著。结论：运动能直接影响心理健康,又能通过改善情绪、人际关系间接促进心理健康,即情绪、人际关系在运动对心理健康的影响中均起部分中介效应。     

Effects of competition, exercise, and mental stress on secretory immunity

It has been suggested that the psychological stress associated with competitive sports events may help to explain the increased susceptibility to respiratory infections due to reductions in secretory immunity. In the current study, we investigated the influence of competitive exercise and psychological stress on secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA). Salivary s-IgA and heart rate were measured in 62 healthy young recreationally active men at rest and, in a between-subjects design, following one of four 8-min tasks: mental arithmetic, cycling at workloads of 60 to 180 W (mean = 146 W), mental arithmetic while cycling, or competitive cycling. Mental arithmetic was associated with significant increases in s-IgA concentration (mean = 49 microg.min(-1)) and s-IgA secretion rate (mean = 25 microg.ml(-1)) compared with rest, while mental arithmetic combined with exercise was associated with a significant increase in s-IgA concentration only (mean = 124 microg.min(-1)). In contrast, competitive exercise and exercise alone did not influence s-IgA concentration or secretion rate. Heart rate increased modestly to mental arithmetic (mean = 7 beats.min(-1)) and substantially, and similarly, to the three exercise tasks (mean = 56(62 beats.min(-1)). The hypothesis that the psychological stress of competitive exercise contributes to increased susceptibility to infection via reductions in s-IgA requires further investigation.     

Individual differences in the interleukin-6 response to maximal and submaximal exercise tasks

Abstract

The inflammatory responsive cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) helps regulate immune responses to exercise. Evidence suggests that increases in IL-6 are related to exercise duration and intensity. However, the moderating effect of sex and underlying mediators have received limited attention. We compared plasma IL-6 responses to two cycling tasks with a resting control in young male (n = 12) and female (n = 12) recreationally active adults. Both 45 min tasks comprised an incremental test, either maximal or submaximal, followed by steady-state exercise at 55% peak power output. Interleukin-6 was elevated above baseline immediately after the maximal but not the submaximal task. Compared with the control condition, IL-6 was increased at 30 and 60 min after both exercise tasks. The IL-6 response was greater in women than men at 60 min after maximal exercise. Cortisol increased in both tasks compared with the control condition, the increase being greater after maximal than submaximal exercise. No associations were found between IL-6 responses and cortisol, heart rate, fitness or body mass index. The results show that 45 min of moderate-intensity exercise can increase IL-6 and suggest that the inclusion of maximal effort may accelerate this response. The finding that women showed a greater IL-6 response to maximal exercise may reflect a gender dimorphism in the immune response to stress.     

The acute effects of resistance exercise on affect,anxiety, and mood – practical implications for designing resistance training programs

ABSTRACT

Research in aerobic exercise has linked the affective responses (pleasure–displeasure) experienced during exercise to future exercise participation. While this is yet to be confirmed in anaerobic activities, it can be inferred that making resistance exercise (RE) more psychologically rewarding is an important consideration. The purpose of this article is to review the acute effects of RE on affect, anxiety, and mood and to draw conclusions on how to maximize feelings of pleasure in an effort to increase rates of participation. This review provides evidence to support lower training volumes performed at low to moderate intensities (50–70% 1RM) with long inter-set rest intervals (90–150 s). Additional recommendations are provided based on physiological and theoretical support, but there is a strong need for more research on the affective experience of RE.     

Baseline Intraocular Pressure Is Associated With Subjective Sensitivity to Physical Exertion in Young Males

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to (a) investigate the effect of physical effort (cycling for 60 min at 60 ± 5% of individually computed reserve heart-rate capacity), combined with 2 different levels of cognitive demand (2-back, oddball), on intraocular pressure (IOP) and subjective judgments of perceived exertion (ratings of perceived exertion [RPE]), affect (Affective Valence subscale of the Self-Assessment Manikin [SAM]), and mental workload (National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index [NASA-TLX]); and (b) ascertain whether baseline IOP, measured before exercise, is associated with individual differences in subjective assessments of effort and affective response during exercise. Method: Seventeen participants (M_age = 23.28 ± 2.37 years) performed 2 physical/cognitive dual tasks, matched in physical demand but with different mental requirements (2-back, oddball). We assessed IOP before exercise, after 2 min of active recovery, and after 15 min of passive recovery, and we also collected RPE and SAM measures during the sessions (28 measurement points). We used NASA-TLX and cognitive performance as checks of the mental manipulation. Results: (a) Intraocular pressure increased after concomitant physical/mental effort, with the effect reaching statistical significance after the 2-back task (p = .002, d = 0.35) but not after the oddball condition (p = .092, d = 0.29). (b) Baseline IOP was associated with subjective sensitivity to effort and showed statistical significance for the oddball condition (p = .03, ?_p² = .622) but not for the 2-back task (F < 1). Conclusions: Results suggest a relationship between IOP and physical/cognitive effort, which could have implications for the management of glaucoma. Additionally, a rapid measure of IOP could be used as a marker of individual effort sensitivity in applied settings.     

The Effects of Exercise on Muscle Tension and Subsequent Muscle Relaxation Training

Abstract

This investigation examined the effects of physical exercise on muscle tension and subsequent muscle relaxation training. Twenty college students participated in the first phase of the study, which included a 10-minute EMG baseline, 30 minutes of pedalling on a bicycle ergometer, followed by EMG measurements on the frontalis muscle for up to 3 hours after the end of exercise. The same subjects from Phase I went on to Phase II, which included eight 32-minute EMG biofeedback training (BFT) sessions, utilizing the frontalis muscle. Ten subjects randomly assigned to the experimental group received BFT following an acute exercise bout, while the 10 subjects in the control group received no treatment. The greatest decrease in muscle tension in Phase I occurred 90 minutes after the end of the exercise. This finding was not significantly different from the baseline, indicating that there was no relaxation effect as a result of exercise. In Phase II, significant differences between pre and post-test measurements in both groups indicated that learning of relaxation did occur. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups, indicating that physical exercise did not enhance the learning of EMG BFT.     

Effects of competition,exercise, and mental stress on secretory immunity

It has been suggested that the psychological stress associated with competitive sports events may help to explain the increased susceptibility to respiratory infections due to reductions in secretory immunity. In the current study, we investigated the influence of competitive exercise and psychological stress on secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA). Salivary s-IgA and heart rate were measured in 62 healthy young recreationally active men at rest and, in a between-subjects design, following one of four 8-min tasks: mental arithmetic, cycling at workloads of 60 to 180?W (mean = 146?W), mental arithmetic while cycling, or competitive cycling. Mental arithmetic was associated with significant increases in s-IgA concentration (mean = 49?μg?·?min^?1) and s-IgA secretion rate (mean = 25?μg?·?ml^?1) compared with rest, while mental arithmetic combined with exercise was associated with a significant increase in s-IgA concentration only (mean = 124?μg?·?min^?1). In contrast, competitive exercise and exercise alone did not influence s-IgA concentration or secretion rate. Heart rate increased modestly to mental arithmetic (mean = 7 beats?·?min^?1) and substantially, and similarly, to the three exercise tasks (mean = 56(62 beats?·?min^?1). The hypothesis that the psychological stress of competitive exercise contributes to increased susceptibility to infection via reductions in s-IgA requires further investigation.     

冥想训练对美国中学游泳选手训练后的焦虑、心境状态及心率恢复的影响

研究旨在探讨心理整理对中学旅游选手训练后恢复情况的影响。共有７０名（男４２名,女２８名）１４至１７岁的被试参加了该实验,实验持续了５周。在第１周所有被试均参加心境、状态焦虑和心率的前测,以确定这些指标的基值水平。在余下的４周时间里,实验组的被试在训练后的下午进行身体整理活之后,进行２５ｍｉｎ的呼吸冥想训练;而控制组的被试则以２５ｍｉｎ的休息取代呼吸冥想。在每周结束时,对两组被试的心镜、焦虎和心率分     

The effect of a psyching strategy on neuromuscular activation and force production in strength-trained men

Force and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the biceps and triceps brachii were measured in 15 strength-trained men during maximal isometric action of the forearm flexors, with the elbow at 90 degrees, following 20-s periods of psyching (PSY), reading aloud (RA), and mental arithmetic (MA). Perceived arousal and attentional focus ratings for PSY were greater than those obtained for RA and MA, which were undifferentiated. Perceived effort, biceps and triceps EMG, and maximal force did not differ across conditions. Therefore, in highly trained men under conditions of brief exertion, when the biomechanics of the muscular action were controlled, psyching resulted in a perception of enhanced readiness but did not influence force or muscular activation differently from psychological states that were preceded by distraction.     

对河源市中学生身心健康状况及其成因的调查研究

采取问卷调查的方法,对河源市中学生的情绪状态、身体健康感,以及对生存状态的自我评价等进行调查。结果发现：有88．6％的中学生情绪状态不良,有75．0％的中学生健康感较差,有88．8％的中学生对自身生存状态评价较低。结果显示：中学生身心健康状况的不足既有认知因素的错误或不足,有学校教育因素的失职或失效,也有社会综合因素的侵袭和诱发。各种迹象表明,它与中学生目前生活行为和习惯的不健康或不足关系密切。     

Exercise intensity during wheelchair rugby training

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of individuals with a cervical spinal cord injury to achieve and sustain a cardiorespiratory training intensity during wheelchair rugby. Nine wheelchair rugby players completed a continuous peak exercise test on a SciFit Pro I arm ergometer with stage increases each minute to determine peak heart rate and power output. Approximately one week after peak exercise testing, heart rate was recorded (every 5 s) during three regularly scheduled rugby training sessions. Data were analysed to determine the number of continuous minutes that participants spent above 70% of heart rate reserve under various rugby training activities. The percent of time spent at or above 70% heart rate reserve varied across participants and conditions. Continuous pushing was the least variable training condition among participants with the sample averaging greater than 73% of time above the target heart rate. Scrimmage training was highly variable across participants with a range of 0% to 98% of time above the criterion. Results of this study indicate that wheelchair rugby training enables some participants to reach a training intensity associated with improved cardiorespiratory fitness, and that the type (or kind) of training activity dictates the extent to which individuals sustain such a threshold.     

Perceptual and cognitive responses during exercise: Relationships with metamotivational state and dominance

Abstract

In this study, we examined ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and attentional focus during exercise in relation to telic and paratelic metamotivational dominance and state. Thirty regular exercisers (11 females, 19 males), of whom 10 were telic dominant (mean Paratelic Dominance Scale score=6.2±2.9), 10 paratelic dominant (mean PDS score=23.8±1.4), and 10 non-dominant (mean PDS score=15.4±0.7) completed two exercise trials. In the first trial, the participants completed a maximal ramped exercise test on a motorized treadmill to determine their gas exchange threshold (the speed at which determined exercise intensity of the subsequent trial). Throughout the second trial (a 30-min treadmill run), the participants reported their metamotivational state, RPE, and attentional focus (associative or dissociative) at 5-min intervals. Heart rate was recorded at 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, and 28 min and expired air was analysed for oxygen consumption (VO₂) between 1–3, 6–8, 11–13, 16–18, 21–23, and 26–28 min. There was no main effect of dominance or dominance×time interaction on any variables (P >0.05). Oxygen consumption did not differ between states but RPE was higher in the telic than paratelic state at 25 and 30 min (t ₂₈=2.87, P <0.05; t _26.77=3.88, P <0.05, respectively). Attentional focus was more associative in the telic than paratelic state at 20, 25, and 30 min (t ₂₈=? 3.73, P <0.05; t ₂₈=? 4.85, P <0.01; t ₂₈=? 5.15, P <0.05, respectively) and heart rate was higher at 23 min in the telic state (t ₂₇=3.40, P <0.05). During the latter stages of exercise, the telic metamotivational state, not dominance, was related to a more associative attentional focus and higher RPE. Our results support the use of reversal theory (Apter, 2001) to understand perceptual and cognitive responses during aerobic exercise, but an experimental design in which state is manipulated is needed to examine the effects of metamotivational dominance and state on perceptual and cognitive responses.     

运动心理学研究进展

概述竞技运动心理、大众锻炼心理和体育教育心理3个领域的研究进展,并提出今后的研究展望.在竞技运动领域,运动心理学家最关注3个领域:运动员认知特征和人格特征、运动员心理状态的检测和评价、运动员心理调节能力的提高.锻炼与心理健康的关系是大众锻炼心理领域关注的重点.体育教育心理研究突出表现在重视对学生体育学习心理的研究,应用性研究增多,对重要的基础理论探索更加深入.但在学生体育学习心理特点和体育教学心理建设功能领域低层次重复性研究较多.运动心理学研究将主要围绕运动员心理训练、各种生理指标在监测与评价运动员心理状态或心理机能时的信度与效度、运动员的运动认知和身体锻炼与心理健康关系4个方面展开.     

健美操运动对智障学生运动能力的影响——以自闭症、Down综合征和普通智障学生为例

运用实验法、观察法、测量法、数理统计法和对比分析法,对自闭症学生、Down综合征学生和普通智障学生进行16周的健美操训练。探讨其对三类学生的运动能力改善程度,为智力障碍学生探索新的积极有效的运动项目和锻炼途径。结果表明:健美操训练可以有效提高Down综合征学生、自闭症学生和普通智障学生的下肢力量和协调性;健美操训练对柔韧性和平衡能力的改善不显著;健美操可以显著提高学生整体运动能力。结论:健美操对Down综合征、自闭症和普通智障学生的运动能力有所提高,而且对于不同类型的学生,其提高程度及提高方面有所差异;健美操对Down综合征学生和自闭症学生的情绪改善明显。     

Isometric exercise and cognitive function: an investigation of acute dose–response effects during submaximal fatiguing contractions

The purpose of this study was to explore the dose–response relationship between exercise and cognitive performance using an acute bout of isometric exercise. University students (N = 55) were randomly assigned to control, 30%, 50% and 70% of maximum voluntary handgrip contraction groups. Participants performed a modified Stroop task before and after completion of an isometric handgrip endurance trial at their assigned exercise intensity. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and forearm muscle activation (EMG) showed linear trends of progressively greater RPE and muscle activation at greater exercise intensity levels. Regression analysis showed significant (P < .05) linear degradations in frequency of errors on the Stroop task with increasing exercise intensity. We conclude that performing isometric exercise until exhaustion is associated with reduced cognitive performance and that higher intensity isometric exercise leads to greater performance impairments in a linear dose–response manner.