Physiological characteristics of America's Cup sailors

The aim of this study was to assess the physiological profile of America's Cup grinders and mastmen, by measuring energy expenditure during sailing and assessing their aerobic and anaerobic fitness. The study focused on estimating the energy used during grinding activity, by measuring oxygen uptake (VO(2)) during sail setting in real sailing conditions. In the laboratory, using an arm-cranking ergometer, we measured VO(2peak) during an incremental maximal exercise test and total energy expended during the effort and recovery phases of an all-out test that simulated grinding activity, in six grinders and mastmen and ten sailors of the same crew. Total energy used during grinding corresponded to 45% (s = 9) and 51% (s = 5) of that used in the all-out test (234 kJ, s = 21.7) for tacks and gybes, respectively. In both grinding activity and the all-out test, VO(2) increased during and after the effort. The "VO(2) top value" was 53% (s = 8.6), 68% (s = 5.5), and 78% (s = 3.1) of VO(2peak) (4.7 l . min(-1), s = 0.43) in tacks, gybes, and the all-out test, respectively. During fast sequences of grinding activity, the "VO(2) top value" reached 65% (s = 7.1) VO(2peak) in tacks and 91% (s = 3.3) VO(2peak) in gybes. Our results suggest that grinders and mastmen are characterized by a high anaerobic capacity but their performance can be improved by powering aerobic fitness, to increase this energy contribution to all-out efforts and to guarantee fast recovery when grinding activity is repeated with short rest intervals.     

Attracted but Unsatisfied: The Effects of Sensational Content on Television Consumption Choices

This article investigates experimentally the effects of sensational content on viewing choices and satisfaction in television consumption. The authors found that the presence of verbal violence in one program causes subjects to watch more of that program. However, subjects do not experience higher satisfaction with the program. In addition, they report lower satisfaction with the overall viewing experience. These findings are robust to the use of different program types for the experimental manipulation. Overall, the results pose a challenge to the use of audience figures as a measure of enjoyment or satisfaction.     

Deprivation level and choice in pigeons: a test of within-trial contrast

Within-trial contrast has been proposed as a mechanism underlying preferences for stimuli that follow relatively more aversive events over stimuli that follow less aversive events. In this study, we manipulated deprivation level to test within-trial contrast predictions. In Experiment 1, pigeons encountered two discriminative stimuli, one presented when they were deprived and the other when they were prefed. When later given a choice between the two stimuli, pigeons strongly preferred the stimulus encountered when deprived, independently of their deprivation level at test. In Experiment 2, pigeons learned two simultaneous discriminations, one when deprived and the other when prefed. Here, subsequent tests between the two S⁺ or the two S⁻ stimuli revealed no consistent preferences. These contrasting findings suggest that differential aversiveness is necessary but not sufficient to induce preferences via within-trial contrast.