Deception of Cycling Distance on Pacing Strategies, Perceptual Responses, and Neural Activity

Overview

Journal Pflugers Arch

Specialty Physiology

Date 2018 Oct 22

PMID 30343333

Citations 2

Authors

Georgia Wingfield

Frank E Marino

Melissa Skein

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Pacing during exercise performance is well-established; however, little is known about the neural responses associated with changes in power output and the effect of exercise end-point knowledge. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of deception of cycling distance on pacing, cerebral oxy- (OHb) and deoxy-haemoglobin concentrations, and alpha (α) wave activity. Ten well-trained male cyclists (23.7 ± 6.6 years) completed three cycling time trials (TT) on a stationary air-braked cycle ergometer and were informed the study was to examine the reliability of 3 × 30-km TT. Participants unknowingly completed three distances (24, 30, and 36 km) in a randomised order. Performance (power output; PO), physiological (heart rate; HR), perceptual (rating of perceived exertion; RPE), and neurological (OHb, HHb, and α activity) measures were recorded throughout each TT. Data were converted to a percentage relative to the total distance covered. At 100% completion, HR and PO were lower during the 36 km compared to the 30 km trial (P ≤ 0.01). Compared to the 24 km trial, α waves were reduced at 100% (effect size; ES = 1.01), while OHb was greater at 70% of completion in the 36 km trial (ES = 1.39). RPE was also higher for 36 km compared to 30-km trial at 80% and the 24-km trial at 10% and 40-100% of completion (P ≤ 0.02). We conclude that the increase in OHb and RPE during the 36-km trial, while a reduction in HR and PO is present, may indicate that the pre-frontal cortex may influence the regulation of exercise performance when deceived of the duration end-point by increasing perception of effort to reduce premature onset of physiological strain.

Citing Articles

Self-Paced Endurance Performance and Cerebral Hemodynamics of the Prefrontal Cortex: A Scoping Review of Methodology and Findings.

Hyland-Monks R, Marchant D, Cronin L Percept Mot Skills. 2022; 129(4):1089-1114.

PMID: 35609231 PMC: 9301167. DOI: 10.1177/00315125221101017.

A Review of Cognitive Changes During Acute Aerobic Exercise.

Cantelon J, Giles G Front Psychol. 2022; 12:653158.

PMID: 34975602 PMC: 8716584. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.653158.

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