Effects of musical tempo on physiological, affective, and perceptual variables and performance of self-selected walking pace

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of musical tempo on physiological, affective, and perceptual responses as well as the performance of self-selected walking pace. [Subjects] The study included 28 adult women between 29 and 51 years old. [Methods] The subjects were divided into three groups: no musical stimulation group (control), and 90 and 140 beats per minute musical tempo groups. Each subject underwent three experimental sessions: involved familiarization with the equipment, an incremental test to exhaustion, and a 30-min walk on a treadmill at a self-selected pace, respectively. During the self-selected walking session, physiological, perceptual, and affective variables were evaluated, and walking performance was evaluated at the end. [Results] There were no significant differences in physiological variables or affective response among groups. However, there were significant differences in perceptual response and walking performance among groups. [Conclusion] Fast music (140 beats per minute) promotes a higher rating of perceived exertion and greater performance in self-selected walking pace without significantly altering physiological variables or affective response

The use of session RPE to monitor the intensity of weight training in older women: Acute responses to eccentric, concentric, and dynamic exercises

The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is ability to detect and interpret organic sensations while performing exercises. This method has been used to measure the level of effort that is felt during weight-training at a given intensity. The purpose of this investigation was to compare session RPE values with those of traditional RPE measurements for different weight-training muscle actions, performed together or separately. Fourteen women with no former weight-training experience were recruited for the investigation. All participants completed five sessions of exercise: familiarization, maximum force, concentric-only (CONC-only), eccentric-only (ECC-only), and dynamic (DYN = CONC + ECC). The traditional RPE method was measured after each series of exercises, and the session RPE was measured 30 min after the end of the training session. The statistical analyses used were the paired t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and repeated measures analysis of variance. Significant differences between traditional RPE and session RPE for DYN, CONC, and ECC exercises were not found. This investigation demonstrated that session RPE is similar to traditional RPE in terms of weight-training involving concentric, eccentric, or dynamic muscle exercises, and that it can be used to prescribe and monitor weight-training sessions in older subjects. © 2014 Sandro S. Ferreira et al

A new, low-energy defibrillation strategy: Use of multiple electric field directions to reshape scroll wave filaments

There is continued interest in developing new, low-energy methods for cardiac defibrillation. In this computational study, we consider the problem from a new perspective that, in contrast to several previous studies, leads to a strategy that works even when an arbitrarily large number of the rotating action potential waves are present during fibrillation, and works without requiring knowledge of the phases of these rotating waves. We show that sequences of one or more low-energy, electric field pulses, when designed with this strategy in mind, can convert the axes around which the waves rotate from a persistent form into forms that tend to shrink and disappear. When these sequences were applied with field strengths between 1.5 and 2.5 V/cm, 1 to 4 rotating waves representing fibrillation were terminated with success rates (76%-90%) much higher than those obtained using conventional stimuli (14%). Limitations of this study include our use of a simplified model of cardiac geometry and our operation of the simulation in a positive filament tension regime that is also stable to electrical alternans. Nevertheless, we believe that the use of a sequence of electric fields designed to convert all persistent filament shapes to self-extinguishing ones is a promising idea that is worth further examination

Poorer positive affect in response to self-paced exercise among the obese

We aimed to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and affective response, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and physiological responses during self-paced exercise. Sixty-six women were divided into three groups accordingly with the BMI: obese (n = 22: 33.5 ± 8.5 yr; 34.9 ± 4.1 kg·m -2 ), overweight (n = 22: 34.8 ± 8.6 yr; 26.4 ± 1.3 kg·m -2 ), and normal-weight (n = 22: 30.8 ± 9.3 yr; 22.0 ± 1.6 kg·m -2 ). They underwent a graded exercise test and a 20-min self-paced walking session on a treadmill. Affective responses, RPE, heart rate (HR), and oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) were recorded every 5 min. The women with obesity experienced the lowest affective rates (p < .001), despite similar RPE, HR, and VO 2 to the other normal weight and overweight groups. In addition, a multiple regression model indicated that BMI was a significant predictor of affective responses (p < .001). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that obesity is associated with poorer affective responses to exercise even at self-paced intensity, with the same physiological responses and perceived exertion. Therefore, techniques that aim directly to increase pleasure and/or reduce attentional focus and perception of effort in this population are required, such as affect-regulated prescription, shorter bouts of self-paced exercise throughout the day, distraction away from internal cues (e.g. music, group exercise), etc

Let's walk outdoors! self-paced walking outdoors improves future intention to exercise in women with obesity

In order to examine whether environmental settings influence psychological and physiological responses of women with obesity during self-paced walking, 38 women performed two exercise sessions (treadmill and outdoors) for 30 min, where oxygen uptake, heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion, affect, attentional focus, enjoyment, and future intentions to walk were analyzed. Physiological responses were similar during both sessions. However, during outdoor exercise, participants displayed higher externally focused attention, positive affect, and lower ratings of perceived exertion, followed by greater enjoyment and future intention to participate in outdoor walking. The more externally focused attention predicted greater future intentions to participate in walking. Therefore, women with obesity self-selected an appropriate exercise intensity to improve fitness and health in both environmental settings. Also, self-paced outdoor walking presented improved psychological responses. Health care professionals should consider promoting outdoor forms of exercise to maximize psychological benefits and promote long-term adherence to a physically active lifestyle

Erratum: Feeling of pleasure to high-intensity interval exercise is dependent of the number of work bouts and physical activity status (PLoS ONE (2016) 11:3 (e0152752) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152752)

<p>Correction: Feeling of Pleasure to High-Intensity Interval Exercise Is Dependent of the Number of Work Bouts and Physical Activity Status</p