My heart is racing! Psychophysiological dynamics of skilled racecar drivers

Our purpose was to test the multi-action plan (MAP) model assumptions in which athletes’ psychophysiological patterns differ among optimal and suboptimal performance experiences. Nine professional drivers competing in premier race categories (e.g., Formula 3, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge) completed the study. Data collection involved monitoring the drivers’ perceived hedonic tone, accuracy on core components of action, posture, skin temperature, respiration rate, and heart rate responses during a 40-lap simulated race. Time marks, gathered at three standardized sectors, served as the performance variable. The A1GP racing simulator (Allinsport, Modena) established a realistic race platform. Specifically, the Barcelona track was chosen due to its inherently difficult nature characterized by intermittent deceleration points. Idiosyncratic analyses showed large individual differences in the drivers’ psychophysiological profile, as well as distinct patterns in regards to optimal and suboptimal performance experiences. Limitations and future research avenues are discussed. Action (e.g., attentional control) and emotion (e.g., biofeedback training) centered applied sport psychology implications are advanced

Perceived control and hedonic tone dynamics during performance in elite shooters

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the individuals' dynamics of perceived control and hedonic tone over time, with respect to the 4 performance states as conceptualized within the multiaction plan (MAP) model. We expected to find idiosyncratic and differentiated trends over time in the scores of perceived control and hedonic tone, typified by fluctuations among 2 optimal and 2 suboptimal types of processing during performance. Method: Ten elite-level shooters participated in the study. They were asked to identify the most relevant, idiosyncratic core component of their shooting action and perform 120 shots distanced 10 m from the target. Subjective accounts of perceived control and hedonic tone of the core component of action were assessed prior to and after each shot. We used a probabilistic approach to derive the 4 performance categories according to 2 × 2 interactions of perceived control and performance and hedonic tone and performance. Results: Logistic ordinal regression analysis enabled the identification of 4 idiosyncratic performance types for each athlete with respect to perceived control and hedonic tone intensity scores. Within- and between-individual differences in intensity bandwidth and probability levels were apparent across the 4 performance types. Changes among 4 types of processing were also observed during performance. Conclusion: Consistent with the MAP model conceptualization, the findings provided support for the different patterns of perceived control and hedonic tone intensity scores during performance. The results suggest applied arguments for using action- and emotion-centered strategies to help athletes in reaching and sustaining optimal performance states

Recovery and performance in sport: Consensus statement

© 2018 Human Kinetics, Inc. The relationship between recovery and fatigue and its impact on performance has attracted the interest of sport science for many years. An adequate balance between stress (training and competition load, other life demands) and recovery is essential for athletes to achieve continuous high-level performance. Research has focused on the examination of physiological and psychological recovery strategies to compensate external and internal training and competition loads. A systematic monitoring of recovery and the subsequent implementation of recovery routines aims at maximizing performance and preventing negative developments such as underrecovery, nonfunctional overreaching, the overtraining syndrome, injuries, or illnesses. Due to the inter- and intraindividual variability of responses to training, competition, and recovery strategies, a diverse set of expertise is required to address the multifaceted phenomena of recovery, performance, and their interactions to transfer knowledge from sport science to sport practice. For this purpose, a symposium on Recovery and Performance was organized at the Technical University Munich Science and Study Center Raitenhaslach (Germany) in September 2016. Various international experts from many disciplines and research areas gathered to discuss and share their knowledge of recovery for performance enhancement in a variety of settings. The results of this meeting are outlined in this consensus statement that provides central definitions, theoretical frameworks, and practical implications as a synopsis of the current knowledge of recovery and performance. While our understanding of the complex relationship between recovery and performance has significantly increased through research, some important issues for future investigations are also elaborated

Athletic Performance and Recovery-Stress Factors in Cycling: An Ever Changing Balance

We sought to examine whether the relationship between recovery-stress factors and performance would differ at the beginning (Stage 1) and the end (Final Stage) of a multi-stage cycling competition. Sixty-seven cyclists with a mean age of 21.90 years (SD = 1.60) and extensive international experience participated in the study. The cyclists responded to the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) and rated their performance (1 = extremely poor to 10 = excellent) in respect to the first and last stage. Two step-down multiple regression models were used to estimate the relationship among recovery (nine factors; e.g., Physical Recovery, Sleep Quality) and stress factors (10 factors; e.g., Lack of Energy, Physical Complaints), as assessed by the RESTQ and in relation to performance. Model-1 pertained to Stage 1, whereas Model-2 used data from the Final Stage. The final Model-1 revealed that Physical Recovery (β = .46, p = .01), Injury (β = -.31, p = .01) and General Well-being (β = -.26, p = .04) predicted performance in Stage 1 (R2 = .21). The final Model-2 revealed a different relationship between recovery-stress factors and performance. Specifically, being a climber (β = .28, p = .01), Conflicts/Pressure (β = .33, p = .01), and Lack of Energy (β = -.37, p = .01) were associated with performance at the Final Stage (R2 = .19). Collectively, these results suggest that the relationship among recovery and stress factors changes greatly over a relatively short period of time, and dynamically influences performance in multi-stage competitions

Shared mental models and intra-team psychophysiological patterns: A test of the juggling paradigm

We explored implicit coordination mechanisms underlying the conceptual notion of "shared mental models" (SMM) through physiological (i.e., breathing and heart rates) and affective-cognitive (i.e., arousal, pleasantness, attention, self-efficacy, other's efficacy) monitoring of two professional jugglers performing a real-time interactive task of increasing difficulty. There were two experimental conditions: "individual" (i.e., solo task) and "interactive" (i.e., two jugglers established a cooperative interaction by juggling sets of balls with each other). In both conditions, there were two task difficulties: “easy” and “hard”. Descriptive analyses revealed that engaging in a dyadic cooperative motor task (interactive condition) required greater physiological effort (Median Cohen’s d = 2.13) than performing a solo motor task (individual condition) of similar difficulty. Our results indicated a strong positive correlation between the jugglers’ heart rate for the easy (r = .87) and hard tasks (r = .77). The relationship between the jugglers’ breathing rate was significant for the easy task (r = .73) but non-significant for the hard task. The findings are interpreted based on research on SMM and Theory of Mind. Practitioners should advance the notion of “shared-regulation” in the context of team coordination through the use of biofeedback training

Mapping a beautiful voice : theoretical considerations

The prime purpose of this paper is to draw on a range of diverse literatures to clarify those elements thatare perceived to constitute a ‘beautiful’ sung performance. The text rehearses key findings from existingliteratures in order to determine the extent to which particular elements might appear the most salientfor an individual listener and also ‘quantifiable’ (in the sense of being open to empirical study). Thepaper concludes with a theoretical framework for the elements that are likely to construct and shape ourresponses to particular sung performances

Oregano essential oil in the diet of laying hens in winter reduces lipid peroxidation in yolks and increases shelf life in eggs.

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The role of emotions on consumers’ satisfaction within the fitness context

Previous studies have suggested that consumption-related emotions are important to understand post-purchase reactions. This study examines the relationship between fitness consumers’ emotions and overall satisfaction. After an initial step of free-thought listing and content validity, followed by a pre-test, a survey was conducted among consumers of five different fitness centers (n=786). The questionnaire included measures to assess positive and negative emotions, as well as overall satisfaction with the fitness center. The results gathered through a structural equation model provide evidence that negative emotion experienced by consumers impacts negatively overall satisfaction, while positive emotion have a positive effect on overall satisfaction. These findings suggest managerial implications, such as the need to collect consumers’ perceptions of both tangible and intangible aspects of the services, listen costumers’ opinions in a regular basis, and provide regular training to staff members, in order to identify the triggers of positive emotions and contribute to increased levels of overall satisfaction. Guidelines for future research within the fitness context are also suggested.Estudos precedentes sugerem que as emoções relacionadas com o consumo são importantes para compreender as reações dos consumidores após a compra. Este estudo analisa a relação entre as emoções dos consumidores de fitness e satisfação global. Depois de uma etapa inicial de listagem de pensamento-livre e validade de conteúdo, seguido de um pré-teste, foi realizada uma pesquisa entre os consumidores de cinco centros de fitness diferentes (n = 786). O questionário incluiu medidas para avaliar as emoções positivas e negativas, bem como a satisfação global com o centro de fitness. Os resultados obtidos através de um modelo de equações estruturais forneceram evidências de que as emoções negativas vivenciadas pelos consumidores impactam negativamente a satisfação global, enquanto as emoções positivas têm um efeito positivo sobre a satisfação global. Estes resultados sugerem implicações para os gestores, tais como a necessidade de recolher informação sobre a perceção dos consumidores dos aspetos tangíveis e intangíveis dos serviços, ouvir regularmente as opiniões dos consumidores e facultar formação regular aos colaboradores. Isto permitirá identificar os aspetos que desencadeiam emoções positivas e contribuir para o aumento dos níveis de satisfação global. Orientações para futuras pesquisas no contexto de fitness também são sugeridas.Sin financiación0.185 SJR (2015) Q3, 1090/1779 Medicine (miscellaneous); Q4, 177/229 Health (social science), 112/128 Sports scienceUE

"Disegna quello che vedi". Un contributo all'insegnamento e divulgazione delle scienze applicato ai paesaggi naturali

L'argomento multidisciplinare "paesaggio" \ue9 un oggetto particolarmente difficile da insegnare o da divulgare e crediamo lo sia in modo particolare per i paesaggi naturali. In questo caso infatti la descrizione tecnica del paesaggio quasi inevitabilmente risulta frastagliata nella descrizione dei suoi diversi elementi (floristici, faunistici, geologici \u2026) mentre la considerazione di ogni singolo elemento si dissolve in una sovrapposizione di discipline e scale di osservazione che ne allontana una percezione olistica o anche pi\uf9 semplicemente ecologica. In questa complessit\ue0 peculiare risiede la difficolt\ue0 di comunicare il paesaggio in termini scientifici. Le scienze naturali sono oggi percepite dal pubblico come una lunga e pedestre tassonomia proprio l\ue0 dove pi\uf9 diretto e ricco di emozioni \ue8 il rapporto tra il ricercatore, il suo oggetto di studio, l\u2019avventura e la scoperta. Il disincanto del pubblico sta nel veder costretta la bellezza e la ricchezza delle relazioni tra gli elementi del paesaggio in una nozione preconfezionata e trova la sua ragione ultima nella mancata condivisione tra ricercatore e pubblico dell\u2019itinerario di avvicinamento. Eppure l\u2019emozione del naturalista risiede nell\u2019osservazione e nella contemplazione, non certo nella classificazione. Eppure gli strumenti di lavoro del naturalista classico (diario di appunti, strumenti di disegno, macchina fotografica) sono gli stessi di qualsiasi turista. Questo lavoro propone un sentiero naturalistico di nuova concezione, se pur limitato per il momento allo stretto ambito disciplinare della geologia. Un gruppo di turisti \ue9 stato accompagnato a Cima Sulz (Alpi Sarentine, Alto Adige). La guida ha fornito qualche stimolo generico sul lavoro del geologo di terreno, con attenzione particolare alle attivit\ue0 del disegno e scrivere osservazioni, ma nessun suggerimento sull\u2019evoluzione geologica dell\u2019area. Ciascun partecipante \ue9 stato dotato di un quaderno, strumenti per il disegno, martello da geologo ma nessuna interpretazione sull\u2019evoluzione geologica dell\u2019area. Gli stimoli proposti comprendevano alcune semplici nozioni: 1) Le rocce sono materiali eterogenei; 2) Le rocce sono composte da minerali; 3) Ciascun dominio omogeneo per colore, forma e lucentezza all\u2019interno di una roccia \ue9 un minerale; 4) Per riconoscere il vero colore di una roccia bisogna romperla con il martello. L\u2019attivit\ue0 \ue9 volta a fornire il ricercatore geologo di alcune risposte sul carattere dell\u2019uditorio: - quale sia la sua reazione di fronte ad una proposta di autoapprendimento; - quali sono i soggetti che sceglie spontaneamente - quali sono i canoni descrittivi spontanei. Suggeriamo che questa attivit\ue0 possa rappresentare in futuro un canale di comunicazione permanente tra geologi e pubblico affinch\ue9 la geologia torni ad essere il frutto di una reale e naturale contemplazione della natura. L\u2019effettiva valenza del disegno naturalistico non solo come piacevole occasione di contemplazione ma come motore di autoapprendimento \ue8 stata testata con due diverse esperienze didattiche. Quarantasette bambini di quinta elementare hanno descritto e disegnato un campione di roccia. Il loro lavoro, oltre a numerose misconcezioni significative ed interessanti rivela un\u2019accuratezza del disegno molto pi\uf9 significativa che nello scritto. Trenta studenti del corso di laurea in Scienze per l\u2019ambiente e la natura dell\u2019Universit\ue0 di Udine, alla fine del corso nel contesto dell\u2019esperienza interdisciplinare della settimana didattica di Paluzza sono stati invitati a disegnare e descrivere un affioramento di roccia prima dell\u2019illustrazione da parte del docente, come occasione e motore per una spontanea richiesta di apprendimento. In questo secondo caso gli studenti hanno rivelato la sorpresa per un approccio giocoso e personale all\u2019oggetto di studio unitamente al disorientamento generati dalla paura per la valutazione didattica

A contribution to the validation of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale in an Italian sample

Assessing motivation for and enjoyment of physical activity is an important step in the promotion of an active lifestyle. This study assessed the factor structure and reliability of the Italian version of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale in a sample of Italian students (N = 5,934) aged from 11 to 19. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed on subsamples of girls and boys grouped into 4 age categories. Gender and age differences were also examined through a 2 (sex) × 4 (age) multivariate analysis of variance. Findings supported the factor structure and reliability of the Italian version of the PACES