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

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

Coordination Cost and Super-Efficiency in Teamwork: The Role of Communication, Psychological States, Cardiovascular Responses, and Brain Rhythms

To advance knowledge on the psychophysiological markers of “coordination cost” in team settings, we explored differences in meta-communication patterns (i.e., silence, speaking, listening, and overlap), perceived psychological states (i.e., core affect, attention, efficacy beliefs), heart rate variability (i.e., RMSSD), and brain rhythms (i.e., alpha, beta and theta absolute power) across three studies involving 48 male dyads (Mage = 21.30; SD = 2.03). Skilled participants cooperatively played three consecutive FIFA-17 (Xbox) games in a dyad against the computer, or competed against the computer in a solo condition and a dyad condition. We observed that playing in a team, in contrast to playing alone, was associated with higher alpha peak and global efficiency in the brain and, at the same time, led to an increase in focused attention as evidenced by participants’ higher theta activity in the frontal lobe. Moreover, we observed that overtime participants’ brain dynamics moved towards a state of “neural-efficiency” or “flow”, characterized by increased theta and beta activity in the frontal lobe, and high alpha activity across the whole brain. Our findings advance the literature by demonstrating that (1) the notion of coordination cost can be captured at the neural level in the initial stages of team development; (2) by decreasing the costs of switching between tasks, teamwork increases both individuals’ attentional focus and global neural efficiency; and (3) communication dynamics become more proficient and individuals’ brain patterns change towards neural efficiency over time, likely due to team learning and decreases in intra-team conflict

The effects of physical activity or sport-based interventions on psychological factors in adults with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review

© 2019 MENCAP and International Association of the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and John Wiley & Sons Ltd Background: Inactivity is a major factor contributing to adverse health in people with intellectual disabilities (IDs). While it is generally agreed that physical activity (PA)/sport-based interventions promote cognitive and social development in the general population, little is known about their specific benefits in adults with ID. The aims of this systematic review were (a) to examine the effects of PA/sport-based interventions on intention, motivation and attitude regarding PA/sport participation in adults with ID and (b) to investigate the influence of these psychological factors on behavioural change (e.g. PA level) and quality of life. Methods: A systematic review has been conducted searching four electronic databases (i.e. SCOPUS, Web of Science, PubMed and Cochrane Library). Studies were included if written in English, peer reviewed, had primary research data, and measured intention, motivation, attitude, behavioural outcomes or quality of life. Results: Thirteen articles met our inclusion criteria of which 10 explored the effects of PA/sport as part of a multi-component intervention. Most investigated outcomes were exercise self-efficacy and quality of life. Five studies measured exercise self-efficacy, and four of them found significant changes. One study found a significant improvement in quality of life and another study in life satisfaction. We observed lack of sport-based interventions, few data about people with severe ID and limited psychological measures. Conclusions: Personal and environmental factors are key components of behavioural change. Support of caregivers and individualised instructions may benefit exercise self-efficacy. There is lack of information about the effects of psychological factors on behavioural change and quality of life in adults with ID.This work was supported by an European Collaborative partnership Erasmus + Sport Programme (project name: Equal Sport For All; agreement number ESFA Project 2016‐3719/001‐001).Published versio

Stress/recovery balance during the Girobio: profile of highly trained road cyclists

The purposes of this study were to (a) determine and compare the magnitude of pre\u2013post recovery and stress scores among highly trained cyclists participating in the \u201cGirobio\u201d, and (b) identify stress/recovery balance factors that remained constant from pre- to post-race testing. Sixty-seven cyclists with extensive international experience representing various teams participated in the study. Data were collected during the Girobio-2012, a multi-stage competition for Under 23 and Elite cycling categories, held annually in Italy. Participants responded to the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Sport 1 day before the first stage (test, T1) and on the day of the ninth/final stage (i.e., 5 h prior to the start) (retest, T2). Compared to test scores, at retest we expected to find higher stress and lower recovery values for all subscales with the exception of self-efficacy and selfregulation, which reflect goal-oriented experiences rather than psychophysical states linked to a given race. Overall, results were in this expected direction. No significant effects were found for one general stress subscale (i.e., Conflict/Pressure), two general recovery subscales (i.e., Success and Social Recovery), and two sport-specific recovery subscales (i.e., Personal Accomplishment, and Self-Efficacy), thus suggesting the stability of these stress/recovery factors over time. Collectively, these findings reinforce the importance of assessing multiple indicators of stress/recovery balance to establish mental training guidelines aimed at addressing and preventing both temporary and relatively chronic maladaptation among cyclists

Attentional Focus and Functional Connectivity in Cycling: An EEG Case Study

This study aimed to test the efficacy of associative and dissociative attention-based strategies derived from the MAP model to improve performance in endurance activity, and to verify whether specific cortical functional networks are associated with the different types of performance foreseen in the MAP model. The findings from one cyclist support the hypothesis that dissociative strategies induce electrophysiological conditions facilitating flow performance states, which are mainly characterized by extensive functional connectivity across all brain areas in the alpha band. Associative strategies do not seem to conform to this framework, although focusing on the core components of action minimized the awareness of unpleasant afferent feedback, thus delaying detrimental increments of perception of effort, which manifest as a predominant frontal-motor coupling in the alpha band and frontooccipital coupling in the beta band

ERD/ERS Patterns of Shooting Performance within the Multi-Action Plan Model

The multi-action plan (MAP) model reflects the notion that different psychophysiological states underlie distinct performance-related experiences. Previous empirical evidence suggested that attentional focus, affective states, and psycho-physiological patterns differ among optimal-automatic (type 1), optimal-controlled (type 2), suboptimal-controlled (type 3), and suboptimal-automatic (type 4) performance experiences. The purpose of this study was to test the cortical patterns correlated to the performance categories conceptualized within the MAP model. Three elite pistol shooters (age range 16-30 years), members of the Italian Shooting Team and with extensive international experience, participated in the study. Participants performed 120 air-pistol shots at 10 meters from an official target. After each shot, they reported perceived control and accuracy levels on a 0-11 scale. Objective performance scores were also gathered. Electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was recorded with a 32 channel system (ANT). High alpha band ERD/ERS analysis during the three seconds preceding each shot and at shot’s release was performed. Findings revealed differences in cortical activity related to performance categories. In particular, type 1 and type 4 performance were characterized by a clear relative decrease in signal power (ERS) at shot’s release involving the central areas and the contralateral parietal and occipital areas, but differed for the cortical activity patterns before the shot. No ERS pattern was observed at shot’s release in type 2 performance, while a interesting relative increase of signal power (ERD) occurred in the frontal and occipital areas just before the shot, similarly to what occurred in type 1 performance. Our preliminary results suggest that lower cortical activation at shot’s release is associated with an automatic performance, partially supporting the “neural efficiency hypothesis”. Additionally, the analysis of the cortical activations related to the performance-related experiences defined in the MAP model supports the hypothesis that distinct neural activation patterns are associated with the control and performance levels

State of alertness during simulated driving tasks

Literature has shown the importance of studying alertness and attention in drivers by means of electroencephalographic (EEG) indexes. Moreover, many kinematic parameters can be used to give information about the safety of the road depending on the traffic flow. To our knowledge, no study, has focused the attention on the relationship between alertness indexes and kinematic parameters. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of traffic conditions on alertness by assessing an EEG index (EI) and the relationship between EI and kinematic parameters. Nine volunteers participated in the study. The experiment was carried on by using the STISIM driving simulator. Three scenarios were simulated. Each scenario was characterized by a different traffic flow. From STISIM two kinematic parameters were considered: mean velocity and distance from the central line during driving. EEG data were recorded during driving simulations and the EI was derived from the power spectral bands of EEG. The results showed significant different values for EI among the three conditions, with the highest level of alertness in urban scenario. Significant differences for the kinematic parameters were also found. The mean velocity decreased when the traffic conditions were more demanding, and the capacity to maintain the vehicle in the centre of the road decreased when the traffic conditions were less demanding. The analysis suggests that when the mean velocity increases, the alertness decreases with a consequent increased risk of collision; conversely when the mean velocity decreases, also EI decreases so demonstrating a greater level of alertness accomplished by driving on the centre of the road, so reducing the probably of collision. These results suggest that the alertness of the drivers is influenced by the traffic flow

Initial validation of the Italian version of the Volition in Exercise Questionnaire (VEQ-I)

The purpose of this study was to validate the Volition in Exercise Questionnaire in Italian language (VEQ-I). The translation and cultural adaptation of the VEQ-I was conducted using the forward-backward translation method. VEQ-I eighteen items correspond to the six-factors structure of the original version. The construct validity was verified by the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (CFI = 0.960; TLI = 0.943; RMSEA = 0.039; and SRMR = 0.040). The eighteen items were well distributed in six subscales and the six-factors structure of the questionnaire was supported. Internal Consistency value of the questionnaire was investigated for each subscale of the VEQ-I. Cronbach's alpha and Omega values of the Reasons, Postponing Training, Unrelated Thoughts, Self-Confidence, Approval from Others and Coping with Failure subscales were 0.76 (α) and 0.76 (ω), 0.76 (α) and 0.76 (ω), 0.87 (α) and 0.88 (ω), 0.85 (α) and 0.85 (ω), 0.70 (α) and 0.72 (ω) and 0.74 (α) and 0.74 (ω), respectively. They were acceptable in all the six subscales. The concurrent validity was assessed using the correlation among the subscales of VEQ-I measures and those contained in two questionnaires: Psychobiosocial States in Physical Education (PBS-SPE) and Exercise Motivations Inventory (EMI-2)