Emotional intelligence training in team sports:The influence of a season long intervention program on trait emotional intelligence

The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of an emotional intelligence (EI) training intervention to improve EI at trait level. Sixty-seven rugby players participated in the study. One group received a specific EI training intervention, while the other group served as a control group. The intervention consisted of four face-to-face sessions over a 5-month period, with homework and follow-up procedures. Results showed that the EI training was partially successful in increasing EI, and demonstrates it is possible to enhance EI at trait level in participants while they may not have preexisting motivation to do so

Coping related variables, cardiac vagal activity and working memory performance under pressure

The aim of this study was to assess the predictive role of coping related variables (trait emotional intelligence and reinvestment, challenge and threat appraisals and cardiac vagal activity) on cardiac vagal activity and working memory under low pressure (LP) and high pressure (HP) conditions. Participants (n = 49) completed trait questionnaires, the Decision Specific Reinvestment Scale, the Movement Specific Reinvestment Scale and Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire. They realized the automated span task, which tests working memory, under counterbalanced LP and HP conditions. Cardiac vagal activity measurements were taken at rest, task and post task for 5 min, along with self-reported ratings of stress. Upon completion of the task, self-report measures of motivation, stress appraisal, attention and perceived pressure were completed. Current findings suggest cardiac vagal activity at rest can predict cardiac vagal activity under pressure, decision reinvestment influences cardiac vagal activity in cognitive tasks under LP and working memory performance is predicted by task cardiac vagal activity in HP only. These results show the importance of combining both subjective and objective psychophysiological variables in performance prediction and strengthen the need for this approach to be adopted across samples

Vagal Tank Theory: The Three Rs of Cardiac Vagal Control Functioning – Resting, Reactivity, and Recovery

The aim of this paper is to set the stage for the vagal tank theory, showcasing a functional resource account for self-regulation. The vagal tank theory, building on neurophysiological, cognitive and social psychology approaches, will introduce a physiological indicator for self-regulation that has mainly been ignored from cognitive and social psychology, cardiac vagal control (also referred to as cardiac vagal activity). Cardiac vagal control reflects the contribution of the vagus nerve, the main nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system, to cardiac regulation. We propose cardiac vagal control to be an indicator of how efficiently self-regulatory resources are mobilized and used. Three systematic levels of cardiac vagal control analysis are suggested: resting, reactivity, and recovery. Based on this physiological indicator we derive the metaphor of the vagal tank, which can get depleted and replenished. Overall, the vagal tank theory will enable to integrate previous findings from different disciplines and to stimulate new research questions, predictions, and designs regarding self-regulation

The contribution of coping related variables and cardiac vagal activity on performance under pressure.

Successful performance under pressure requires effective psychophysiological self- regulation. It is suggested that activity in the parasympathetic nervous system, termed cardiac vagal activity, is a marker of self-regulation as theorised by the neurovisceral integration model (Thayer et al. 2009). This psychophysiological marker has been shown to be sensitive to pressure and help facilitate performance in pressurised situations. Research examining cardiac vagal activity has started to incorporate subjective coping related variables (trait emotional intelligence, reinvestment, cognitive appraisal, attention) in a combined approach. This approach develops a holistic understanding of the psychophysiological reactions that occur under pressure and ultimately how this influences performance. As a result, this research has two main aims. Firstly, to understand the contribution of coping related variables on cardiac vagal activity throughout a pressurised task. Secondly, to understand the contribution of coping related variables and cardiac vagal activity on performance under pressure. This thesis employed an experimental approach whereby three empirical studies were conducted. The first examined coping related variables and cardiac vagal activity in cognitive performance. Athletes (n=49) realized a working memory task under low and high pressure conditions. Findings demonstrated that individuals who had higher cardiac vagal activity at rest were more likely to have higher cardiac vagal activity throughout the pressurised task. Cardiac vagal recovery from pressure was negatively affected by the likelihood to think back to past decisions, through the trait of decision reinvestment under high pressure. Performance was predicted by task cardiac vagal activity in the high pressure condition only. The second study examined the same variables in a psychomotor task. Athletes (n=51) competed in a dart throwing task in high and low pressure conditions. As in study one, individuals who had higher cardiac vagal activity at rest were more likely to have higher cardiac vagal activity throughout the pressurised task. Performance was predicted by attention in the high pressure condition only, suggesting attentional resources were placed under more demand in the high pressure condition. Unlike in study one, cardiac vagal activity did not play a role in the prediction of performance. This demonstrated that tasks that are not solely based on executive functioning may not benefit from higher levels of cardiac vagal activity. The third and final study examined the same variables in 38 prone rifle shooting athletes, during a simulated rifle competition under both high and low pressure. Task cardiac vagal activity was predicted by trait emotional intelligence self-control in both low and high pressure conditions, further supporting the use of cardiac vagal activity as a marker for self-regulation under pressure. Cardiac vagal recovery was impaired by poor performance which highlighted psychophysiological relationships between performance outcome and cardiac vagal recovery. This research makes a novel contribution to psychophysiological theory through the use of a combined approach using objective and subjective measures to predict performance. Moreover, research findings suggest phasic patterns of cardiac vagal activity may be task dependant and should be investigated further to extend current theory. From a methodological perspective, adopting a systematic approach to measuring both tonic and phasic cardiac vagal activity will help to standardize future research in the field. Finally, findings from this research will encourage practitioners to use psychophysiological measures to further understand performance under pressure