Konings, Marco J and Foulsham, Tom and Micklewright, Dominic and Hettinga, Florentina J (2020) Athlete-Opponent Interdependency Alters Pacing and Information-seeking Behavior. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 52 (1). pp. 153-160. DOI https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000002101
Konings, Marco J and Foulsham, Tom and Micklewright, Dominic and Hettinga, Florentina J (2020) Athlete-Opponent Interdependency Alters Pacing and Information-seeking Behavior. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 52 (1). pp. 153-160. DOI https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000002101
Konings, Marco J and Foulsham, Tom and Micklewright, Dominic and Hettinga, Florentina J (2020) Athlete-Opponent Interdependency Alters Pacing and Information-seeking Behavior. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 52 (1). pp. 153-160. DOI https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000002101
Abstract
PURPOSE: The influence of interdependency between competitors on pacing decision-making and information-seeking behavior has been explored. This has been done by only altering instructions, and thereby action possibilities, while controlling environment (i.e., competitor behavior) and exercise task. METHODS: Twelve participants performed a 4-km time trial on a Velotron cycle ergometer in a randomized, counterbalanced order alone with no virtual opponent (NO), against a virtual opponent with no restrictions (low athlete-opponent interdependency [OP-IND]), or against a virtual opponent who the participant was permitted to overtake only once during the trial (high athlete-opponent interdependency [OP-DEP]). Information-seeking behavior was evaluated using an SMI eye tracker. Differences in pacing, performance, and information-seeking behavior were examined using repeated-measures ANOVA (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Neither mean power output (NO, 298 ± 35 W; OP-IND, 297 ± 38 W; OP-DEP, 296 ± 37 W) nor finishing time (NO, 377.7 ± 17.4 s; OP-IND, 379.3 ± 19.5 s; OP-DEP, 378.5 ± 17.7 s) differed between experimental conditions. However, power output was lower in the first kilometer of OP-DEP compared with the other experimental conditions (NO, 332 ± 59 W; OP-IND, 325 ± 62 W; OP-DEP, 316 ± 58 W; both P < 0.05), and participants decided to wait longer before they overtook their opponent (OP-IND, 137 ± 130 s; OP-DEP, 255 ± 107 s; P = 0.040). Moreover, total fixation time spent on the avatar of the virtual opponent increased when participants were only allowed to overtake once (OP-IND, 23.3 ± 16.6 s; OP-DEP, 55.8 ± 32.7 s; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: A higher interdependency between athlete and opponent altered pacing behavior in terms of in-race adaptations based on opponent's behavior, and it induced an increased attentional focus on the virtual opponent. Thus, in the context of exercise regulation, attentional cues are likely to be used in an adaptive way according to their availability and situational relevance, consistent with a decision-making framework based on the interdependence of perception and action.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | pacing strategy; attentional focus; gaze analysis; sport performance |
Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Health Faculty of Science and Health > Psychology, Department of Faculty of Science and Health > Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, School of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 14 Jan 2022 21:35 |
Last Modified: | 30 Oct 2024 17:30 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/32036 |
Available files
Filename: Konings et al - MSSE - 130719 final.pdf