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Influence of Affective Stimuli on Leg Power Output and Associated Neuromuscular Parameters during Repeated High
Hamdi Jaafar1, Majdi Rouis1, Laure Coudrat2
1Laboratoire CeRSM (EA 2931), UFR STAPS, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, Nanterre, France.
Plos One
|August 26, 2015
Summary
Pleasant emotional pictures enhanced neuromuscular performance during repetitive supramaximal cycling exercises, boosting muscle activation and power output. However, this benefit diminished with fatigue after the initial sprints.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Psychology of Sport
Background:
- Emotional stimuli can influence physiological responses during physical exertion.
- Understanding the impact of emotion on neuromuscular performance is crucial for optimizing training and competition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of emotionally evocative images on neuromuscular performance during repetitive supramaximal cycling exercises (RSE).
Main Methods:
- Twelve male participants completed five 6-second cycle sprints under neutral, pleasant, or unpleasant visual conditions.
- Mean power output (MPO), electromyographic activity (RMS, MF) of leg muscles, and neuromuscular efficiency (NME) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Pleasant images led to significantly higher muscle activation (RMS) and median frequency (MF) compared to unpleasant images.
- Higher mean power output (MPO) was observed with pleasant images, but this effect was limited to the first two sprints.
- Neuromuscular efficiency (NME) declined from the third sprint, indicating peripheral fatigue.
Conclusions:
- Positive emotional states, induced by pleasant pictures, can enhance neuromuscular performance during intense cycling.
- Peripheral fatigue limits the sustained beneficial effect of positive emotions on mechanical output during repetitive high-intensity exercise.
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