Enhancing Aerobic Exercise with a Novel Virtual Exercise Buddy Based on the Köhler Effect

Area of Science:

• Exercise physiology
• Human-computer interaction
• Behavioral science

Background:

• The Köhler effect, a motivational phenomenon where individuals exert more effort in group settings due to social comparison and perceived indispensability, has been observed with software-generated partners (SGPs) in active videogames (AVGs).
• However, the long-term effects of the Köhler effect in AVGs with SGPs, particularly over multiple exercise sessions, remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the sustained impact of the Köhler effect in an AVG using an SGP over 12 exercise sessions.
• To determine if a fatigued partner (FP) condition could further enhance the motivational benefits of the Köhler effect compared to a consistently superior partner (CSP) or individual control (IC).

Main Methods:

• A repeated-measures design was employed to evaluate changes in exercise persistence over 12 sessions.
• 82 participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: AVG alone (IC), AVG with CSP, or AVG with FP, using a cycle ergometer.
• Exercise persistence was measured by the duration of gameplay at 75% of maximum heart rate (HRmax).

Main Results:

• Men in the FP condition demonstrated significantly longer exercise durations compared to men in the IC condition (mean difference = 12:32 minutes).
• No significant changes in exercise persistence were observed for women across any of the conditions.
• No condition differences were found for women's exercise persistence over time.

Conclusions:

• Exercising in an AVG with a superior SGP exhibiting fatigue over time can enhance exercise persistence in men.
• The observed motivational benefits of the Köhler effect in this context were specific to men and did not extend to women under the current experimental conditions.
• Further research may be needed to explore gender-specific responses to motivational strategies in AVGs.