Brain mechanisms that underlie the effects of motivational audiovisual stimuli on psychophysiological responses during exercise

Abstract Motivational audiovisual stimuli such as music and video have been widely used in the realm of exercise and sport as a means by which to increase situational motivation and enhance performance. The present study addressed the mechanisms that underlie the effects of motivational stimuli on p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physiology & behavior 2016-05, Vol.158, p.128-136
Main Authors: Bigliassi, Marcelo, Silva, Vinícius B, Karageorghis, Costas I, Bird, Jonathan M, Santos, Priscila C, Altimari, Leandro R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acoustic Stimulation
Adult
Brain - physiology
Brain waves
Brain Waves - physiology
Electroencephalography
Electromyography
Evoked Potentials - physiology
Exercise
Exercise - physiology
Female
Humans
Male
Motivation
Motivation - physiology
Muscle fatigue
Photic Stimulation
Psychiatry
Psychophysics
Sensory aids
Statistics, Nonparametric
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Motivational audiovisual stimuli such as music and video have been widely used in the realm of exercise and sport as a means by which to increase situational motivation and enhance performance. The present study addressed the mechanisms that underlie the effects of motivational stimuli on psychophysiological responses and exercise performance. Twenty-two participants completed fatiguing isometric handgrip-squeezing tasks under two experimental conditions (motivational audiovisual condition and neutral audiovisual condition) and a control condition. Electrical activity in the brain and working muscles was analyzed by use of electroencephalography and electromyography, respectively. Participants were asked to squeeze the dynamometer maximally for 30 s. A single-item motivation scale was administered after each squeeze. Results indicated that task performance and situational motivational were superior under the influence of motivational stimuli when compared to the other two conditions (~ 20% and ~ 25%, respectively). The motivational stimulus downregulated the predominance of low-frequency waves (theta) in the right frontal regions of the cortex (F8), and upregulated high-frequency waves (beta) in the central areas (C3 and C4). It is suggested that motivational sensory cues serve to readjust electrical activity in the brain; a mechanism by which the detrimental effects of fatigue on the efferent control of working muscles is ameliorated.
ISSN:0031-9384
1873-507X
DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.03.001