Can Intentional Distractions Affect Endurance Performance Positively?

Roger Couture

doi:10.28984/drhj.v4i1.337

Abstract

Distractions are often associated with negative outcomes however, distractions can also benefit people. Using the hypothesis of internal-external distractions in the competition for cue, this study examined the effects of an active (controlled) and passive (uncontrolled) distraction on three endurance tasks. Participants (N=42), aged 20 to 23 years were assigned to three groups. Tasks and conditions were counterbalanced across groups to minimize the residual effects of fatigue, learning an intervention and other confounding variables. Performance time, heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion and perceived fatigue were measured. Results showed that active distraction significantly improved performance and lowered Rate of Perceived Exertion in one task. As expected, the active distraction group was the least accurate for estimating time spent. Passive distraction caused minimal performance change. More investigation is needed to understand why an active distraction only affected one trial. Future studies should delve into means for better understanding the hypothesis of competition for cue.

Highlights

Some distractions can be costly or even deadly in our society
Certain distractions have resulted in better performance in some athletic settings, work settings and in everyday life situations
In the first part of the study, minimally higher scores in performance time, heart rate, rate of perceived exertion and perceived fatigue were noted after the trial

Summary

Introduction

Some distractions can be costly or even deadly in our society (i.e. poor work performance, poor grades, distracted driving, etc.). Pennebaker (1982) hypothesises that people have potential sources of information originating from inside (thoughts) and outside (environment) themselves. He explains that internal arousal is an on-going process of fluctuating intensities that normally maintains a homeostatic relationship with external stimulation. A competition of cues occurs when either internal or external stimulation outweighs the other for additional attention. Symptoms measure internal stimulation while external stimuli are measured through a variety of factors (performance, vigilance, dexterity, etc.). This competition for cues varies depending on quantity and quality. Some researchers have thought that people have a limited mental channel capacity of information processing. Stevinson and Biddle (1998) attempted to add clarity in Pennebaker’s conceptual structure and in other researchers' studies by categorizing thoughts during exercise as being inward monitoring (e.g. fatigue), outward monitoring (e.g. strategy), inward distraction (e.g. daydreaming) or outward distraction (e.g. scenery)

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Discussion

Conclusion