Impact of Weekly Physical Activity on Stress Response: An Experimental Study.

Ricardo De La Vega,Marta Leyton-Román,Ruth Jiménez-Castuera

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608217

Abstract

The aim of this research is focused on analyzing the alteration of the psychophysiological and cognitive response to an objective computerized stress test (Determination Test - DT-, Vienna test System®), when the behavioral response is controlled. The sample used was sports science students (N = 22), with a mean age of 22.82 (Mage = 22.82; SDyears = 3.67; MPhysicalActivity hours/Week = 7.77; SDhours/week = 3.32) A quasi-experimental design was used in which the response of each participant to the DT test was evaluated. The variable “number of hours of physical activity per week” and the variable “level of behavioral response to stress” were controlled. Before and after this test, the following parameters were measured: activation and central fatigue (Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold (CFF Critical flicker fusion ascending and Critical flicker fusion descending; DC potential), and perceived exertion (Central Rating of Perceived Exertion and Peripheral Rating of Perceived Exertion). Significant differences were found in all of the measures indicated. The usefulness of this protocol and the measures used to analyze the stress response capacity of the study subjects are discussed.

Highlights

The analysis of psychophysiological fatigue is considered very important in different contexts (Lohani et al, 2019)
The aim is to apply a computerized test (DT, Vienna Test System), that allows evaluating people’s tolerance to stress and central fatigue by applying a standardized protocol, in physical activity practitioners. The knowledge in this field is really limited, for this reason we developed the present research with the aim of studying the modifications in Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold (CFFT) and direct current (DC) potentials in a sample group of regular physical activity
We examine the number of incorrect answers which can show us how likely the respondent is to get confused under stress and pressure; the high number of missed answers reveals that the respondent is not capable of maintaining his/her attention under stress and is prone to giving up these situations (Neuwirth and Benesch, 2012)

Summary

Introduction

The analysis of psychophysiological fatigue is considered very important in different contexts (Lohani et al, 2019). In this sense, the consideration of the study of humans’s response to external and internal loads (Wijesuriya et al, 2007; Wilson et al, 2007) has become one of the most important research topics. The external loads exerted on the individual are added to their skills and coping strategies, resulting in a level of tolerance and adaptation to each situation (Folkman and Lazarus, 1988). Throughout the decades of research on this topic, different strategies have been used to evaluate the adaptation to these external and internal loads (Lazarus, 1990; Amann, 2011). For example, a multitude of self-reports and standardized tests have been used (Britner et al, 2003), Frontiers in Psychology | www.frontiersin.org de la Vega et al

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