ECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH27
Introduction: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an effective exercise modality for improving cardiometabolic health. Despite its effectiveness, adherence HIIT programs remains inconclusive. Psychophysiological models, as Dual-Mode Theory (Ekkekakis, 2009), suggest that affective responses during exercise play a critical role in adherence-related behaviors. Objective: Investigate the psychophysiological relationships between cardiovascular intensity, perceived exertion, affective responses and exercise adherence on HIIT. Methods: Randomized experiment (nine both sexes physically active adults; 28±5 years old); body mass (69.6±14.2 kg); height (169±0.1cm); BMI (24.1±2.3 kg/m²) and % body fat (20.2±7.9%) were assessed. Two HIIT protocols with inverse work-to-recovery ratios: 1:2 work-to-recovery (PT1=30s:60s) and 1:0.5 work-to-recovery (PT2=60s:30s), with equalized total volume were conducted. Heart rate (HR) was monitored using a chest-strap heart rate monitor (Polar H10); rating of perceived exertion (RPE; Borg 6–20 scale); affective valence (FS) was determined (Feeling Scale); perceived pain was assessed (visual analog scale - VAS); session enjoyment using Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) and intention to repeat the session (INT) was recorded. Mean session values were calculated considering only exercise-related periods. Associations were examined by Spearman’s correlation (p<0.05) with MiniTab, version 19. Results: The comparison presented similarity between PT1-PT2 to: HR (PT1=169.17±10.46; PT2=167.97±13.08); RPE (PT1=16.80±2.64; PT2=16.54±2.62); FS (PT1=1.66±2.61; PT2=1.40±2.67); VAS (PT1=4.74±3.21; PT2=3.81±2.98); PACES (PT1=56.7±6.47; PT2=57.0±5.74); INT (PT1=3.77±2.08; PT2=3.77±1.76). However, session pleasure (FS) and post-exercise enjoyment (PACES) showed moderate positive associations with INT (r=0.43; 95% CI:-0.073-0.755; p=0.078) and (r=0.42; 95% CI:-0.754-0.075; p=0.079), respectively. Session intensity showed moderate association with INT (HR×INT; r=0.50; p=0.033). Perceived pain (VAS) showed weak association with INT (r =0.19; p=0.450). Exercise intensity (HR) showed weak correlation with FS (r=0.29; p 0.241), whereas RPE showed weak negative association with INT (r= -0.16; p=0.528). Conclusion: Affective responses (FS) appear to be associated with session enjoyment, regardless of physiological intensity or perceived pain, even across both HIIT protocols. These findings allow us to hypothesize that protocols with longer recovery intervals may be more suitable for individuals with prior experience, even when physiological responses are similar to those elicited by shorter intervals, as higher levels of pleasure and enjoyment may contribute to greater adherence to HIIT programs. References: Ekkekakis, P. (2009). The dual-mode theory of affective responses to exercise in metatheoretical context: II. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2(2), 139–160.
Read CV Adriano VerameECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH27
Introduction: Mental fatigue (MF) is a psychophysiological state arising from prolonged cognitive effort that impairs sport performance, decision-making, and self-regulation, likely via altered executive functions such as inhibitory control [1, 2]. MF has been associated with changes in cortical and subcortical activity, particularly in the anterior cingulate cortex, and within networks such as the executive control network [3]. Given that inhibitory control underpins pacing, tactical decisions, and error monitoring in sport, understanding its neural modulation under MF can be important. This study examined the effects of MF, induced by sustained cognitive effort, on executive task-related brain activity using BOLD fMRI. Methods: Twenty-one healthy participants (M11, 10F; [21-30y]) underwent a 45-min Stroop task (MF) or watched a documentary (control). Pre- and post-task, they completed a 5-min Go/NoGo task assessing response inhibition. fMRI data was acquired throughout the entire protocol and processed in SPM25, focusing on Go/NoGo BOLD signals. Individual contrast maps were analyzed via repeated-measures ANOVA (Time×Condition), the found clusters were saved as regions-of-interest (ROI) to perform post-hoc t-tests. Subjective measures (MF, mood, sleepiness) were assessed with M-VAS, KSS, and BRUMS, analyzed with 2×2repeated-measures ANOVAs (p<0.05). Results: At baseline, all ROIs (SMC, SOG, MFG, FuG) exhibited the expected NoGo>Go pattern. Following the Stroop task, this reversed to Go>NoGo across all ROIs (p<0.001), indicating reduced inhibitory control. No changes occurred in the control condition. Time×Condition interactions confirmed a stronger shift under MF. Subjective measures confirmed MF induction: M-VAS increased significantly post-Stroop (F(1,20)=37.75, p<0.001). Sleepiness increased over time (F(1,20)=7.52, p=0.013), with higher post-task scores in both conditions, while mood remained unchanged. Discussion/Conclusion: Acute MF induced by prolonged cognitive effort led to a clear reduction in inhibitory-control network engagement, reflected by a reversal of the typical NoGo>Go activation pattern. This suggests that MF diminishes neural efficiency within executive-control regions, likely reflecting increased effort or reduced inhibitory resources. The BOLD results provide neurophysiological evidence of MF-effects and may help inform strategies to mitigate fatigue-related performance decline in athletes. References: 1. Goodman, S. P. J., et al. (2025). Approaches to inducing mental fatigue: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Behavior Research Methods, 57(4). 2. Pageaux, B., & Lepers, R. (2018). The effects of mental fatigue on sport-related performance. In Progress in Brain Research (Vol. 240, pp. 291-315). 3. Möckel, T., Beste, C., & Wascher, E. (2015). The effects of time on task in response inhibition: An ERP study of mental fatigue. Brain and Cognition, 97, 1-9.
Read CV Manon RooseECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH27