Henderson Jennifer, Kavussanu Maria, Gallicchio Germano, Ring Christopher
School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
School of Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
Psychol Sport Exerc. 2024 Jan;70:102548. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102548. Epub 2023 Oct 7.
The slowing of heart rate prior to movement onset has been presented as a marker of task-related cognitive processing and linked with performance accuracy. Here we examined this event-related bradycardia and task performance as a function of task difficulty. Forty experienced golfers completed a series of golf putting conditions that manipulated task difficulty by varying target distance, target size, and surface contour. Performance was measured by the number of holed putts and finishing distance from the hole. Physiological activity was recorded throughout. Analyses confirmed that performance varied as a function of task difficulty, worsening with longer distances to target, smaller targets, and sloping paths to target. Task difficulty also impacted the cardiac response, including the rate of heart rate deceleration, change in heart rate, and heart rate at impact. These heart rate metrics were found to correlate with performance strongly, moderately, and weakly, respectively. In conclusion, heart rate deceleration in the moments preceding movement onset was affected by task difficulty. Features of this cardiac deceleration pattern were characteristic of successful performance. Our findings are discussed in terms of the role of cognitive and motor processes during the execution of complex motor skills.
运动开始前心率的减慢被视为与任务相关的认知加工的一个标志，并与表现准确性相关联。在此，我们将这种事件相关的心动过缓和任务表现作为任务难度的函数进行了研究。40名经验丰富的高尔夫球手完成了一系列高尔夫推杆任务，通过改变目标距离、目标大小和表面轮廓来操控任务难度。表现通过入洞推杆的数量和离球洞的最终距离来衡量。全程记录生理活动。分析证实，表现随任务难度而变化，随着目标距离变长、目标变小以及通往目标的路径有坡度，表现会变差。任务难度也影响心脏反应，包括心率减速的速率、心率变化以及击球时的心率。发现这些心率指标分别与表现呈强相关、中度相关和弱相关。总之，运动开始前瞬间的心率减速受任务难度影响。这种心脏减速模式的特征是成功表现的特点。我们从复杂运动技能执行过程中认知和运动过程的作用方面对研究结果进行了讨论。
