Application of the Facial Feedback Hypothesis to Endurance Performance– Does Frowning Modulate Perception of Effort?

McCormick, Alister, Meijen, Carla and Pageaux, Benjamin (2016) Application of the Facial Feedback Hypothesis to Endurance Performance– Does Frowning Modulate Perception of Effort? In: Division of Sport & Exercise Psychology Conference, 12th - 13th December 2016, Cardiff.

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Abstract

Objectives: People frown during strenuous exercise. Research on the facial feedback hypothesis raises the intriguing possibility that frowning may modulate (i.e., amplify/soften) perception of effort during endurance performance and therefore play a causal role in endurance performance. This study examined whether intentionally frowning throughout a cycling time-to-exhaustion test increased perception of effort and, consequently, reduced time to exhaustion. This study also examined the effects of frowning on affective states experienced during performance and after exhaustion. Design: A randomised, controlled, crossover experimental design was used to compare (within-subjects) the effects of frowning with control conditions. Methods: Ten recreational endurance athletes performed cycling time-to-exhaustion tests in three conditions. In a frowning condition, participants frowned throughout the time-to-exhaustion test. In a matched-workload control condition, participants pressed their thumb against the ergometer handlebar throughout the test. Electromyography biofeedback was used to deliver these interventions. There was also a no-intervention control condition. Perception of effort and exercise-related affect were measured throughout the time-to-exhaustion test, and positive and negative affective states were measured before and after the test. Results: Intentionally frowning did not affect perception of effort, affective states experienced while cycling or after exhaustion, or time to exhaustion. Conclusions: Frowning may not modulate perception of effort or affective responses during endurance exercise to exhaustion. Although additional research using different methods would allow firmer conclusions to be drawn, these findings suggest that interventions that target the expression of a frown would be unlikely to offer an efficacious method of improving endurance performance.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Additional Information:	Presentation slides and summary from a paper delivered on 12th December 2016 at the Division of Sport & Exercise Psychology Annual Conference 2016.
Divisions:	Sport
Depositing User:	Ms Alice Primmer
Date Deposited:	06 Jun 2017 10:02
Last Modified:	27 Jan 2020 15:25
URI:	https://marjon.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/15796

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