The psychobiological model: a new explanation to intensity regulation and (in)tolerance in endurance exercise

Abstract

The mechanisms underpinning fatigue and exhaustion, and the specific sources of exercise-endurance intensity regulation and (in)tolerance have been investigated for over a century. Although several scientific theories are currently available, over the past five years a new framework called Psychobiological model has been proposed. This model gives greater attention to perceptual and motivational factors than its antecedents, and their respective influence on the conscious process of decision-making and behavioral regulation. In this review we present experimental evidences and summarize the key points of the Psychobiological model to explain intensity regulation and (in)tolerance in endurance exercise. Still, we discuss how the Psychobiological model explains training-induced adaptations related to improvements in performance, experimental manipulations, its predictions, and propose future directions for this investigative area. The Psychobiological model may give a new perspective to the results already published in the literature, helping scientists to better guide their research problems, as well as to analyze and interpret new findings more accurately.

Expectancy of ergogenicity from sodium bicarbonate ingestion increases high-intensity cycling capacity

“…These results are in accordance with the psychobiological model which suggests that reduced perception of effort can increase exercise performance (Ross et al 2015;Smirmaul, et al 2013) with perception of effort postulated as a key determinant of exercise tolerance (Marcora and Staiano 2010). The reduction in perception of effort might be linked to the mediation of endogenous opioids via expectancy orientated placebo effects (Benedetti et al 2005).…”

Psychological Determinants of Whole-Body Endurance Performance

“…The psychobiological model is based on motivational intensity theory [92], and it argues that perception of effort and potential motivation are the ultimate determinants of endurance performance (for an overview of the psychobiological model, see Smirmaul et al [93]). Perception of effort is the conscious sensation of how hard, heavy and strenuous the exercise is [94], and potential motivation refers to the greatest amount of effort that a person would be willing to offer to satisfy a motive [95].…”

Efeito do nadar sobre o desempenho do pedal e corrida no triathlon super-sprint

“…Em provas curtas, em que o atleta tem conhecimento que o fim da prova está próximo, ele é capaz de adotar uma estratégia de prova mais agressiva. Tais diferenças entre provas longas e curtas, que é suportada pelo modelo Psicobiológico de regulação de intensidade e tolerância em exercícios aeróbios (SMIRMAUL et al, 2013), pode acabar por gerar demandas metabólicas menores ou maiores, respectivamente, nas provas longas e curtas. Nossos achados expandem os resultados acima mencionados, revelando que a etapa de natação influencia o subsequente desempenho na menor distância do triathlon, o super-sprint, que dentro do nosso conhecimento, não havia sido estudado nesses termos.…”