Effects of control strategies on the activation of unwanted intrusive thoughts in elite athletes.

Abstract

Unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs) are negative ruminations that occur commonly and show similar characteristics between clinical and nonclinical forms. Despite their prevalence and impact, the control processes of UITs remain unclear. This study aimed to capture the effects of three thought-control strategies on UITs through an interventional design with individualized choking thoughts among Elite athletes, while measuring behavioral and brain responses. Ninety athletes recollected recent "choking" experiences prior to being randomized into one of three groups that used either acceptance, suppression, or passive monitoring (control condition). The activation of choking thoughts during and after the thought control intervention was gauged through three measurement approaches, including conscious presence in mind, priming, as well as the amplitudes of the P3b and N400 event-related potentials (ERPs). To strengthen the causal inferences concerning thought control strategies, athletes' working memory capacity was measured and controlled at baseline. Results indicated that, relative to passive monitoring, suppression led to enhanced priming and reduced conscious presence of UITs, whereas acceptance resulted in an opposite pattern of reduced priming and increased conscious presence of UITs. Moreover, UIT-related stimuli elicited less negative-going N400 amplitudes and more positive-going P3b amplitudes than UIT-irrelevant stimuli, although no effect of thought control strategies was identified on the ERPs. These findings contribute to the theoretical and mechanistic understanding of UIT control processes by revealing subtle effects of two fundamental UIT control strategies: suppression and acceptance. Such insights also bear meaningful applied implications. Public Significance StatementUsing both cognitive and electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements, the present work represents an experimental effort to test the causal effects of thought control strategies on (de)activating unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs) related to "choking" experiences in elite athletes. The results shed light on understanding the beneficial effect of applying acceptance-based strategy and the paradoxical effect of applying suppression strategy in UIT regulation. Such findings are generalizable and will stimulate future research aimed at revealing the mechanism of UIT control.

Ironic processes of concentration and suppression under pressure: A study on rifle shooting in Norwegian elite biathletes

“…82 It entails consciously blocking out unwanted thoughts, effectively redirecting the cognitive focus away from these distractions, particularly in heightened stress and pressure conditions. 83 Liu et al 84 revealed that the act of suppression resulted in increased priming and diminished conscious presence of unwanted thoughts among a cohort of elite athletes who had reported experiencing personalized choking thoughts.…”