Pacing and Decision Making in Sport and Exercise: The Roles of Perception and Action in the Regulation of Exercise Intensity

Abstract

In pursuit of optimal performance, athletes and physical exercisers alike have to make decisions about how and when to invest their energy. The process of pacing has been associated with the goal-directed regulation of exercise intensity across an exercise bout. The current review explores divergent views on understanding underlying mechanisms of decision-making in pacing. Current pacing literature provides a wide range of aspects that might be involved in the determination of an athlete's pacing-strategy, but lack in explaining how perception and action are coupled in establishing behaviour. In contrast, decision-making literature rooted in the understanding that perception and action are coupled provides refreshing perspectives on explaining the mechanisms that underlie natural interactive behaviour. Contrary to the assumption of behaviour that is managed by a higher order governor that passively constructs internal representations of the world, an ecological approach is considered. According to this approach, knowledge is rooted in the direct experience of meaningful environmental objects and events in individual-environment processes. To assist a neuropsychological explanation of decision-making in exercise-regulation, the relevance of the affordance competition hypothesis is explored. By considering pacing as a behavioural expression of continuous decision-making, new insights on underlying mechanisms in pacing and optimal performance can be developed.3

Deception has no acute or residual effect on cycling time trial performance but negatively effects perceptual responses

“…3,4 Therefore, by manipulating the performance feedback that athletes receive, the importance of these expectations can be examined. 5 Previous deception studies have demonstrated that pacing strategy and performance are largely unaffected by the provision of incorrect performance feedback during self-paced cycling time trials (TT).…”

Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race: Performance, Pacing and Tactics Between 1890 and 2014

“…Different pacing strategies of the opponents will evoke different responses, emphasizing the interdependence of perception and action. [13] The presence of an opponent tends to result in a faster performance and in the first stages of the race, a fast starting opponent will evoke a faster, more energetic start. [31] Responding to an externally derived pace is more physically challenging than self-regulating pace [32] and thus the potential responsiveness required over the 6.8km course Boat Race considerably adds to the demands of racing and the development of fatigue.…”

“…[13][14] During the race, the athletes must respond to events dynamically as they unfold, 4 while still being aware of their physical capabilities, the demands of the event, their opponents' actions, [15][16] tactical considerations, and the level of physical discomfort they are prepared to endure. [6] In comparison to cycling and running, rowing has received comparatively little scientific research on pacing and performance [17][18][19][20] and the unique form of head to head competition of two teams directly racing against each other in the Boat Race has thus far remained unexplored.…”

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“…Portanto, a partir desses pressupostos, e da premente necessidade de se romper com métodos de ensino e treinamento tradicionais, sustentados pelo paradigma positivista e pela psicologia behaviorista (54,55) , é possível entrever, na pedagogia do jogo, um modelo metodológico de ensino sustentado na ideia de Família dos Jogos Esportivos Coletivos e seu padrão organizacional -guiados pelo paradigma sistêmico, complexo e ecológico (33,46,47,48,49,52,54) .…”

“…Ela é, portanto, modulada por processos cognitivos como a percepção, o processamento de informações, o conhecimento prévio e a memória (9,46) . Ao longo da evolução dos estudos, alguns modelos foram desenvolvidos com intuito de apresentar os processos envolvidos com a tomada de decisão.…”