Temporal Dynamics and Dimensional Specificity of the Affective Response to Exercise of Varying Intensity: Differing Pathways to a Common Outcome

Abstract

Electroencephalographic (EEG) and self-report measures of affect were obtained from 27 participants (14 F, 13 M) before, during, and following 30 min of continuous exercise at low and high intensities to determine the respective temporal courses of affective response. Mood was measured via a visual analog mood scale (VAMS), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedules (PANAS-PA and -NA), and EEG hemispheric asymmetry as obtained from three electrode pairs: F4-F3, F8-F7, and P4-P3. Participants reported higher VAMS and lower PANAS-NA scores during low-intensity exercise relative to baseline, and the higher scores were maintained during recovery. In contrast, they reported lower scores on the VAMS during high-intensity exercise relative to baseline that were subsequently elevated during recovery. Also, during high-intensity exercise the PANAS-NA scores were similar to baseline, but they were lower during recovery. Both the VAMS and PANAS-NA scores observed after exercise were similar regardless of intensity. Additionally, participants had higher PANAS-PA and EEG hemispheric asymmetry scores (i.e., F8-F7) during exercise at both intensities relative to baseline, then reported values similar to baseline levels on cessation of work. The magnitude of change from baseline for the PANAS-PA and EEG scores during exercise was similar regardless of exercise intensity.

Exercise does not feel the same when you are overweight: the impact of self-selected and imposed intensity on affect and exertion

“…Previous studies have shown that (a) when participants are allowed to select their preferred intensity, they intuitively tend to gravitate toward a level that approximates the point of transition from an intensity that can be maintained through aerobic metabolism to an intensity that requires anaerobic supplementation, operationalized as a threshold in blood lactate accumulation or gas exchange 47,48 and (b) a systematic decrease in self-ratings of pleasure begins once the intensity exceeds the level of the aerobic-anaerobic transition. [49][50][51][52] In analyses not detailed here, we found that normal-weight and overweight participants did not differ in terms of the level of oxygen uptake they utilized in relation to their gas exchange threshold (used as an indirect, noninvasive marker of the aerobic-anaerobic transition) in either the self-selected or the imposed-intensity condition. In the self-selected intensity condition, the intensity remained below the gas exchange threshold for the entire duration of the bout (78, 85, 93, and 97% of the oxygen uptake at the gas exchange threshold at min 5, 10, 15, and 20, respectively).…”

Variation and homogeneity in affective responses to physical activity of varying intensities: An alternative perspective on dose – response based on evolutionary considerations

“…However, assessments of affective responses during the activity bout have shown that, as intensity increases, there are consistent decreases in self-rated pleasure and, eventually, increases in displeasure during the activity (Acevedo, Kraemer, Haltom, & Tryniecki, 2003;Acevedo, Rinehardt, & Kraemer, 1994;Bixby, Spalding, & Hatfield, 2001;Ekkekakis, Hall, & Petruzzello, 2004;Hall, Ekkekakis, & Petruzzello, 2002;Hardy & Rejeski, 1989;Parfitt & Eston, 1995;Parfitt, Eston, & Connolly, 1996;Parfitt, Markland, & Holmes, 1994). Upon cessation of the intense activity, the typically negative changes are followed by rapid positive changes, leading to a post-activity state that is more pleasant than the pre-activity one (Bixby et al, 2001;Hall et al, 2002). Thus, the consequence of this problem is that a dose -response pattern that is apparent during the activity may quickly dissipate as soon as the activity is terminated.…”

Exercise Makes People Feel Better but People are Inactive: Paradox or Artifact?

“…A compelling demonstration of the interpretational pitfalls associated with preto-post assessment protocols was presented by Bixby et al (2001). They showed that, although responses to a visual analogue scale measuring pleasure-displeasure were not significantly different before and after bouts of stationary cycling performed at or below the ventilatory threshold, with both intensities leading to postexercise improvements, the response trajectories during the bouts were significantly different.…”

“…So, assuming that the accurate representation of the shape of the affective response is the goal, it would not seem appropriate to limit sampling to only these two time points unless researchers believed that affect would change in a linear fashion from preto postexercise. However, it has been shown that moderate-intensity exercise (in some individuals) and high-intensity exercise (in nearly all individuals) can cause a decrease in pleasure during the bout, followed by a rapid and robust rebound during the first few seconds or minutes after the bout is terminated (e.g., Bixby, Spalding, & Hatfield, 2001;Hall et al, 2002;Parfitt et al, 2006;Van Landuyt, Ekkekakis, Hall, & Petruzzello, 2000). Even when the workload is continuously adjusted to maintain oxygen uptake at a steady state, pleasure can show a quadratic (i.e., nonlinear) decline over the course of the bout (followed by a precipitous rebound upon termination; see Acevedo, Gill, Goldfarb, & Boyer, 1996).…”