Type of self‐talk matters: Its effects on perceived exertion, cardiorespiratory, and cortisol responses during an iso‐metabolic endurance exercise

Abstract

Self‐talk is an effective mental training technique that has been shown to facilitate or debilitate an athlete's performance, depending on its valence. Although the effects of self‐talk have been supported by observing change in sport performance, little is known about how self‐talk can induce physiological changes. Specifically, it is important to understand if the type of self‐talk (positive, neutral, or negative) and can influence stress‐related parameters, such as perceived exertion, cardiorespiratory, and cortisol responses. The study's objective was therefore to investigate the top‐down effect of positive and negative self‐talk compared to a dissociative activity during an iso‐metabolic running exercise on autonomic regulation of cardiorespiratory function. Twenty‐nine well‐trained male runners [38 ± 13 years, 177 ± 7 cm and 73 ± 7 kg] volunteered to participate in a randomized‐group design study that included a negative self‐talk (NST), a positive self‐talk, and a dissociative group (DG). First, participants underwent an incremental running test on a treadmill to determine the maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max). Next, participants received a mental training session on self‐talk and created three positive and three negative self‐talk statements. Finally, participants underwent a 60‐min steady‐state running exercise on a treadmill at 70% of V̇O2max, during which they were cued at 20‐, 35‐, and 50‐min with their personal self‐created positive or negative self‐talk statements while the DG listened to a documentary. Cardiorespiratory parameters and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded throughout the 60‐min endurance exercise. In addition, salivary cortisol samples were obtained at waking and after treatment. Although oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, RPE, and heart rate significantly changed overtime during the 60‐min steady‐state running exercise, no significant main treatment effect was found. However, RPE scores, minute ventilation, breathing frequency, and salivary cortisol were significantly higher in the NST group compared to the two other groups. These data suggest that NST [emotion‐induced stress, as reflected by elevated cortisol] altered the breathing frequency response. In conclusion, manipulating self‐talk alters hormonal response patterns, modulates cardiorespiratory function, and influences perceived exertion.

Three weeks of mental training changes physiological outcomes during a time trial to exhaustion

“…During both pre- and post-mental training, RPE increased at the same rate and ended at the same absolute value. A previous self-talk training intervention similarly found that there was not a decrease in RPE after training (Basset et al 2021 ) while a different study found that positive self-talk reduced RPE (Blanchfield et al 2014 ), but EMG was not measured during either trial. While perception of effort may reflect central motor command during a unilateral elbow flexion exercise (de Morree et al 2012 ), during an endurance trial to exhaustion, there may be other factors that affect RPE.…”

“…In addition, by reducing the activation of the amygdala-parabrachial circuit (Luskin et al 2021 ), which can function as a respiratory pacemaker (Felten et al 2021 ), and by reducing anxiety, frequency of breathing has been shown to be decreased (Masaoka and Homma 2001 ). Conversely, when anxiety is increased during exercise through negative self-talk, ventilation and frequency of breathing was increased through a similar pathway (Basset et al 2021 ).…”

Self-Talk: An Interdisciplinary Review and Transdisciplinary Model

“…dietary self-talk; Rose et al, 2022). Overall, studies published in recent years show that self-talk continues to be a popular topic in several scientific fields, including sport science (Basset et al, 2022), psychology (Webster et al, 2022), and education (e.g. Flanagan & Symonds, 2022); that researchers continue to use self-talk terminology inconsistently across different research areas; and that the self-talk classification adopted in the present study is being used by an increasing number of groups of researchers.…”

“…However, researchers still distinguish between positive and negative self-talk without clarifying whether these are controlled or uncontrolled cognitive processes (e.g. Basset et al, 2022; Dahl-Leonard et al, 2022). Strategic self-talk interventions are still extensively studied, with a major focus on two types of cue words: instructional and motivational (e.g.…”

The relevance of body composition assessment for the rating of perceived exertion in trained and untrained women and men

“…The results of this study might help to explain why untrained individuals might perceive a given bout of exercise as more strenuous ( Hassmen, 1990 ), or why females would overestimate perceived exertion ( Skatrud-Mickelson et al, 2011 ). This might not solely be based on mental states ( Pessoa et al, 2022 ), where negative attitudes were associated with higher RPE ( Basset et al, 2022 ), or based on the varying perception of external stimuli ( Nethery, 2002 ). It also might not just be an association with quicker onset of lactate accumulation among the untrained ( Demello et al, 1987 ), and the unfamiliarity towards a certain form of exercise ( Hassmen, 1990 ).…”