Examining the relationship between subjective exercise tolerance and psychophysiological reactivity during physical stress

• Published in: Psychophysiology Vol. 61; no. 12; pp. e14680 - n/a
• Main Authors: Bigliassi, Marcelo, Antonio, Dayanne S., Celoch, Kamil, Krause, Maressa P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-12-2024
• Subjects: cardiac rate; Cold tolerance; Dominance; Emotional behavior; Heart rate; pain; Pain perception; physiological stress; psychological inhibition; psychophysiology; pain; psychological inhibition; psychophysiology; physiological stress; cardiac rate
• ISSN: 0048-5772; 1469-8986; 1469-8986; 1540-5958
• DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14680

It has been hypothesized that one's ability to control impulses aids in sustaining effort despite experiencing painful physical sensations. Physical exercise has been used extensively as an intervention to strengthen the inhibitory control system and protect an individual's cognitive plan of action. It is unclear, however, whether the high levels of exercise tolerance could facilitate inhibitory control under varied stressors. The present study explored the relationship between subjective exercise tolerance and psychophysiological characteristics that indicate reactivity capacity when exposed to the cold pressor test. Thirty‐six participants were divided into two groups based on their subjective exercise tolerance profiles. During the test, participants' psychophysiological reactivity was monitored via heart rate variability. Participants were also required to answer questions about their perceptual and affective states at the beginning and immediately after the stress test. The study revealed insights into dominance perception and emotional states among individuals with varying subjective exercise tolerance levels. High‐tolerant individuals endured physical discomfort longer (~50 s) and exhibited higher perceived dominance at the outset of the test when compared to their low‐tolerant counterparts. Despite differences in task performance, both groups experienced more positive affective states post‐task, potentially as a result of a heightened sense of self‐accomplishment. Notably, both groups showed similar levels of psychophysiological reactivity, suggesting a protective effect of physical tolerance on ensuing biological responses. Overall, this study sheds light on the complex relationship between exercise tolerance, dominance perception, and psychophysiological reactivity during physically demanding tasks, enriching our understanding of how developing physical tolerance may impact inhibitory control under stress.
Subjective exercise tolerance is hypothesized to facilitate resistance to various forms of physical stress. The primary objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between subjective exercise tolerance and psychophysiological reactivity during the cold pressor test. The findings of this study indicate that individuals with high subjective exercise tolerance tend to feel more dominant during the initial stages of the stress test. This sense of dominance appears to shield their emotional states, protect their cognitive plan of action, and optimize performance.