Deception Has No Residual Effect On Perceptual Responses Or Time Trial Performance (original) (raw)

Performance intensity has previously been manipulated during cycling time trials (TT) but employed different event durations, deception methods and manipulation magnitudes. This study examined previous magnitudes of deception applied to a previous performance (+2% and +5%), during 16.1 km TT exploring physiological and psychological responses. METHODS:Fifteen cyclists (35.2 ± 5.0 years; body mass 84.3 ± 11.0 kg; height 179.4 ± 6.5 cm; and V †O2peak 58.7 ± 6.7 ml•kg•min-1) completed five TT, performing two alone (BL), one against a simulated avatar at 102% of fastest BL performance (TT102%), one against a 105% avatar (TT105%), and one against both avatars (TT102%,105%). RESULTS: Deceptive use of competitors to disguise intensity manipulation elicited performance improvements greater than perceived maximal (1.3%-1.7%). Despite a similar improvement in performance and no difference in physiological parameters, during TT102%,105% there was a significantly lower affect and self-efficacy to continue pace than TT105% (p < 0.05), lower self-efficacy to compete than TT102% (p = 0.004), and a greater RPE than TTFBL (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Since interpretations and perceptions are dependent on the manner in which information is presented to the individual; 'framing effect', it could be suggested that the summative impact of two opponents could have evoked negative perceptions despite a similar performance. Further, during TT105% participants chose to change their goal; to ride the TT for time rather than to compete. Magnitudes of deception produce similar performance enhancement but elicit diverse psychological responses.