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- Could tDCS Be a Potential Performance-Enhancing Tool for Acute Neurocognitive Modulation in eSports? A Perspective ReviewPublication . Machado, Sergio; Travassos, Bruno; Teixeira, Diogo; Rodrigues, Filipe; Cid, Luis; Monteiro, DiogoCompetitive sports involve physical and cognitive skills. In traditional sports, there is a greater dependence on the development and performance of both motor and cognitive skills, unlike electronic sports (eSports), which depend much more on neurocognitive skills for success. However, little is known about neurocognitive functions and effective strategies designed to develop and optimize neurocognitive performance in eSports athletes. One such strategy is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), characterized as a weak electric current applied on the scalp to induce prolonged changes in cortical excitability. Therefore, our objective is to propose anodal (a)-tDCS as a performance-enhancing tool for neurocognitive functions in eSports. In this manuscript, we discussed the neurocognitive processes that underlie exceptionally skilled performances in eSports and how tDCS could be used for acute modulation of these processes in eSports. Based on the results from tDCS studies in healthy people, professional athletes, and video game players, it seems that tDCS is applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) as a potential performance-enhancing tool for neurocognition in eSports.
- The Bright and Dark side of motivation in exercise: promoting persistence and adherencePublication . Rodrigues, Filipe Fernandes; Monteiro, Diogo Manuel Teixeira; Neiva, Henrique PereiraTurning physical exercise into a habitual behavior is a complex process. Studies have shown that individuals tend to drop-out in the first stages and that the number of withdrawal episodes is highest amongst new participants. Individuals point out the lack of motivation as the one of the main reasons for not engaging in exercise participation. Therefore, understanding the motivational determinants behind exercise commitment seems paramount to reverse the current rates of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors. Research has assessed several motivational frameworks attempting to deepen the literature on how to increase physical activity rates. However, studies analyzing the entire motivational sequences and/or considering the influence of other cognitive constructs such as intention on exercise commitment are scarce. Thus, the main purpose of the present work was to assess the determinants of the bright and dark side of motivation and their relationship with exercise persistence and adherence. To accomplish this, we reviewed the current literature, translated and validated four scales, and measured the impact of the bright and dark sides of motivational determinants on exercise adherence and persistence. The results of the eight studies included in this thesis showed that: i) our systematic review was the first one to consider the full casual sequence of motivational constructs according to Self-Determination Theory in the exercise context; ii) the four translated and validated scales have adjusted psychometric proprieties and can be reliably used in future research with Portuguese individuals in the exercise context; ii) polynomial regression analysis with response surface methodology is a strong statistical procedure on how two similar but distinct independent variables interact on one dependent variable; iii) enjoyment is a strong predictor of exercise persistence and should be therefore considered by exercise professionals when promoting physical exercise; iv) past exercise adherence is the strongest forecaster of future exercise adherence. Results showed that a regular two times weekly frequency is necessary to promote habitual behavior; v) encompassing several theory constructs into one comprehensive model seems thought-provoking in measuring how they impact directly and indirectly exercise outcomes, and; vi) future interventions should consider interpersonal behaviors as promoters for exercise commitment. Perceived supportive behaviors by exercisers lead to increased intentions to maintain exercise participation, whereas perceived thwarting behaviors are responsible for higher rates of drop-out. Overall, this research provides new insights on how interpersonal behaviors are responsible for exercise outcomes; offers important practical implications for the fitness industry and researchers on how to design adequate interventions aiming at promoting exercise adherence and points out the relevance of the social context and past behavior for exercise outcomes.
- Motivational patterns in persistent swimmers: A serial mediation analysisPublication . Teixeira, Diogo; Pelletier, Luc; Monteiro, Diogo; Rodrigues, Filipe; Moutão, João; Marinho, Daniel; Cid, LuisObjective: The main objective of the present study was to examine the associations between coach-created task-involving climate and athletes' intentions to continue practicing sport, through a serial mediation analysis that included basic psychological needs satisfaction (BPN), self-determined motivation (SDM) and enjoyment. Methods: Seven-hundred and ninety-nine elite swimmers (450 males, 349 females; aged 12-22 years, M = 16.65, SD = 2.83) participated in the present study. Groups were created according to age, years of experience, and gender. Results: Serial mediation analysis provided support for the proposed model where BPN's and enjoyment represent the most important mediators between task-involving climate and athletes' intentions to continue sport practice. Conclusion: Enjoyment stands out as the most relevant predictor of intention to persist and as a significant mediator in the relation between task-involvement climate, BPN, SDM, and long-term sports practice. The task-involving climate created by coaches appears to set in motion a sequence where the satisfaction of basic needs and SDM lead to more enjoyment and increased persistence among young athletes.
- The Co-Occurrence of Satisfaction and Frustration of Basic Psychological Needs and Its Relationship with Exercisers’ MotivationPublication . Rodrigues, Filipe; Macedo, Rita; Teixeira, Diogo; Cid, Luis; Travassos, Bruno; Neiva, Henrique; Monteiro, DiogoAlthough the relationship between both need frustration and, particularly, need satisfaction and different motivational regulations for exercise has been widely examined in the literature, little is known about the co-occurrence of both need satisfaction and need frustration in the exercise context. Grounded in self-determination theory, the present study aimed to examine the effects of both need satisfaction and frustration on motivational regulations for exercise, by applying a response surface analysis approach. In total, 477 regular exercisers aged 18–54 years participated in this study. The interaction between needs (high on both need satisfaction and frustration) displayed a positive and significant association with amotivation, integrated regulation, and intrinsic motivation. Considering the direction of the discrepancy (high vs. low levels of need satisfaction and frustration) related to the behavioral regulations, results showed that higher need satisfaction relative to need frustration was associated with more self-determined regulations of motivation. Contrarily, higher need satisfaction relative to need frustration was associated with lower scores on amotivation, external, introjected, and identified regulation. Overall, these findings extend previous literature, suggesting that need satisfaction and frustration are distinct factors that can be experienced simultaneously in individuals during exercise and that different degrees of both needs have different associations with behavioral regulations.
- Impact of victory and defeat on the perceived stress and autonomic regulation of professional eSports athletesPublication . Machado, Sergio; Sant'Ana, Leandro de Oliveira; Cid, Luis; Teixeira, Diogo; Rodrigues, Filipe; Travassos, Bruno; Monteiro, DiogoCompetitive sports involve physiological, technical and psychological skills, which influence directly on individuals’ performance. This study aims to investigate the levels of perceived stress and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) before and after matches with victory and defeat in professional eSports athletes. Our hypothesis was that the winners would have better autonomic and stress responses after match, thus corroborating the literature on neurocardiac connections. Fifty male eSport players were selected players from 10 different Brazilian teams. The experiment was carried out in 2 sessions. Firstly, after signing the informed consent form, 24 h before the game, anthropometric, physical activity levels and time of expertise data were recorded only for sample characterization and the players were familiarized with the perceived stress scale—10 (PSS-10) and the HRV measurements. Secondly, players performed the PSS-10 and HRV recording at rest by 10 min 60 and 30 min before the game (i.e., baseline time) and 10 min after the end of the game. Overall, concerning PSS-10 our findings show that VG had significant reduced scores in post-game time compared to baseline (BL) and pre-game times, while DG had significant increased scores in post-game time compared to BL and pre-game times. Regarding HRV, our results demonstrate that VG had significant increase in RR, SDNN, rMSSD, pNN50 and HF, and significant decrease in LF and LF/HF, while DG had a significant decrease in RR, SDNN, rMSSD and HF, and significant increase in LF and LF/HF. It was observed that VG had better HRV responses (greater parasympathetic activation) as well as lower levels of perceived stress, while DG had worst HRV responses (greater sympathetic activation) and higher levels of perceived stress.