Abstract

Skilled timing performance when presented during steady state exercise of varying intensities was examined. 6 male (mean age = 24 yers) and 6 female (mean age = 23 yrs) subjects were required to perform a coincidence anticipation timing task under five different metabolic loads to determine at what workrate the exercise intensity begins to interfere with timing performance. Metabolic loads included VO2 peak, as well as 75, 40, 25 of the VO2 peak and unloaded cycling. In a sixth experimental condition subj. were required to perform the timing task while sitting at a table instead of on the bicycle ergometer. Subj. were brought up to their assigned metabolic load on the bicycle ergometer and administered 20 timing trials at a fast and a slow speed on the Bassin Anticipation Timer. Raw scores were transformed to three error scores to generate the dependent variables. Dependent variables included constant error (the subj. tendency to respond early or late; CE), variable error (the subj. standard deviation around their own mean; VE), and absolute error (total error without regard to directional sign; AE). Both multivariate (p=0.0001) and univariate analysis (CE: p=0.0001; VE: p=0.0006; AE: p=0.0001) yielded a significant metabolic loading effect. Follow-up tests of significance of the three dependent variables found that in all three instances VO2 peak was significantly different from any of the other five experimental conditions. The inverted-U relationship between metabolic load and skilled motor performance is discussed. Verf.-Referat