Application of Decision-Making Theory to the Regulation of Muscular Work Rate during Self-Paced Competitive Endurance Ac
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REVIEW ARTICLE
Application of Decision-Making Theory to the Regulation of Muscular Work Rate during Self-Paced Competitive Endurance Activity Andrew Renfree • Louise Martin • Dominic Micklewright Alan St Clair Gibson
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Ó Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2013
Abstract Successful participation in competitive endurance activities requires continual regulation of muscular work rate in order to maximise physiological performance capacities, meaning that individuals must make numerous decisions with regards to the muscular work rate selected at any point in time. Decisions relating to the setting of appropriate goals and the overall strategic approach to be utilised are made prior to the commencement of an event, whereas tactical decisions are made during the event itself. This review examines current theories of decision-making in an attempt to explain the manner in which regulation of muscular work is achieved during athletic activity. We describe rational and heuristic theories, and relate these to current models of regulatory processes during self-paced exercise in an attempt to explain observations made in both laboratory and competitive environments. Additionally, we use rational and heuristic theories in an attempt to explain the influence of the presence of direct competitors on the quality of the decisions made during these activities. We hypothesise that although both rational and heuristic models can plausibly explain many observed behaviours in competitive endurance activities, the complexity of the environment in which such activities occur would imply A. Renfree (&) L. Martin Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ, UK e-mail: [email protected] D. Micklewright School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK A. St Clair Gibson School of Psychology and Sport Sciences, Northumbria University, Northumberland Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
that effective rational decision-making is unlikely. However, at present, many proposed models of the regulatory process share similarities with rational models. We suggest enhanced understanding of the decision-making process during self-paced activities is crucial in order to improve the ability to understand regulation of performance and performance outcomes during athletic activity.
1 Introduction Individual athletic competitions represent extremely complex decision-requiring environments, where participants are confronted with a vast amount of information that must be identified, interpreted, and acted upon if maximal performance levels are to be achieved. Even in a relatively simple endurance event such as an individual time trial, in order to optimise their performance an athlete must identify some kind of goal (whether it be process or outcome related) and an overall strategic approach that they consider to provide the best opportunity for achievement of this goal. These goals and overall strategic approaches will be based upon, amongs
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