Higher psycho-physiological refinement in world-class Norwegian athletes: brain measures of performance capacity.
This study tested the hypothesis that the degree of psycho-physiological development is related to performance level in world-class athletes. We compared physiological and psychological patterns of 33 Norwegian world-class athletes to patterns in 33 average performing athletes. The subjects were matched for gender, age, and type of sport. Electroencephalography activity was recorded to measure brain integration; skin conductance was recorded to measure habituation to a loud stimulus; and paper-and-pencil tests were given to assess self-development, moral development, and frequency of peak experiences. A factor analysis (varimax rotation) reduced the eight variables to three factors that together accounted for 65.3% of the total variance: (1) physiological integration--brain integration and habituation rates, (2) self- and moral development, and (3) peak experiences. A MANOVA conducted on the factor scores showed a significant main effect for the experimental group collapsing across the three factors (P<0.0001). Individual ANOVAs showed significantly higher values for development (P=0.021) and physiological integration (P<0.0001) factor scores for the world-class athletes. The above measures can be seen as different expressions of an underlying dimension--human development. These data support the concept that higher psycho-physiological growth underlies higher performance.
Harung
H S
HS
Oslo University College, St Olavs Plass, Oslo, Norway. harald.harung@iu.hio.no
Travis
F
F
Pensgaard
A M
AM
Boes
R
R
Cook-Greuter
S
S
Daley
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009014:Morals; D009664:Norway; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011581:Psychological Tests