title: The effect of ego depletion on sprint start reaction time.
abstract: In the current study, we consider that optimal sprint start performance requires the self-control of responses. Therefore, start performance should depend on athletes' self-control strength. We assumed that momentary depletion of self-control strength (ego depletion) would either speed up or slow down the initiation of a sprint start, where an initiation that was sped up would carry the increased risk of a false start. Applying a mixed between- (depletion vs. nondepletion) and within- (before vs. after manipulation of depletion) subjects design, we tested the start reaction times of 37 sport students. We found that participants' start reaction times decelerated after finishing a depleting task, whereas it remained constant in the nondepletion condition. These results indicate that sprint start performance can be impaired by unrelated preceding actions that lower momentary self-control strength. We discuss practical implications in terms of optimizing sprint starts and related overall sprint performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Psychology, Institute of Sports and Sports Sciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Englert
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertrams
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000523:psychology*; D004532:Ego; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time; D012420:Running / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult