title: Expectations affect psychological and neurophysiological benefits even after a single bout of exercise.
abstract: The study investigated whether typical psychological, physiological, and neurophysiological changes from a single exercise are affected by one's beliefs and expectations. Seventy-six participants were randomly assigned to four groups and saw different multimedia presentations suggesting that the subsequent exercise (moderate 30 min cycling) would result in more or less health benefits (induced expectations). Additionally, we assessed habitual expectations reflecting previous experience and beliefs regarding exercise benefits. Participants with more positive habitual expectations consistently demonstrated both greater psychological benefits (more enjoyment, mood increase, and anxiety reduction) and greater increase of alpha-2 power, assessed with electroencephalography. Manipulating participants' expectations also resulted in largely greater increases of alpha-2 power, but not in more psychological exercise benefits. On the physiological level, participants decreased their blood pressure after exercising, but this was independent of their expectations. These results indicate that habitual expectations in particular affect exercise-induced psychological and neurophysiological changes in a self-fulfilling manner.
authors: Department of Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstrasse 175, 79117, Freiburg, Germany. hendrik.mothes@sport.uni-freiburg.de.
authors: Hendrik
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1784-6398
authors: H
authors: Mothes
authors: Department of Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstrasse 175, 79117, Freiburg, Germany.|Bernstein Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Hansastrasse 9a, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Leukel
authors: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 8, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Han-Gue
authors: HG
authors: Jo
authors: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320 B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Harald
authors: H
authors: Seelig
authors: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 8, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.|Institute of Transcultural Health Studies, European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Große Scharrnstrasse 59, 15230, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Schmidt
authors: Department of Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstrasse 175, 79117, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Reinhard
authors: R
authors: Fuchs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: EEG; Exercise; Expectation; Mental health; Mindset; Placebo effect