Athlete Assessment and Mental Training During Real Competition:

Methods and Findings

American Psychological Association: Division 47 Paper Session Presentation

Annual Convention, Boston, August 2008

Roland A. Carlstedt, Ph.D.

American Board of Sport Psychology,Integrative Psychological Services of New York City,

Brain Resource Company

Research SupportRESEARCH PARTNERS

NEXUS-32 Telemetry EEG

Issues and Perspectives

• Prevalent approaches to athlete assessment and intervention lack ecological validity with many practitioner’s never or rarely leaving the office to observe, monitor, document and analyze the actual performance of their client in the context of a validated evidence-based ecological protocol.

• Yet, many practitioners continue to assume that their assessments are valid and interventions work. However, what evidentiary support underlies notions of assessment-validity and claims of intervention efficacy and from where does it emanate?

• Do in-office evaluations and mental training procedures generalize to the real world of training and actual competition and if so to what extent and on the basis of what evidence?

• Little is known about psycho-physiological responding during actual training and real competition and whether attempts to induce supposed performance facilitative intervention responses occur when it counts and importantly; are they really associated with positive outcome?

The Need for Ecological Approaches to Athlete Assessment and Intervention

• Establishing the Criterion Referenced and Predictive Validity of in-office or laboratory-based assessment instruments or practitioner evaluations and the ecological-efficacy of interventions is critical for justifying the application of specific test instruments and interventions.

• A repeated measures ecological and longitudinal design that attempts to link differential psycho-physiological responses during actual competition with objective sport-specific performance outcome measures is emerging as a potent strategy for determining an athlete’s IZOF and Athlete’s Profile impact, the effects of interventions and the predictive validity of assessment instruments and practitioner suppositions.

Components of Ecological Practice and Research

Pre-intervention Phase (during training and competition):

*Motor/Technical Control and Threshold Testing

*Establishing Focus-Attention Threshold

*Ecological Stress Testing

*Critical Moments Analysis

*Psychological Performance Statistics

*Psycho-physiological Response Profiling: HRV and EEG

Intervention Phase

An Overview of Research: Completed

and ongoing

1998-2008

1. 1998: Extension of research on heart rate deceleration-first longitudinal study of psychologically mediated athlete heart rate deceleration (HRD) during official tournament tennis competition.

General Findings: Greater amounts and magnitude of HRD were associated with successful outcome (sets won).

Methods

Heart Rate Deceleration

2. 2005/2006/2008: Longitudinal study of psychologically mediated heart rate variability (HRV) in a tournament tennis player and NCAA Division I tennis team during actual competition over the course of an entire season 6,8:

General Findings: Individual Zone’s of Optimum Functioning (IZOF) as reflected in pre and post match HRV predicted longitudinal performance outcome measures.

Methods

3. 2006: Longitudinal study of pre-intervention psychologically mediated heart rate variability and subsequent effect of heart rate variability/breathing biofeedback in baseball players on-the-bench during official league games 6,8.

General Findings: Replication of IZOF HRV tennis findings in baseball players and in the context of actual competition and real-time monitoring of psychophysiology in a pre-intervention and HRV/Respiration biofeedback intervention phase that was carried out on-the-bench prior to each at-bat for an entire official season. Team won-loss record improved from 8-5 pre-intervention to 14-0 in the intervention phase. 7 of 9 players starting players improved in all psychological performance statistics compared to pre-intervention.

Method

Baseball Findings: Team and Individual

Top Power Hitter Breaks Slump

4. 2007: Longitudinal HRV replication studies of tennis players during official tournament competition and first investigation documenting attention, motor control and HRV in the context of structured practice, critical moment analyses and psycho-physiological responding (entire summer season) responding

Findings: Replication and extension of 2005/2006 studies of tennis players during actual competition; development of HRV stability index; real-time change-over HRV monitoring and biofeedback. IZOF, ATHLETE’S PROFILE and THEORY of CRITICAL MOMENTS models of peak performance were further tested in ecological contexts (real competition). IZOF profiles were mediated by ATHLETE’S PROFILE personality and behavioral interactions as a function of competitive stress (increasing level of criticality of points-critical moments). In preparation for publication

Tennis Findings: Select Overview

5. 2008: Study of brain functioning using telemetry EEG and simultaneous ECG/HRV/Respiration during a structured golf tournament with reward and punishment components; included personality, behavioral and critical moment analyses (14 highly skilled NCAA I golfers).

Findings: Data Analysis phase in progress. Hypotheses: Specific pre-action EEG hemispheric activation shifts and HRV/HRD will be associated with differential quality of performance and that these mind-body measures will be mediated by golfers’ ATHLETE’S PROFILE as a function of level of criticality of each shot (critical moments). In preparation for publication

6. 2008: Study of heart rate variability responses in the context of every shot during a round of golf.

Findings: data analysis stage (see preliminary result below)

Correlations

1.000 -.435** .449** -.076 .209 -.120 -.153 -.245 -.143 .041

. .006 .004 .647 .222 .487 .374 .150 .405 .811

39 39 39 39 36 36 36 36 36 36

-.435** 1.000 -.549** .032 -.269 .011 .249 .311 .015 .201

.006 . .000 .845 .113 .947 .143 .065 .929 .240

39 39 39 39 36 36 36 36 36 36

.449** -.549** 1.000 -.183 .080 -.173 -.162 -.351* -.023 -.145

.004 .000 . .265 .641 .312 .344 .036 .895 .400

39 39 39 39 36 36 36 36 36 36

-.076 .032 -.183 1.000 -.016 -.493** .072 -.147 -.358* .061

.647 .845 .265 . .919 .001 .643 .341 .017 .694

39 39 39 57 44 44 44 44 44 44

.209 -.269 .080 -.016 1.000 -.345* -.131 -.389** -.309* -.080

.222 .113 .641 .919 . .022 .395 .009 .041 .608

36 36 36 44 44 44 44 44 44 44

-.120 .011 -.173 -.493** -.345* 1.000 .427** .543** .543** .076

.487 .947 .312 .001 .022 . .004 .000 .000 .622

36 36 36 44 44 44 44 44 44 44

-.153 .249 -.162 .072 -.131 .427** 1.000 .440** .213 .180

.374 .143 .344 .643 .395 .004 . .003 .165 .242

36 36 36 44 44 44 44 44 44 44

-.245 .311 -.351* -.147 -.389** .543** .440** 1.000 .200 .626**

.150 .065 .036 .341 .009 .000 .003 . .193 .000

36 36 36 44 44 44 44 44 44 44

-.143 .015 -.023 -.358* -.309* .543** .213 .200 1.000 -.447**

.405 .929 .895 .017 .041 .000 .165 .193 . .002

36 36 36 44 44 44 44 44 44 44

.041 .201 -.145 .061 -.080 .076 .180 .626** -.447** 1.000

.811 .240 .400 .694 .608 .622 .242 .000 .002 .

36 36 36 44 44 44 44 44 44 44

Pearson Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed)

N

Pearson Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed)

N

Pearson Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed)

N

Pearson Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed)

N

Pearson Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed)

N

Pearson Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed)

N

Pearson Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed)

N

Pearson Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed)

N

Pearson Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed)

N

Pearson Correlation

Sig. (2-tailed)

N

direction of shot

distance hit

location of ball hit

score on hole

heart rate before shot

SDNN before shot

very low frequency beforeshot

low frequency before shot

high frequency beforeshot

lf/hf ratio before shot

directionof shot distance hit

locationof ball hit score on hole

heart ratebefore shot

SDNNbefore shot

very lowfrequencybefore shot

low frequencybefore shot

highfrequencybefore shot

lf/hf ratiobefore shot

Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).**.

Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).*.

Finding: Variance explained in score on hole: HRV parameters as predictor variables

Model Summary

.493a .243 .225 1.03

.583b .340 .308 .97

Model1

2

R R SquareAdjustedR Square

Std. Error ofthe Estimate

Predictors: (Constant), SDNN before shota.

Predictors: (Constant), SDNN before shot, very lowfrequency before shot

b.

8. 2008: Study of pre-action brain and heart rate deceleration responses in baseball and tennis players using telemetry-based EEG/ECG in the context of a structured experimental task.

Findings: preliminary analysis clearly reveals HRD leading up to action; additional analyses will determine to what extent HRD manifests itself or is disrupted as a function of ATHLETE’S PROFILE, IZOF and competitive pressure (critical moments) and to what extent HRD is associated with differential outcome (in progress). EEG data will also be analyzed in the context of the above measures and concurrent HRD (pre-processing phase in progress). In preparation for publication

Methods

9. 2008: Investigation of the Transient Hypofrontality Hypothesis (THH) using telemetry-based EEG (participants were on a stationary bike). The THH attempts to account for “zone” states on the basis of differential allocation of cortical resources as a function of aerobic effort and progression of time.

Findings: Total EEG amplitude decreased as a function passage of time in an aerobic effort paradigm in sites covering the pre-frontal cortex Fp1 and Fp2 (frontal lobe area) and increased over motor cortex sites C3 and C4, consistent with predictions of the THH. More extensive and advanced analyses are in the planning stage. In preparation for publication

11. 2008: Validation of psychological performance statistics in Major League Baseball teams using CP Critical Moments Analysis Paradigm, Psychological Proficiency Quotient and Quality of Bat Methodology (5 teams and ca. 150 games; in progress)

Ecological Practice and Research: Summary

• Crucial to more accurate athlete assessment and shaping through intervention, of neuropsychophysiological responses that are associated with so-called Zone-states.

• Psychological performance must be analyzed in the context of objective statistical and neuropsychophysiological outcome measures to determine to what extent an intervention impacts performance (variance explained) if at all.

• All practitioners should be trained in the basics of the presented methodologies.

• Practitioners are encouraged to also function as researchers and contribute to the further development and expansion of the ABSP-BRC athlete databases of mind-body-motor and outcome.

Board Certification with central focus on evidence-based ecological athlete assessment and intervention through:

In-Residence Visiting Fellowships, Internship/Research Assistantships in

New York City

References1. Carlstedt, R.A. (1998). Psychologically mediated heart rate variability: A single case study of heart

rate deceleration and a spectrum analysis of autonomic function during tournament tennis . Master’s thesis, Saybrook Graduate School, San Francisco.

2. Carlstedt, R.A. (2001). Line bisecting test reveals relative left brain hemispheric predominance in highly skilled athletes:Relationships among cerebral laterality, personality, and sport performance. Doctoral dissertation, Saybrook Graduate School, San Francisco.

3. Carlstedt, R. A. (2002). Ambulatory psychophysiology and ecological validity in studies of sport performance: Issues and implications for intervention protocols in biofeedback. Biofeedback, 29 (4) 18-22.

4. Carlstedt, R.A. (2004a). Line bisecting performance in highly skilled athletes: Does preponderance of rightward error reflect unique cortical organization and functioning? Brain and Cognition, 54(1), 52-57.

5. Carlstedt, R.A. (2004b). Critical moments during competition: A mind-body model of sport performance when it counts the most. NY: Psychology Press.

6. Carlstedt, R.A. (2007a). Mind-body measures and sport performance. A cyber-symposium [www.americanboardofsportpsychology.org] Journal of the American Board of Sport Psychology, I.

7. Carlstedt, R.A. (2007). Integrative evidence based tennis psychology: perspectives, practices, and findings from a ten year validation investigation of the Carlstedt Protocol. In S. Miller and J. Capel-Davies (Eds) Tennis Science and Technology III (pp.245-254). London, U.K.: International Tennis Federation.

8.  Carlstedt, R.A. (under contract-in progress). Evidence-based applied sport psychology: A manual for practitioners, researchers and students. New York: Springer. REFERENCES/CITATIONS FOR HEREIN MENTIONED RESEARCH, RESEARCHERS, WORKS or CONCEPTS CAN BE FOUND IN THE ABOVE PUBLCATIONS

Acknowledgements and Contributors

Sinclair, D.1, Couture, J.1,2, Holas, P.1,3, Perlstein, I.1,4, Prine, M.1,5,Rodeka, P.1,6, Guererro, A.1,7, Szuhany, K.1,8, Kern, S.1,9, Keating, K.1,10, Winters, M.1,11, Lawton, W.1,12, Golkin, D.1,13, Kennedy, J.1,14,Frable, J.1, Martin, A.1, Massey, W.1,15, Ferree, T.1,16, Kruger, P.1,17 and Gordon, E.18

Affiliation:

American Board of Sport Psychology (Fellowship, Internship, Certification Programs and Research Center)1, Cleveland Indians2, Warsaw Medical University3, Merck Laboratories4, Temple University5,, Massey University (N.Z.)6, Fordham University7, University of Pennsylvania8, University of Southern California9, Wellesley College10, Allegheny College11, Amherst College12, Williams College13, Bournemouth University (U.K.)14, Queens University (N.C.)15, Southwestern Medical Center-University of Texas16, Harlequins Professional Rugby Union Team (U.K.) 17, Brain Resource Company (Sydney)18

CONTACT

Roland A. Carlstedt, Ph.D.Licensed Clinical Psychologist-Board Certified Sport Psychologist; American Board of Sport Psychology, Integrative Psychological Services of New York City and Brain Resource Company (Sydney)

rcarlstedt@americanboardofsportpsychology.org

www.americanboardofsportpsychology.org