| Maximal
effort on a 30 km Time Trial (TT30) was examined to assess
whether it would elicit changes in objective and subjective tests
of the participants' perception of the environment and their ability
to anticipate future occurrences (situation awareness; SA) and to
determine the effect of post-exercise recovery on SA. Nine experienced
(5.22 ± 2.77 years) road cyclists had their objective and subjective
levels of SA assessed prior to and at the completion of two TT30.
The participants' results were compared to measurements of maximal
oxygen uptake (VO2max), peak power output (PPO), age and
years of competitive cycle racing experience. Fatigue resulting from
maximal effort on a TT30 produced significant changes in
both the objective and subjective test of SA. Effect sizes of 0.93
and 0.99 indicated that the first and second TT30 were
likely or almost certain to have a beneficial effect on the objective
assessment of SA. However, the effect sizes of 0.97 and 0.95 relating
to the subjective assessment of cognitive performance on the first
and second TT30 showed that it was very likely the participants'
had an increased difficulty in maintaining SA. A recovery period of
up to three minutes post TT30 had no effect on SA. Changes
in SA had no relationship with measurements of VO2max,
peak power output (PPO), age and years of competitive cycle racing
experience. The findings suggest that within a laboratory environment,
participants consistently underestimate their ability to make accurate
assessments of their cycling environment compared to objective measures
of their SA.
KEY
WORDS: Endurance, cognition, psychophysiology, exhaustive exercise.
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