Mental Preparation Has Physiological Effects

[MikeMartial]

Anticipation of subsequent demanding exercise increases the expression of haem oxygenase-1 mRNA in human lymphocytes.

Markovitch D, Tyrrell RM, Thompson D.
Sport and Exercise Science, School for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
Oxidative stress induces the expression of the cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory protein haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1). In the present investigation, we show that anticipation of subsequent exercise elevates the expression of HO-1 mRNA in lymphocytes. A between-groups comparison of HO-1 mRNA expression in subjects about to complete a half marathon race vs. subjects who were asked to sit quietly in the laboratory showed an elevated expression of HO-1 mRNA prior to exercise (2.6-fold higher in subjects prior to the half marathon, P < 0.01). This observation led us to examine whether anticipation of subsequent exercise leads to differences in lymphocyte HO-1 mRNA expression within the same subjects. In a second experiment, the same individuals completed two trials, one exercise and one rest, approximately 2 weeks apart in a randomised cross-over design. Lymphocyte HO-1 mRNA expression was greater prior to exercise (1.4 +/- 0.3-fold higher in the exercise trial, P < 0.05). These results suggest that knowledge of subsequent demanding exercise may lead to an anticipatory induction of HO-1 mRNA. We tentatively propose that this process has evolved to prepare lymphocytes for subsequent exercise-induced oxidative stress although the mechanism remains to be elucidated.

I thought this was an interesting study for two reasons:

1. Obviously, being mentally prepared has carry-over into physical preparedness prior to training and/or competing, and
2. This may be the start of an explaination as to why exercise-induced oxidative damage isn't as severe as non-exercise oxidative damage.

[mschatz]

I never know what you're talking about. But I am usually impressed for some reason. Also, 400 Meter sprints are one of the least fun things to do ever.

[Carlson]

Originally Posted by mschatz

I never know what you're talking about. But I am usually impressed for some reason. Also, 400 Meter sprints are one of the least fun things to do ever.

Is this study saying that they might not be as ruff if you think about them before you do them.

[MikeMartial]

Originally Posted by Carlson

Is this study saying that they might not be as ruff if you think about them before you do them.

What the heck is "ruff"?

What this study is saying is that mental preparation, a.k.a. "getting psyched", a.k.a. "getting in the zone", causes actual physical changes in your body, better enabling it to handle the stress of training or competing.

[Sinister]

I recently read an article by Dr. Margaret Goodman, experienced Fight Doctor in which she talks about how smiling releases endorphins (she describes the mechanics behind this as well), and that when fighters smile in response to getting hit, it could be attributed to a subconscious reaction in order to get the brain to release endorphins. Interesting theory.

[Rjkd12]

Great post. That is awesome. I have a buddy who knows a lot about oxidative stress, I'm going to forward it to him. That makes a lot of sense about how the body seems to deal very well with oxidative stress due to exercise.

KK, I have also read similar things. There was a famous study where a guy had students read the comics either with a pencil horizontally in their mouth (mimics smiling) or with the end in their mouth (more similar to frowning. If they were "smiling" they laughed more and rated the comics as more amusing. I know nothing about the study you are talking about but I'd assume also a fighter that smiles after getting hit releases more endorphins and therefore deals much better with getting hit. So more smiling -> releases endorphins more than endorphins -> causes smiling. On top of that, I'm sure if an opponent hits you with a punch he thinks should hurt you and you smile, his brain starts to re-evaluate things and he probably loses morale.

Hey, I smile while I type up my posts. Anybody ever notice?

[Dan's Knuckles]

I find the field of psychophysiology pretty amazing. The one question which I would have to ask about this study is did they compare the HO-1 response to the sympathetic nervous system response, as there is what is considered an "exercise expectancy" increase in heart rate prior to any activity when the individual expects to perform exercise, this is usually due to an increase in sympathetic nerve activity (or adrenaline).