IMAGINATION OF DYNAMIC EXERCISE PRODUCED VENTILATORY RESPONSES WHICH WERE MORE APPARENT IN COMPETITIVE SPORTSMEN

1. The cardiorespiratory response to imagination of previously perform ed treadmill exercise was measured in six competitive sportsmen and si x non-athletic males. This was compared with the response to a control task (imagining letters) and a task not involving imagination ('tread mill sound only'). 2. In athletes, imagined exercise produced increase s in ventilation which varied within and between subjects. The mean ma ximal increase (11.7 l min(-1)) was approximately 20% of the ventilato ry response to actual exercise. This was primarily due to treadmill sp eed-related increases in respiratory frequency (mean maximal increase, 14.8 breaths min(-1)) and resulted in significant reductions in end-t idal P-CO2 (mean maximal fall, 7 mmHg). These effects were greater (P < 0.01) than any observed during the control tasks. 3. Changes in hear t rate (mean increase, 12 beats min(-1)) were not significantly differ ent from those observed during the control tasks (P > 0.2). 4. In non- athletes, imagination of exercise produced no changes in cardiorespira tory variables. No significant differences were detected in subjective assessments of movement imagery ability between athletes and non-athl etes (P = 0.17). 5. This study demonstrates that ventilatory effects, when observed, are specific to imagination of exercise. The greater li kelihood of generating ventilatory responses in highly trained athlete s, experienced in 'rhythmic' sports, may be related to awareness of br eathing and its role in exercise imagination strategy. A volitional co mponent of the response cannot be discounted.