ASSOCIATIVE AND DISSOCIATIVE COGNITIVE STRATEGIES IN EXERCISE AND RUNNING - 20 YEARS LATER, WHAT DO WE KNOW

Association and dissociation (A/D) have been identified as important c ognitive strategies in the literature on running and exercise. This pa per is a comprehensive review of the 20 years of research in the area. Specific topics addressed include historical context, definition and terminology considerations, measurement and design issues, and finding s as they pertain to performance, injury, and pain. Several research r ecommendations are made including change from using the term dissociat ion, use of multiple measurement methods, diversity of research design s, and study of topics, such as injury, exercise adherence, and emotio nality, as they relate to A/D. Finally, practical findings indicate th at association relates to faster performance, dissociation relates to lower perceived exertion and possibly greater endurance, and dissociat ion is not related to injury but association may be.