Write a formal, APA formatted paper that outlines your research, experiment(s), findings, and analysis of your experiment.
Each person MUST SUBMIT their own copy (even if working in a group). Word or pdf format only.
Formal Paper consisting of appropriate college-level writing (Note: length requirements do not include title, pictures, tables, references, notes, etc)
If 1 person: 1000 word minimum.
If 2 people: 1500 word minimum.
Grading Criteria:
Research 10 points
Experiment/Hypothesis/Application 15 points
Analysis/Findings/Observations 15 points
APA, Writing Quality, Graphics 10 points
TOTAL
Chib, V., Padmanabhan, P., Casamento-Moran, A., Pantelyat, A., & Roemmich, R. (2022).
Dopamine facilitates the translation of physical exertion into assessments of effort. npj
Parkinson’s Disease. Retrieved from Neuroscience News: https://neurosciencenews.com
Purpose: Investigate how dopamine impacts perceived effort during exercise.
Hypothesis: Dopamine helps people judge how much effort they’re putting in, boosting
motivation.
Sample: Included adults with Parkinson’s disease and healthy participants.
Methods: Used brain imaging and psychological tests to track dopamine levels and
perceived effort.
Design: Combined brain scans and participant feedback on effort, known as a mixed-
methods approach.
Results: Higher dopamine levels helped participants, especially those with Parkinson’s,
judge their physical effort better.
Implications: Targeting dopamine might aid athletes and patients with dopamine-related
issues in improving motivation and endurance.
Magistretti, P. J., & Allaman, I. (2018). Lactate in the brain: from metabolic end-product to
signaling molecule. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 19(4), 235-249.
https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2018.19
Purpose: Argue that lactate plays a critical signaling role in the brain, beyond being a
waste product.
Hypothesis: Lactate is essential for brain cell communication and energy management.
Sample: Review includes both animal and human studies.
Methods: Summarized various studies examining lactate’s effects on brain activity.
Design: Review article, compiling findings from numerous studies.
Results: Findings suggest lactate is crucial for brain health and neuron communication.
Implications: Understanding lactate’s role could lead to treatments for brain disorders
and improved cognitive performance post-exercise.
Maddock et al. (2016) – Exercise and Neurotransmitter Levels
Maddock, R. J., Casazza, G. A., Fernandez, D. H., & Maddock, M. I. (2016). Acute modulation
of cortical glutamate and GABA content by physical activity. Journal of Neuroscience, 36(8),
2449-2457. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3455-15.2016
Purpose: Examine how exercise impacts glutamate and GABA, two neurotransmitters.
brain communication.
Sample: Healthy adults performing moderate exercise.
Methods: Measured glutamate and GABA levels before and after exercise using brain
scans.
Design: Within-subjects design, comparing each participant’s brain chemistry pre- and
post-exercise.
Results: Exercise significantly raised glutamate and GABA levels.
Implications: Exercise can improve mood, focus, and cognitive function quickly,
benefiting athletes’ performance and recovery.
Deschenes, M. R. (2019) – Adaptations of the Neuromuscular Junction to Exercise Training
Deschenes, M. R. (2019). Adaptations of the neuromuscular junction to exercise training.
Current Opinion in Physiology. Retrieved from Springer: https://link.springer.com
Purpose: Examine how regular exercise affects the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), a
critical area for muscle function and performance.
Hypothesis: Regular exercise causes beneficial changes in the NMJ’s structure and
function, leading to increased muscle endurance and strength.
involved in exercise training.
Methods: Focused on adaptations in NMJ structure, neurotransmitter release, and
receptor sensitivity due to exercise.
Design: Review article, summarizing prior research on NMJ adaptations rather than
conducting new experiments.
Results: While it doesn’t present specific data, it compiles evidence showing exercise
consistently improves NMJ function.
Conclusion: Regular exercise strengthens the NMJ, contributing to better muscle
performance and endurance.
Summary of Findings
The studies reveal a significant interplay between neurotransmitters and physical
performance, underscoring the importance of understanding these relationships in athletic
training.
1. Dopamine’s Role: As highlighted by Padmanabhan et al. (2022), dopamine is crucial for
judging physical effort, which can directly influence an athlete’s motivation and
performance. This indicates the potential for tailored training programs that consider
dopamine modulation.
function in brain communication, suggesting that managing lactate levels could enhance
cognitive recovery in athletes after intense workouts.
3. Neurotransmitter Elevation through Exercise: Maddock et al. (2016) demonstrate that
exercise increases glutamate and GABA, vital for mood regulation and cognitive clarity,
which can enhance training outcomes.
4. NMJ Adaptations: Deschenes (2019) discusses how regular exercise positively affects
NMJ structure, emphasizing its role in improving muscle endurance and strength, critical
for athletic performance.
Applying Findings to My Track and Field Training
To apply these articles to my project, I plan to track my mental thoughts, mindset, and feelings
after practices and workouts. Since track requires whole-body movement, it also demands a high
level of mental and neurological strength to perform at an elite level. Throughout this class, I
have discovered many interesting perspectives I wouldn’t have realized as an athlete. One of the
most interesting insights is that many athletes limit themselves by not taking the time to perform
movements properly, often because they have practiced these movements since childhood. When
you focus on performing movements with intention and understand that you can execute them
movement becomes effortless.
Things I will be monitoring:
Regularly check in on how I feel about my effort during workouts. This can help me understand
my experience better and potentially enhance my brain to body neuron .
Following my coaches training sessions with different intensity levels to stimulate
neurotransmitters like glutamate and GABA, which is essential for brain function and
performance.
Incorporate low-intensity exercises to aid my recovery and improve focus After and before
workout
By applying these strategies, I aim to improve both my physical performance and mental well-
being in track and field. Let me know if you need any further adjustments!
Fun Facts:
During these training sessions, I’ve realized that I perform much better when I connect my
brain to my feet. This connection helps me tell when I’m doing a movement right or wrong,
based on how my body feels. By figuring out what adjustments I need to make and getting
The purpose of this experiment was to track my thoughts, mindset, and feelings after different track practices to find patterns in my performance. I wanted to see how mental factors like motivation, focus, and perceived effort influenced how hard I was able to push myself, especially during tougher workouts. Over the course of one week, I conducted self-assessments after every practice, focusing on both my mental state and physical performance. I paid close attention to how my body felt during each movement, particularly during my 400 training jumps and hurdles, to understand the difference between simply going through the motions and performing each movement correctly. As a college track athlete, I’ve always been fascinated by how my mental state influences my performance during practice. Some days, I feel like I’m unstoppable, while other days, I struggle to finish even a simple workout. I decided to analyze myself after practice to see how factors like effort perception, focus, and fatigue play into my training. This “experiment” was designed to give me insights into how I can train my brain to push harder, improve my performance, and help me better understand my physical and mental limits. | Day | Type of Practice | Perceived Effort (1-10) | Mental Focus (1-10) | Fatigue Level (1-10) | Body Awareness (1-10) | Notes | |—–|——————————-|————————-|———————|———————-|————————————————————————————————————————|————————————————————————————————| | 1 | Sprint intervals (200m x 6) | 8 | 7 | 7 | Noticed leaning forward during later reps, affecting stride. Focused on driving knees higher for better form. | Mentally distracted initially, but dialed in by last two reps. | | 2 | Technical drill: Jumps and hurdles | 9 | 8 | 9 | Early jumps felt powerful, but by the end, landing harder with quad compensation instead of glutes. | Pushed through fatigue while maintaining proper technique. Proud of form during most of the session. | | 3 | Recovery workout (dynamic stretching + light jogging) | 3 | 5 | 4 | Tightness in calves and hamstrings at the start, but loosened up by the end. | Relaxing, but lacked mental focus. | | 4 | Sprint intervals (100m x 8) | 9 | 9 | 9 | Focused on explosive starts and proper arm swing, corrected arm swing midway. | Felt strong, despite fatigue. | | 5 | Technical drill: Jumps and hurdles | 9 | 7 | 8 | Felt more in control of movements, especially with trail leg technique in hurdles. Fatigue crept in but adjustments helped. | Improved form and body control compared to earlier in the week. | This self-analysis showed that mental focus and motivation play a big role in how hard I can push myself during practice. On days when I was more mentally focused (like Day 2 and Day 4), I performed better and felt more satisfied with my effort. Fatigue, both mental and physical, also impacted my perceived effort, especially during sprint-heavy days. In conclusion, tracking my mindset and how I felt after practice gave me some really helpful insights into my training. I realized that staying focused and mentally locked in really helped me push through tougher workouts, especially when I was feeling tired. Moving forward, I plan to use mental strategies like visualization and positive self-talk to stay motivated and keep improving during practice. This experiment also showed me how I can apply these ideas as a future physical therapist. By focusing on both physical and mental training, I’ll be able to help my clients reach their full potential.