Emotions, Anxiety, and Sport Performance Analysis

Anxiety

Long-lasting feelings and thoughts about negative outcomes.

Fear

Brief, intense reaction to a threatening stimulus.

Arousal

Physiological activation, distinct from anxiety.

Cohen's d

Effect size metric for comparing group differences.

Hyperactive Amygdala

Key characteristic of anxiety, regulates threat responses.

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation and anxiety.

Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitter linked to stress response and anxiety.

GABA

Inhibitory neurotransmitter, reduces anxiety effects.

Drive Hypothesis

Performance equals drive multiplied by habit.

Relaxation Hypothesis

Anxiety negatively correlates with performance outcomes.

Inverted-U Hypothesis

Performance peaks at moderate anxiety levels.

Individualized Zones of Optimal Functioning (iZOF)

Unique anxiety levels for optimal performance in athletes.

Cognitive Anxiety

Worries affecting performance, often negatively correlated.

Steadiness Experiment

Study on anxiety's effect on grip steadiness.

Coefficient of Variation

SD/mean * 100, measures performance steadiness.

Smelling Salts

Ammonia inhalant used to stimulate arousal.

Adverse Life Events

Recent negative experiences affecting athlete anxiety.

Performance Level

Measured as best, usual, or worst outcomes.

Empirical Evidence

Research findings supporting or refuting hypotheses.

Motivation

Drive to perform, influenced by emotional states.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Regulates fight-or-flight responses, increases HR and BP.

Psychophysiological Readiness

Preparedness to compete, influenced by anxiety levels.

Nucleus Accumbens

Brain region linked to motivation and alertness.

Zoloft

SSRI used to treat anxiety disorders.

Xanax

Medication that enhances GABA activity for anxiety.

Meta-analysis

Statistical analysis combining results from multiple studies.

Dynamic Aspects of Anxiety

Understudied factors affecting anxiety's impact on performance.