The Effect of Emotion on Time Perception in Youth Athletes with Different Alerting Efficiencies

Abstract

Purpose

Time perception plays a critical role in executing movements in various competitions. However, less research has been conducted on the alerting component of attention in the processing of time perception, and that the effects of emotion on the alerting network show inconsistent effects. This study is aimed to explore the factors that may influence time perception in youth athletes and these relationships.

Methods

A total of 225 participants were recruited to assess alerting efficiency using the Attention Network Test and were divided into high and low alerting efficiency groups based on the front and back 27% of the ranked alerting scores as a dividing metric, and subsequently participants completed Time replication task under different emotionally induced conditions.

Results

Alerting efficiency had a significant effect on time perception, with the high alerting efficiency subjects having higher time estimation accuracy [F (1106) = 6.32, p = 0.013, η²p = 0.10] and being more inclined to overestimate time perception [F (1106) = 12.64, p = 0.001, η² p = 0.11]. An interaction was found between emotion and alerting efficiency on time replication ratio [F (2106) = 3.59, p = 0.031, η²p = 0.08], and further simple effects analyses found that the low alerting efficiency subjects tended to overestimate time in the anger state relative to the happy and neutral states [F (2106) = 5.93, p < 0.01, η²p = 0.10].

Conclusion

These findings suggest that high alerting efficiency in youth athletes is associated with greater time perception response advantage; The time perception of low alerting efficiency youth athletes was more likely to be affected by emotions. This study provides a reference for the training of time perception and specialized perceptual ability of youth athletes, enriches the index system of psychological selection of youth athletes.

Keywords:

• time perception
• sport
• attention
• alerting
• emotion
• youth athletes

Data Sharing Statement

Study data are available upon request from correspondence author LianWang ([email protected]).

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

All participants provided their informed written consent. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by Chengdu Sport University Ethics Committee (protocol code 2022282H).

Acknowledgments

Sincere thanks to all the subjects who participated in this study.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no external funding.