Ecological validity in exercise neuroscience research: A systematic investigation. (12th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, Melissa; Büchel, Daniel; Reinecke, Kirsten; Lehmann, Tim; Baumeister, Jochen
• Is Part Of: European journal of neuroscience. Volume 55:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 487
• Page End: 509
• Publication Date: 2022-01-12
• Subjects: Nervous system -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15595
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-816X

Abstract

Abstract: The contribution of cortical processes to adaptive motor behaviour is of great interest in the field of exercise neuroscience. Next to established criteria of objectivity, reliability and validity, ecological validity refers to the concerns of whether measurements and behaviour in research settings are representative of the real world. Because exercise neuroscience investigations using mobile electroencephalography are oftentimes conducted in laboratory settings under controlled environments, methodological approaches may interfere with the idea of ecological validity. This review utilizes an original ecological validity tool to assess the degree of ecological validity in current exercise neuroscience research. A systematic literature search was conducted to identify articles investigating cortical dynamics during goal‐directed sports movement. To assess ecological validity, five elements (environment, stimulus, response, body and mind) were assessed on a continuum of artificiality–naturality and simplicity–complexity. Forty‐seven studies were included in the present review. Results indicate lowest average ratings for the element of environment. The elements stimulus, body and mind had mediocre ratings, and the element of response had the highest overall ratings. In terms of the type of sport, studies that assessed closed‐skill indoor sports had the highest ratings, whereas closed‐skill outdoor sports had the lowest overall rating. Our findings identify specific elements that are lacking in ecological validity and areas of improvement in current exercise neuroscience literature. Future studies may potentially increase ecological validity by moving from reductionist, artificial environments towards complex, natural environments and incorporating real‐world sport elements such as adaptive responses and competition. Abstract : The ECOVAL tool assess ecological validity (EV) of experimental studies on two scales, the artificiality–naturality scale and the simplicity–complexity scale, for five different elements. On average, the analysed studies scored good to mediocre EV for the elements 'stimulus', 'response' and 'body', whereas the elements 'environment' and 'mind' scored low EV.