Effect of a sex stereotype on cortical activity during a self-paced exercise: A motor-related cortical potential approach.
Résumé
Previous research has shown that inducing a negative stereotype toward a group decreases motor performances (i.e., stereotype threat effect). Most of these studies focused on technical tasks that required coordination [1]. However, recent research has shown that when the task did not focus on technical aspects, inducing a negative stereotype toward one group led to a better performance of this group, as compared to when no stereotype was induced [2]. However, the mechanisms involved in such performance modifications are poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms involved in such performance increases.
Thirty-four participants were recruited and were assigned to one familiarization session followed by two experimental sessions. During these two last visits, participants were assigned to a ‘negative stereotype toward women’ condition and to a ‘nullified-stereotype’ condition in a randomized order and performed 80 intermittent isometric elbow contractions at a RPE 5 (i.e., effort « somewhat hard »). Strength development, motor-related cortical potentials (involved in preparatory processes in brain activity, MRCPs), and motivation were assessed.
Both men and women developed more strength when assigned to the ‘negative stereotype toward women’ condition, as compared to when assigned to the ‘nullified-stereotype’ condition. Women also reported that they were more motivated to outperform men in this same condition. Interestingly, the amplitude of readiness potential (one component of MRCPs) in the prefrontal cortex was higher for women when assigned to the ‘negative stereotype toward women’ condition.
The present research suggests that the prefrontal cortex plays an important role in the performance increases observed. As some studies have found a relationship between strength generated and amplitude of MRCPs [3], it may suggest that as women were more motivated, they planned to generate greater strength in the ‘negative stereotype toward women’ condition, resulting in the performance increases observed.
References
[1] Gentile, A., Boca, S., & Giammusso, I. (2018). “You play like a woman!” Effects of gender stereotype threat on women’s performance in physical and sport activities: a meta-analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 39, 93-103.
[2] Deshayes, M., Clément-Guillotin, C., & Zory, R. (2019). “Men are better than women!”: the positive effect of a negative stereotype toward women on self-paced cycling exercise. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, under review
[3] Ryun, S., Kim, J. S., Lee, S. H., Jeong, S., Kim, S. P., and Chung, C.K. (2014). Movement type prediction before its onset using signals from prefrontal area: an electrocorticography study. BioMed Research International, 2014:783203.