Effects of Adrenaline on Performance Study (Learn how to play better under pressure!)

[Arlieth Tralare]

I'm currently conducting a study of players in regards to their responses to stress and pressure during matches. I'm particularly interested in the effects of "adrenaline dumps", in both casual play and tournaments, and the various methods of coping with these effects.

After finishing a match, please fill out the online form here: http://tinyurl.com/sf4quiz to the best of your ability. Some of these questions are also designed to find correlations, as well as tier matchup statistics. If you want to submit multiple entries, PLEASE DO SO! If you submit 30+ forms I will try to email you back with a profile- however, you need to include the same name and email for EACH entry so I can sort them out. I may need to find someone who knows programming to make an online tool that can do this automatically (a website where you enter your name and email and it emails your profile stats to you.)

For more in-depth research, I've actually purchased a couple of wristband heart beat monitors to give to players during tournaments. Part of this research will involve independently verifying the optimal heart rate of players during "peak performance", among other interesting findings. If you can include your heart beat rate at the end of each match, that would help this research a LOT.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please let me know! I'll set aside several weeks to collect data (at the very least, May 1st) and will release the results of my analysis in this thread, along with a full-fledged writeup.

NOTE: If you are under the influence of any drugs, such as weed or alcohol, please do not fill out this form. Caffeine and nicotine are okay, but try not to be too amped when playing.

Online form: http://tinyurl.com/sf4quiz
Downloadable form (PDF): http://www.meltybread.com/sf4quiz.pdf
Heart Rate Monitors for cheap: http://www.b2cshop24.com/en/sport-he...n&currency=USD

Thank you!

[parabellum]

I will do your survey, but I would like to mention a point that may bear on your study: When I play intense, adrenaline dumping matches, my fingers get ice cold. I'm not sure what causes that exactly (obviously its reduced blood flow, but WHY would that happen when I'm using my fingers so actively...usually more activity = more blood flow, not less)...but its a VERY clear indicator to me that the match I just played had my adrenaline flowing.

Might be something worth adding to the survey.

[Arlieth Tralare]

This is actually a documented effect of adrenaline: it's a vaso-constrictor, meaning it cuts off blood flow to your veins, and thus, your extremities. I considered including some information about adrenaline, but I didn't want people to imagine feeling effects of adrenaline when they really weren't (false positives). But if a discussion pops up about it in here, I'll be more than happy to answer questions and discuss findings.

As for the fingers getting cold, your body does it to reduce bleeding from wounds and to supply more blood and energy to your core muscles. Unfortunately, too much of this and your fine motor skills go out the window. That's why I'm trying to find out if there's an optimal heart rate bpm specifically for fighting games where the benefits from enhanced reactions don't get canceled out by not being able to feel or control your fingers.

[parabellum]

This is actually a documented effect of adrenaline: it's a vaso-constrictor, meaning it cuts off blood flow to your veins, and thus, your extremities. I considered including some information about adrenaline, but I didn't want people to imagine feeling effects of adrenaline when they really weren't (false positives). But if a discussion pops up about it in here, I'll be more than happy to answer questions and discuss findings.

As for the fingers getting cold, your body does it to reduce bleeding from wounds and to supply more blood and energy to your core muscles. Unfortunately, too much of this and your fine motor skills go out the window. That's why I'm trying to find out if there's an optimal heart rate bpm specifically for fighting games where the benefits from enhanced reactions don't get canceled out by not being able to feel or control your fingers.

A+

Excellent info, thanks!

Have you seen the research Bungie/Microsoft did for Halo? They took metrics on heartrate, body temp, perspiration, blood pressure, etc.... to tune the game.

[Jay Wang]

I'd be interested in the results of this.

We have a few tournies coming up in Toronto so I will print some of the forms out and ask players to volunteer to fill them out too!

PS. Gonna have to get back to you on the heart monitoring tho :p

[Arlieth Tralare]

http://www.b2cshop24.com/en/sport-he...n&currency=USD

I bought three of these monitors. Shipping's a little pricey but hey, at around 10 bucks each for these? They'll be coming in the mail, hope they work...

Also I heard about the Halo 3 research stuff. Jesus, that's a bit overkill. Maybe.

I'll attach a PDF of a paper form, btw.

[Banshee]

Cool, I'll print a few out and fill them up as I play tonight :p

[FordCQC]

Do you want multiple responses from individuals? It seems like that could be beneficial, but only if they submit their name/email.

I especially like that last 1-5 question about retrying attacks. Seems like that is often a common response in games/sports when a person is stressed.

[johnnypao]

Pretty interesting research you are undertaking here. I'll take the survey...

[Melvargh]

Sounds good, I'll try doing this after my matches.

[shoo]

ooooo seems interesting.

Will definitely fill out

[gshady]

What is the point of the research though? What I mean is, what is the ultimate goal of the research, is it to better ourselves as players by practicing relaxation methods or is it merely for curiosities sake?

I guess I don't understand what we stand gain from figuring out the optimal heart rate for SF4, it's not as if we can control that type of thing, can we? Even if we can, is someone going to do yoga before every session just to give themselves a 1% better chance of winning?

I'm not saying it's not interesting because it really is, I'm just curious what the goal is?

[deadfrog]

That's really cool, man!

[DarthPaul1982]

I'd be interested in the results of this.

We have a few tournies coming up in Toronto so I will print some of the forms out and ask players to volunteer to fill them out too!

PS. Gonna have to get back to you on the heart monitoring tho :p

I'm new to Canada and would LOVe to get into some touneys. When and where are they? More info PLEASE!

[PuFF]

You should add a spot that is player match or ranked match.

I know for some reason I play differently in Ranked matches because SOMETHING is on the line. Even if it means nothing.

Will do a few of these tonight

[parabellum]

You should add a spot that is player match or ranked match.

I know for some reason I play differently in Ranked matches because SOMETHING is on the line. Even if it means nothing.

Will do a few of these tonight

Absolutely.

Even though I consider BP basically a useless metric with no real value...playing for points always makes me more nervous.

If I could play in Ranked like I play in Player...I would probably do measurably better in Ranked.

Its all mental...and its one reason why I would probably get raped at a tourney.

[TheGlow]

Man, I look for the adrenaline rush.
Out of 50 games, maybe ill get 1 burst of adrenaline.
always has to be a good, CLOSE match. where your earning your win, gief vs sagat or so. 3rd round, double ko type crap.
i used to get decent rushes at chinatown fair playing alpha3. but few and far between.
in retrospect i dont think ive had any kind of rush from ANY other game at all...

[caliagent#3]

I'm currently conducting a study of players in regards to their responses to stress and pressure during matches. I'm particularly interested in the effects of "adrenaline dumps", in both casual play and tournaments, and the various methods of coping with these effects.

After finishing a match, please fill out the online form here: http://tinyurl.com/sf4quiz to the best of your ability. Some of these questions are also designed to find correlations, as well as tier matchup statistics. If you want to submit multiple entries, PLEASE DO SO! If you submit 30+ forms I will try to email you back with a profile- however, you need to include the same name and email for EACH entry so I can sort them out. I may need to find someone who knows programming to make an online tool that can do this automatically (a website where you enter your name and email and it emails your profile stats to you.)

For more in-depth research, I've actually purchased a couple of wristband heart beat monitors to give to players during tournaments. Part of this research will involve independently verifying the optimal heart rate of players during "peak performance", among other interesting findings. If you can include your heart beat rate at the end of each match, that would help this research a LOT.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please let me know! I'll set aside several weeks to collect data (at the very least, May 1st) and will release the results of my analysis in this thread, along with a full-fledged writeup.

Online form: http://tinyurl.com/sf4quiz
Downloadable form (PDF): http://www.meltybread.com/sf4quiz.pdf
Heart Rate Monitors for cheap: http://www.b2cshop24.com/en/sport-he...n&currency=USD

Thank you!

Couple of questions, are you doing this for a class?? what's your expectations or hypothesis going in to the study??

Just from my experience (but i'm sure it's the same for a lot of other players), when playing online or casual matches i almost never get nervous/anxious. This includes online tournaments as well. Last week i played my first match in that CEVO tournament and the guy i was playing commented that his hands were sweating and he was getting nervous throughout the match, while on my end i had no reaction at all. The only time when nerves kick in is during offline tournaments, and even then they don't really kick in until after first/2nd round of the brackets. I have a feeling that most offline tourney players probably react the same way i do. You should probably add a question asking whether or not the respondants have participated in either offline and online tournaments. It may help in identifying trends between heart rates and symptoms.

[Arlieth Tralare]

What is the point of the research though? What I mean is, what is the ultimate goal of the research, is it to better ourselves as players by practicing relaxation methods or is it merely for curiosities sake?

I guess I don't understand what we stand gain from figuring out the optimal heart rate for SF4, it's not as if we can control that type of thing, can we? Even if we can, is someone going to do yoga before every session just to give themselves a 1% better chance of winning?

I'm not saying it's not interesting because it really is, I'm just curious what the goal is?

I'm planning to write an article on the effects of adrenaline on performance. It's a topic that's been researched heavily in other fields (self-defense, military, even poker), and it has an undeniable impact on fighting games. This kind of self-awareness (knowing the signs of adrenaline and being able to keep it under control) would benefit everyone's game- well, everyone, period. There are control techniques for heart rate that are widely used.

I also plan on using the research in a study at school for one of my classes next semester. Maybe in the future, I'll use this as a template for a site where you can keep track of your stats and progress. Need to find someone good at coding that sort of thing, though.

[Arlieth Tralare]

Couple of questions, are you doing this for a class?? what's your expectations or hypothesis going in to the study??

Just from my experience (but i'm sure it's the same for a lot of other players), when playing online or casual matches i almost never get nervous/anxious. This includes online tournaments as well. Last week i played my first match in that CEVO tournament and the guy i was playing commented that his hands were sweating and he was getting nervous throughout the match, while on my end i had no reaction at all. The only time when nerves kick in is during offline tournaments, and even then they don't really kick in until after first/2nd round of the brackets. I have a feeling that most offline tourney players probably react the same way i do. You should probably add a question asking whether or not the respondants have participated in either offline and online tournaments. It may help in identifying trends between heart rates and symptoms.

I was worried that the survey had too many questions already, but I do plan on creating a "phase 2" survey that's more detailed and records the effects of stress-controlling techniques.

I'll reveal what the hypothesis is later on (actually, if you do enough independent research you'll probably find out yourself) but as I said earlier, if I explain everything here, then I'm afraid that more people will display psychosomatic symptoms or over-represent certain traits (at least, more than they might do already). Hopefully if I have enough entries, those kinds of outliers will get averaged out. Already I'm recording an 4:1 ratio of reported wins to losses, and in a perfect world it would be exactly 1:1, 'cause somebody's got to lose. I do know that players who visit SRK are more motivated to be better players, but you see what I mean. Hehe.

[Dime_x]

my heartrate SKYROCKETS whenever i beat or come extremely close to beating a top player... luckily they usually wipe the floor with me...






... is that what an adrenaline dump is???? i need to learn how to control that stuff... i usually just tell myself to calm down or just breathe deeper, but most of the time i cant really control it well...


funny thing is this only happens when i play in tournaments or a top player... i can give a speech in front of a thousand people and not feel the least bit nervous... wierd.


-dime

[Foofmonger]

As a Sim player, I try to keep a cool head and not let my heart rate or adren levels too high.

I do this by constantly reminding myself "what would Sim do?" A yoga master would never let his bodily functions get the best of him.

Deep breaths ftw.

[The Boss]

am i the only one who ever lost weight playing SF4? I swear sometimes after a long session of playing SF4 online I check the scale and I lose 5 pounds

[Singh31]

When I'm playing I can usually keep my hands steady (surprisingly) and heartrate down, however I always get really sweaty palms. It's gotten to the point where I'm looking at surgical options to fix the problem as it also affects me outside of games to and is rather embarrassing.

[gshady]

I'm planning to write an article on the effects of adrenaline on performance. It's a topic that's been researched heavily in other fields (self-defense, military, even poker), and it has an undeniable impact on fighting games. This kind of self-awareness (knowing the signs of adrenaline and being able to keep it under control) would benefit everyone's game- well, everyone, period. There are control techniques for heart rate that are widely used.

I also plan on using the research in a study at school for one of my classes next semester. Maybe in the future, I'll use this as a template for a site where you can keep track of your stats and progress. Need to find someone good at coding that sort of thing, though.

Very cool! I'm glad to see that this is something that's serious and means a lot to you rather than some senseless "I made a survey" thread. I've filled the survey out once but plan on repeating.

I've personally noticed that my adrenaline gets pumping the first few matches but after 15-30 min (estimate) the feeling subsides. If I have a close match that has me moving around like crazy the feeling may come back sooner than later.

I personally don't care for the feeling but I'm sure there are many "Adrenaline Junkies" that love it. I'm just not comfortable with feeling like i want to flail my arms and legs out in opposite directions at the same time as hard as i can. Is that just me?