Temporal dynamics of subjective experience and performance during a dual-task in trained cyclists

This study analyzed the temporal evolution of subjective experience (pleasure, boredom, mind wandering, and perceived physical and cognitive effort) during a 30-min self-paced cycling task performed concurrently with a cognitive task (auditory Simon task) in a sample of trained cyclists. Subjective experience was assessed using the Temporal Experience Tracing (TET) method, which allowed participants to retrospectively trace the perceived intensity of each dimension over time. Physical performance (power output in W/kg) and cognitive performance (reaction time) were recorded continuously and analyzed in relation to the subjective trajectories. Results revealed that subjective states evolved nonlinearly and dynamically interacted with performance. The association between pleasure and performance reversed over time. Initially, higher power output and faster responses were linked to higher pleasure, but this pattern flipped at later stages. Physical effort was consistently driven by power output and progressively decoupled from cognitive performance. Cognitive effort was tied solely to reaction time fluctuations. Finally, mind-wandering was initially associated with higher power output and consistently linked to faster responses, while boredom showed a complex reversal, shifting from an association with faster to slower responses as fatigue accumulated. Overall, subjective experiences displayed distinct temporal patterns and associations with physical and cognitive demands, along with high inter-individual variability. The findings of the present study highlight the value of assessing subjective experience retrospectively in a continuous and multidimensional way to account for the impact of specific physical and cognitive demands in endurance sports.