Examining the effects of increasing then decreasing exercise intensity within a session of aerobic exercise

Recent studies have examined the relations between the slope of pleasure experienced during exercise and remembered pleasure, forecasted pleasure, and enjoyment. Objectives This study advances this line of research by examining the effects of exposing participants to exercise that increases in intensity and then decreases in intensity. Methods In a within-subjects design, participants completed three exercise sessions matched for total and average work. One session steadily increased in intensity, another steadily decreased in intensity, and a third increased-then-decreased in intensity. Remembered pleasure, forecasted pleasure, and exercise enjoyment served as primary outcome variables. Results Remembered pleasure, forecasted pleasure, and enjoyment did not differ between conditions. Remembered pleasure was positively associated with mean experienced pleasure, the overall slope of pleasure during the exercise session, affect experienced at the end of exercise, forecasted pleasure, accomplishment, and enjoyment. Conclusions These data add to a growing literature on the effects of patterns of exercise intensity on affective responses to exercise. The results are discussed in context of previous and more recent research.