Psychological Dimensions of Physical Activity, Sport, and Technology

The current collection elucidates the complex and dualistic intersection of sport psychology, physical activity, and advanced technology (including wearables, exergames, and artificial intelligence). While performance is recognized as an emergent, context-sensitive phenomenon, its assessment and introspective experience are critically recalibrated by ubiquitous digital instrumentation. Initial contributions delineate technology’s role as a precision training instrument, demonstrating its efficacy in perceptual skill enhancement (stroboscopic training) and the objective quantification of attentional demands (electroencephalography). Subsequent research transitions to examining technology as an omnipresent psychological regulator of motivation, contrasting optimal affective states in simulated versus analogous sporting environments and establishing predictive models for smart-watch adherence. The final cluster provides a critical analysis of technological ubiquity, exposing psychological vulnerabilities such as disrupted sleep patterns, identity dependence on external metrics, and the influence of algorithmic appreciation on social judgment. Collectively, these studies trace a comprehensive trajectory, underscoring the necessity for integrated inquiry into the ethical and existential implications for the modern athlete.