ABSTRACT
A theory develops and gains credibility as a function of supportive findings from the research it stimulates and to the extent that initial results can be replicated and validated concurrently on the basis of multiple outcome measures. Because the Theory of Critical Moments (TCM) advances a mind-body model of sport performance, it is essential that physiological concomitants or correlates of primary higher order (PHO) constellations can be isolated, especially during critical moments of competition. The presence of consistently manifested trends of physiological responding during crucial phases of competition would serve to concurrently validate the effects that psychological variables (PHO factors) have been shown to exert on performance. The following study on heart rate variability (HRV), using methods in ambulatory psychophysiology, was carried out in an attempt to validate concurrently certain psychophysiological components of the TCM.
