What factor can affect the duration of the perception of exertion on the RPE scale?

The perception of exertion, as measured by the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale, can be significantly influenced by an individual's mood and psychological state. When someone is feeling positive, confident, or motivated, they are likely to perceive the same intensity of exercise as less demanding than if they are anxious, depressed, or stressed. Psychological factors can alter an individual’s interpretation of physical sensations, leading to a subjective experience of exertion that can vary widely even under similar physical conditions.

On the other hand, while elements like physical activity level, time of day, and nutrition intake can certainly impact overall performance and physiological responses, they do not directly address the subjective experience of exertion in the same way that mood and psychological state do. These states can have an immediate and powerful effect on how hard an individual feels they are working during exercise, making them crucial considerations when using the RPE scale to assess exertion in different contexts.