The study by Michigan State University researchers is the first to indicate that although a human partner is still a better motivator during exercise, a software-generated partner also can be effective.
"We wanted to demonstrate that something that isn't real can still motivate people to give greater effort while exercising than if they had to do it by themselves," said Deborah Feltz, who led the study with co-investigator Brian Winn.
The implications from the research also could open the door for software and video game companies to create cyber buddy programmes based on sport psychology.
Using "CyBud-X," an exercise game specifically developed for Feltz's research, 120 college-aged participants were given five different isometric plank exercises to do with one of three same-sex partner choices.
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Along with a human partner option, two software-generated buddies were used - one representing what looked to be a nearly human partner and another that looked animated.
The participant and partner image were then projected onto a screen via a web camera while exercising.
"Even though participants paired with a human partner held their planks, on average, one minute and 20 seconds longer than those with no partner, those paired with one of the software-generated buddies still held out, on average, 33 seconds longer," said Feltz.
Much of Feltz's research in this area has focused on the Kohler Motivation Effect, a phenomenon that explains why people, who may not be adept exercisers themselves, perform better with a moderately better partner or team as opposed to working out alone.
Her findings give credence that programmes such as "CyBud-X" can make a difference in the way people perform.
"The fact that a nonhuman partner can have a similar effect is encouraging," said Feltz.
The study appears in the Games for Health Journal.