Perceptual and Motor Skills最新文献

Background: Achieving a balance between speed and accuracy is crucial for optimal motor performance in sports and professional settings. However, rapid movements often compromise accuracy, a phenomenon known as the speed-accuracy trade-off, which can be measured using Fitts' Law. Emotional state also influences motor performance, particularly arousal levels, which may vary depending on task type (fine vs. gross motor tasks). Arousal regulation techniques like breath control may help optimize performance in speed-accuracy tasks. Purpose: This study examined the effects of breathing frequencies on the speed-accuracy trade-off in fine and gross motor tasks. Methods: Using a repeated-measures design, 44 participants completed two motor tasks under three breathing conditions (normal, slow, and fast), with condition and task order randomly counterbalanced. The fine motor task was performed on an iPad, while the gross motor task used a Smart Board. Results: The results revealed significant effects of breathing rate and task type but no interaction. Slow breathing led to less performance variability and lower arousal than fast breathing. As task difficulty increased, response times increased more in gross motor tasks. Fine motor tasks showed slower baseline average reaction times. Gross motor tasks also heightened arousal and stress levels. Conclusion: This aligns with previous research suggesting that slow breathing enhances autonomic regulation, improves motor performance consistency, and influences arousal. The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of how breathing frequencies can positively impact performers across diverse tasks that require precise and swift decision-making.

BackgroundDual-task training (DTT), which integrates simultaneous cognitive and motor or balance activities, has gained prominence in neurorehabilitation as a means to improve both physical and cognitive function. However, its comparative efficacy relative to single-task training (STT) remains uncertain.ObjectiveThis systematic review provides a narrative synthesis of cognitive and physical outcomes from DTT versus STT across neurologically impaired populations and conducts a focused meta-analysis on gait speed; the only consistently reported physical outcome across studies.MethodsA comprehensive search of Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library (up to 26 July 2024) identified seven eligible randomized controlled trials (n = 207). Study quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Narrative synthesis was conducted for all outcomes, and a meta-analysis was performed on studies reporting post-intervention gait speed, a common indicator of physical function.ResultsNarrative synthesis indicated that DTT consistently improved executive function, attention, memory, gait performance, balance, and quality of life across studies. Nevertheless, the meta-analysis of five RCTs revealed a small, non-significant pooled effect on gait speed (Hedges' g = 0.12; 95% CI: -0.57 to 0.82; p = .74) with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 69.05%). Egger's test showed no evidence of publication bias (p = .5227). Diagnosis-specific patterns emerged: participants with Parkinson's disease demonstrated notable gains in gait and quality of life, whereas those with mild cognitive impairment improved in executive function and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).ConclusionsDTT appears to offer condition-dependent benefits for gait and executive function but does not demonstrate overall superiority to STT based on current evidence. Its multidomain effects likely reflect improvements in attentional control, motor automaticity, and cognitive-motor integration. Future large-scale, diagnosis-specific trials using standardized outcomes and mechanistic endpoints are needed to clarify DTT's efficacy and guide implementation.

Physical literacy (PL) is an important aspect of children motor development. This study aimed to analyze the longitudinal relationship between children's motor competence (MC) and physical activity (PA) including the mediational role of perceived PL and whether the invariance of the model remains consistent over time (Time 1 [T1] and 2 [T2]). The study involved 578 Spanish children (50% girls) aged 9.52 years (SD = 3.50) at baseline, who participated voluntarily. Whereas PL and PA were associated at T1, positive associations among all the variables were only found at T2. Specifically, perceived PL acted as a mediator between actual MC and PA at T2 (p < .05), mainly due to the physical and psychological domains. Furthermore, model invariance was found between T1 and T2 for both the overall and according to the domains, confirming the model's stability over time. Longitudinal analysis at T2 (controlling for T1) showed that improvements in actual MC predicted increases in perceived PL, which in turn led to higher children's PA engagement. The findings highlight the importance of teachers and stakeholders in promoting MC and perceived PL, as a holistic perspective of self-perception in motor development, to encourage lifelong PA and health over time.

Appropriate induction of mental fatigue in the lab is imperative for properly investigating the effects of mental fatigue on behavior. In this study, we aimed to (1) identify a task for inducing mental fatigue that is both effective (i.e. sufficiently demanding) and feasible (i.e., sufficiently short in duration), and (2) to assess its effects on boredom, loss of motivation, and sleepiness. Therefore, we compared the following tasks: (1) an individualized TloadDback task (16 minutes), (2) an individualized TloadDback task (32 minutes), (3) an N-back task (32 minutes), and (4) a control task in the form of watching a documentary (32 minutes), using a within-participants design with 30 participants. Subjective and objective outcome measures were used to evaluate levels of fatigue, boredom, motivation and sleepliness pre- and post-task. While all investigated tasks induced mental fatigue, the individualized TloadDback struck the best balance between effectiveness and feasibility and should therefore be preferred in experimental research.

Background: Observational learning plays a crucial role in the acquisition of complex motor skills such as dance, where learners observe expert demonstrations and transform perceptual information into coordinated motor execution. This process depends on how visual attention is allocated during observation, yet the role of gaze behavior in perception-action coupling during structured dance learning remains poorly understood. Purpose: This study examined how differences in expertise are reflected in gaze behavior during structured observational learning, and how these gaze patterns relate to the quality of movement reproduction in dance. Research Design: A mixed experimental design was employed, combining a between-group comparison of expert and novice dancers with a within-subject manipulation of repeated observation, followed by a movement reproduction phase. Study Sample: Twenty-six female participants took part in the study, including 11 expert dancers with over five years of formal training and 15 novice dancers with less than one year of dance experience. Data Collection and Analysis: Gaze behavior was recorded using mobile eye-tracking during twenty times repeated observations of choreographed dance sequence, and movement reproduction quality was assessed through expert-rated performance measures, with gaze and performance data analysed using repeated-measures ANOVAs and group comparisons. Results: Expert dancers exhibited longer fixation durations and fewer fixations. They also demonstrated larger saccadic amplitudes compared to novices, with greater visual focus on movement-relevant regions such as the shoulders, pelvis, thighs, and knees. Expert dancers received higher scores in both completeness and expert rating. Conclusions: Expertise-related differences were associated with more efficient and selective visual attention during observation, supporting perceptual-motor integration and accurate movement execution. By demonstrating how gaze behavior mediates the transformation of perceptual input into motor output, this study advances understanding of perception-action coupling in dance learning. These insights may inform the design of gaze-based feedback tools and adaptive training in physical or digital dance instruction.

BackgroundFootwork choices in épée fencing shape distance management, action initiation and load tolerance, yet empirical guidance on stepping versus bouncing footwork is limited. This study elicited expert consensus on definitions, coaching progression and competitive application of these footwork methods.MethodsA two-round, internet-based Delphi was conducted with Olympic-level épée coaches recruited via purposive sampling (Round One n = 26; Round Two n = 21). Round One open responses underwent inductive thematic analysis to generate statements. Round Two presented concise, operationalised items (single-choice/yes-no). Consensus was pre-specified as ≥70% agreement. For each item, the modal percentage and exact 95% binomial confidence interval (CI) were reported; margins over the runner-up quantified concentration of views.ResultsTwo items reached consensus: (i) teaching sequence: teach stepping first, introduce bouncing later (76.2%; 95% CI 52.8-91.8); and (ii) en garde across development: begin static/comfortable, add bouncing later (71.4%; CI 47.8-88.7). Two items showed near-threshold majorities with large margins: bouncing faster for attack initiation (66.7%; CI 43.0-85.4), and typical attack distance has decreased in modern épée (66.7%, CI 43.0-85.4). Confidence intervals were wide because items were rated by approximately 21 coaches; exact binomial 95% intervals for proportions near two-thirds typically span ∼±20 percentage points, reflecting panel size rather than disagreement.ConclusionsExpert coaches supported a progressive footwork movement pathway (step → bounce) and indicated context-sensitive deployment: bouncing likely affords time-based advantages for attack initiation, whereas defence/change-of-direction benefits from a repertoire that includes both modes. Findings bridge practitioner knowledge with motor-learning theory and promote studies linking footwork type to kinetics and kinematics, bout outcomes and tests of moderators such as athlete characteristics and opponent tempo.

Visuospatial skill, the ability to visualize and mentally manipulate information, is a process impacted by different factors like demographics, visual intelligence, and expertise in domains relying on these skills, such as visual arts or engineering. Here, we tested the unique contribution of drawing skills in predicting visuospatial performance while accounting for other factors, such as age and gender. Using a remotely and self-administered protocol, we tested visuospatial and drawing skills in 236 artists, visual and literary, aged 20 to 95 and located across the United States. Drawing accuracy and a measure of visual intelligence emerged as the strongest predictors of visuospatial skill. In addition, we provided further evidence for age-related differences that were driven by response times, along with gender differences in favor of men that were driven by accuracy. Visual arts expertise did not have a moderating effect on age or gender. Overall, the findings highlight the unique contribution of drawing skills to mental transformation performance.

Background: Previous studies have shown mixed results for the relationship between physical activity experiences and gross motor development. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between children's level of engagement in selected leisure-time physical activities (active transport, sports, and play) and their emergent gross motor behavior measured in a virtual-reality playground environment. Study Sample: To this end, 247 children aged 7-10 years old (girls: n = 127; boys: n = 120) participated. Reserach Design & Data Collection: Children were provided with a three-minute playground scenario in virtual reality, developed for free exploration, play, and with the possibility to move around without specific instructions. An inertial motion capture system was used to assess motor behavior in the playground, and the children's levels of engagement in weekly leisure-time physical activities were obtained through a parental questionnaire. Results: Correlation and principal component analysis were used to investigate the joint movement variability in the upper and lower body, while t-tests were applied to examine the potential differences in playground motor behavior and engagement in leisure-time physical activities. In statistical comparisons of children with high or low weekly activity rates, children with the highest levels of weekly engagement in play and active transport were found to have significantly higher upper-body movement variability. However, no other significant differences were found between high and low levels of leisure-time physical activity in terms of emergent motor behavior in the virtual reality playground. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the value of considering multiple dimensions of children's leisure-time physical activities when studying its relation to the development of motor control and coordination in middle childhood.

Today, it is thought that the desire to achieve the ideal body image may have a negative impact on the possibility of engaging with exercise and experiencing positive emotions during exercise. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the role of objectified body consciousness, which affects positive mood and self-conscious thoughts in predicting leisure satisfaction, which has a major share in individuals' quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the dispositional flow state, objectified body consciousness, and leisure satisfaction scores among sports center members. The sample of the study consisted of 340 members of sports centers. According to the hierarchical regression analysis, objectified body consciousness significantly predicted leisure satisfaction and explained 4.2% of the variance in the participants' leisure satisfaction scores. It was found that the dispositional flow state, along with the contribution of objectified body consciousness, significantly predicted leisure satisfaction and explained 25.2% of the variance. It was determined that the combined variables of objectified body consciousness and dispositional flow state accounted for a total variance of 29.4% in leisure satisfaction. The results supported the proposition that objectified body consciousness associated with body surveillance may play a role in experiencing less of a positive emotional state defined as a dispositional flow state. In order to ensure that individuals spend their leisure time productively through regular exercise participation, it is important for sports center operators and instructors to plan activities that address individual needs and provide supportive environments.

AimStroke often leads to impaired motor functions, particularly in upper extremities, making functional recovery essential for quality of life and independence. This study aims to examine effects of robot-assisted therapy on upper extremity functions and activities of daily living in rehabilitation of geriatric patients with chronic stroke.MethodsGeriatric participants who had a stroke at least six months prior were randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving both conventional physiotherapy and robot-assisted therapy (ReoGo end-effector robotic system) or a control group with conventional physiotherapy only. Intervention group participated in 60-min ReoGo sessions along with daily physiotherapy over four weeks. Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Assessment Scale and Functional Independence Measure evaluated motor functions and daily living independence, respectively. Pre- and post-treatment results were statistically analyzed within and between groups.ResultsAmong the 30 participants, those in intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in upper extremity functions and daily living independence compared to the control group (p < .05). While control group exhibited minor improvements, these changes were not statistically significant, underscoring the greater efficacy of combined approach.DiscussionRobot-assisted therapy significantly enhances motor recovery, likely due to its support for neuroplasticity through repetitive, controlled movements. This aligns with existing research, emphasizing benefits of robot-assisted therapy for motor learning and functional gains. ReoGo device also positively affected motivation and engagement, highlighting its potential role in long-term stroke rehabilitation. Overall, robot-assisted therapy may be a promising approach to improve motor recovery and independence in post-stroke patients, enhancing both quality of life and functional independence in daily activities.