Perceptual and Motor Skills最新文献

In the current study we aimed to investigate the effect of specific dual task training (SDTT) compared to conventional soccer training (CST) on motor and cognitive performances in U13 elite soccer players. Twenty-four young soccer players (all males) participated in this study. We measured their change of direction ability (CODA) and cognitive performances (cognitive flexibility and inhibition) before and after four weeks in either the SDTT group or the CST group. We administered the Trail-Making Test (TMT) to evaluate cognitive flexibility and the Stroop test to evaluate cognitive inhibition. We assessed CODA using the t test (TT). After training, CODA (p < .001), cognitive flexibility (p < .001), and inhibition (p < .001) were improved only in the SDTT group. These results suggest that SDTT seems more suitable than CST to optimally improve both CODA and cognitive performances in U13 elite soccer players.

As Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may have an unknown influence on the self-reports of physical activity of adults with ADHD and there is a need for high quality self-report assessments of this kind, we examined the test-retest reliability and construct validity of the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire-Health Contributions Score (GLTEQ-HCS) in its use with 35 adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (26 females, 9 males; Mage = 28.7, SD = 6.3 years). Participants completed the GLTEQ twice and wore an ActiGraph GT9X-accelerometer for seven-days. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) determined test-retest reliability, and we determined construct validity based on correlations between the GLTEQ-HCS and minutes/day of sedentary behavior (SB), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), as well as differences in SB, LPA, and MVPA among the three GLTEQ-HCS subgroups. The GLTEQ-HCS had excellent test-retest reliability [ICC = 0.98, 0.95 to 0.99], and it was positively correlated with MVPA (r = 0.47, p = .006; r_s = 0.52, p = .002). There was a significant and large difference in minutes/day of device-measured MVPA between the three GLTEQ-HCS groups [F (2,32) = 7.30, p = .003, η² = 0.33]. These results provide psychometric support for using the GLTEQ-HCS with adults who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Bright light impacts the human circadian system such that exposure to bright light at night can suppress melatonin secretion, and exposure to bright light in the morning prevents light-induced melatonin suppression at night. The preventive effect of morning light may attenuate the prior history of light sensitivity of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) that regulate the circadian system. In this study, we evaluated electroretinogram (ERG) responses to red and blue flickering lights following dim and bright daylight conditions. Eleven healthy females underwent ERG measurements during exposure to 33 Hz flickering red or blue light under dim and bright daytime conditions. We averaged ERG waves for 50 flickering light pulses of the trigger signal data. We obtained the amplitude of the signal-averaged ERG by calculating the difference between the waves' peaks and bottoms. Although there was no significant dim and bright light difference in the amplitude of ERG waves, the ERG amplitude to flickering blue light under the bright light condition was significantly lower than to flickering blue light under the dim light condition. In this study, blue light stimulated mainly ipRGCs and S-cones. Since S-cones may contribute minimally to the light-adapted 33 Hz flicker ERG results, our findings suggest that bright light during the daytime attenuates the sensitivity of human ipRGCs.

We assessed the effect of a one-week mindfulness-based intervention on resilience, social behavior, and motor skills in four to five-year-old children. In this randomized controlled trial, 45 children (22 females; 23 males; M age = 4.5, SD = 0.4 years) from the same preschool were randomly assigned to three groups: (a) a mindfulness group (MG; n = 15) that participated in five 30-min mindfulness sessions; (b) a physical activity group (PAG; n = 15) that engaged in five 45-min physical exercise sessions; and a control group (CG; n = 15) that received no intervention. Training sessions were held on five consecutive days. Prior to (T0) and after the five mindfulness sessions (T1), all participants blindly completed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (to assess their motor skills), the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (to evaluate their behavior), and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-28 (to measure their resilience). At baseline (T0), there were no significant differences between the groups. The mindfulness group experienced the strongest positive effects after the intervention (T1), with improvements in both motor skills and social behavior, though there was no significant effect on resilience. Our results suggest that a brief mindfulness training intervention is a promising strategy for improving motor skills and social behavior in early childhood settings.

Since boredom significantly contributes to diminished motivation among learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), there is a need to identify factors that influence boredom. Amidst various elements that can precipitate students' boredom, educational-related concepts have garnered particular attention, with the learning environment emerging as a chief focal point due to its consequential importance to learners. Specifically, the role of teachers' clarity and immediacy in manipulating learners' performance, enthusiasm, and involvement has been widely recognized. Consequently, in this study, we scrutinized the impact of EFL teachers' immediacy and clarity in mitigating learners' boredom. To this end, we collected data from 383 Chinese students through the administration of three scales measuring their perceptions of teacher clarity, teacher immediacy, and learners' boredom. We identified significant associations between teachers' clarity and immediacy and learners' boredom. In Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis, both teacher immediacy and clarity were robust predictors of students' boredom, with about 48% of the variance in students' boredom accounted for by teachers' immediacy, and 53% of this variance attributed to teachers' clarity. We elaborate upon the implications of these findings in our discussion.

Given the value of student engagement and its impact on academic performance, it is critical to identify factors that influence student engagement in different educational contexts. To do so, we examined the contributions of perceived teacher autonomy support and school climate in English as a foreign language (EFL) students' learning engagement. We conducted online surveys of 331 Chinese intermediate English learners. We substantiated the validity of the survey scales for measuring these three latent variables through confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), and we employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify interrelationships in these variables of interest. Both perceived teacher autonomy support and school climate were significantly and positively related to student engagement, with school climate more strongly correlated than teacher autonomy support. These findings suggest that teacher autonomy support and a positive school climate are important contributors to student engagement in EFL classrooms, and we discussed practical implications of these discoveries for EFL teachers.

Plyometric training in football is essential for enhancing athletic performance, as it allows for increasing strength and speed in gameplay. Meanwhile, mental visualization improves players' technical play and motor performance during both training and competitions, thereby contributing to an overall sports performance enhancement. Collectively, physical and technical training is thought to boost athletes' confidence in facing competitive demands. Our aim in the present study was to analyze the effectiveness of mental visualization during a plyometric training program for improving strength speed, and competitive self-confidence in young adult football (soccer) players. Our sample consisted of 40 male players aged between 19 and 25 years (M = 20.82; SD = 1.26). We used a quasi-experimental design with a control group and pretest/posttest measurements. The experimental group participated in an 8-week plyometric training program that incorporated visualization tasks, while the control group underwent the same program but without visualization exercises. We found significant improvements for the experimental group on vertical jump (p = .047) and speed (50-m sprints) (p < .034) tests, as well as in their perceived competitive self-confidence (p < .017). These findings suggest that combining plyometric exercises with visualization tasks may contribute to better motor learning, increased lower limb muscle speed and strength, and self-confidence to face competition.

While left-handers have been overrepresented among 7-meter shooters in handball, previous investigators have not found success from the 7-meter line to be related to handedness. Drawing on previous handedness research in sport, we performed two studies to examine possible negative frequency-dependent advantages to left-handedness during 7-meter throws among elite players. In Study I, we analyzed the records of 974 7-meter shooters from Danish and Norwegian elite divisions (485 males and 489 females) and found that left-handed males were overrepresented compared to the prevalence of left-handers in these two leagues, but left-handed females were not. An analysis of covariance showed no statistically significant associations between throwing arm or sex, and success from the 7-meter line. In Study II, we analyzed the records of 899 7-meter shooters at 41 major championships for both males and females between 2007-2023 (442 males and 457 females). We again found left-handed males to be overrepresented compared to their prevalence at the championships, but left-handed females were not. Also, in alignment with Study I, an analysis of covariance found no associations between throwing arm or sex, and success from 7-meter throws. These findings further underline the complexities associated with lateral biases in sports, where there appear to be benefits for left-handed males in the selection process that are not evident during performance execution.

In this study, we explored the impact of tilted designs of anthropomorphic app icons on users' perceptions of icon vividness across three experiments. In Experiment 1, tilting with an angle of 45° to the left increased perceived icon vividness. In Experiment 2, sequential icon tilt angles at 30° intervals manipulation showed that small tilt angles (e.g., 30° to the left or right) enhanced participant perceptions of dynamism and vividness, and participants perceived greater vividness in anthropomorphic app icons with slight tilting, driven by this increased dynamism. In Experiment 3, we excluded the effect of the completeness of icons on these participants' evaluations and affirmed that slightly tilting designs was an effective visual strategy for improving perceived vividness to attract users.

Single-limb stance (SLS) is a demanding postural task, widely used for balance assessment in both research and clinical practice. Despite extensive data on elderly and clinical populations, less is known about younger and healthier adults. Our aim in this study was to assess balance during a SLS task among a cohort of healthy adults to determine whether there are age or sex group or testing condition differences in performances. In this cross-sectional study, we involved 120 participants aged 30-65 years and divided them into four age sub-groups with equal numbers of males and females in each. We assessed balance during a 45-s SLS task on a] the Delos Postural Proprioceptive System for both lower limbs in two conditions - open eyes (OE) and closed eyes (CE). We calculated stability (SI) and autonomy (AU) indices and used analysis of variance to determine that there was no significant effect of limb dominance or sex on balance parameters. However, there was a significant interaction effect between age group and testing condition for both SI and AU (p < .001 for both), with balance worsening as age increased only in the CE condition. These results highlight a pattern of balance decline with age when vision is eliminated from balance performance, underscoring the critical relationship between sensory input and postural control as people age.