Journal of Motor Control and Learning
Volume:5 Issue: 3, Summer 2023

Information processing and cognition can be enhanced in various ways. The present study investigated the role of three intensities of aerobic exercise (Low Intensity [LIE], Moderate Intensity [MIE], High Intensity [HIE]) on information processing speed using a response time paradigm.

 Twenty-seven adult male and female volunteers (16, male; 11, female) ages 18 to 26 years (Mean age = 21.9 years) were randomly assigned to LIE, MIE, and HIE exercise groups. Exercise was performed on a bike ergometer. Participants took part in single choice (SC), multichoice (MC), and dual task (DT) performance tasks before exercise and 1 min and 20 min postexercise. Information processing speed was analyzed by calculating total response time (RPT), reaction time (RT), and movement time (MT) on a response time apparatus.

For each performance task, the impact of three intensities of exercise on RPT, RT and MT were analyzed using separate 3 (Group [exercise intensity]) x 3 (Test Block [pre-exercise, 1 min postexercise, 20 min postexercise]) repeated measures ANOVA.  Data analyses indicated: (1) participants in each exercise condition improved RT and RPT on MC (p < 0.001; p < 0.01, respectively) and DT (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, respectively) tasks but not on the SC task and these improvements were observed both immediately (1 min) and short-term (20 min) postexercise.

As RT represents more CNS mechanisms than movement per se, the faciliatory effect of exercise on the speed of task completion involved more speed of cortical processing than speed of movement when completing the task. All exercise intensity levels investigated had a positive impact on the time required to complete MC and DT tasks.

Improving the quality of life of students has become one of the main educational concerns. Therefore, the present study investigated the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between perceived social support and the quality of life of physical education students.

This research is part of an intra-university research project at the Shahrood University of Technology and has an ethical code number IR.SHAHROODUT.REC.1401.022. In terms of practical purpose, in terms of data collection method, it was descriptive-correlation and structural equation modeling. The statistical population was all physical education students of Urmia University in the academic year 2022-2023, and 157 people were selected as a sample. To measure the research variables, Zimet et al.'s perceived social support questionnaires (1988), the World Health Organization's quality of life (1996), and Rosenberg's self-esteem (1965) were used. The validity and reliability of the questionnaires were confirmed. Data analysis was done with the structural equation modeling method and Smart PLS 2 software.

The results showed that perceived social support directly and positively affects the quality of life. Perceived social support directly and positively affects self-esteem. Self-esteem directly and positively affects the quality of life. Also, self-esteem has been able to play a mediating role between perceived social support and quality of life.

Therefore, it is suggested that the families of the students as well as the relevant officials should provide the necessary support to the students in this challenging period so that students have a good quality of life in this critical period of their lives.

The use of the inter-limb transfer mechanism in the rehabilitation of Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of non-dominant hand training on motor function and dual-task cost in MS patients.

22 women with a mean age of 44.09 ± 7.26 years and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 3.83 ± 0.76 were randomly divided into control (n=11) and experimental (n=11) groups. The Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT), Box and Block Test (BBT), and Dual-Task Cost test (DTC) were taken as pre-tests for the participants. Post-test was taken 24 hours after the last intervention session and the retention test one-week later.

The results showed that the motor function (NHPT and BBT) of the experimental group improved in both dominant and non-dominant hands (P≤0.05). However, a significant decrease was observed in both dominant and non-dominant hands in the control group for NHPT and BBT (P≤ 0.05). Also, the experimental group had a lower Dual-Task Cost than the control (P < 0.001) in the post-test.

According to the results, inter-limb transfer mechanisms can be used in the rehabilitation of MS patients in both motor and cognitive dimensions.

Sleep disorders in the Covid-19 pandemic and student life are among the issues of interest to researchers, especially when the student is an athlete. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of binaural beat and lavender scent on mood and sleep quality in female student-athletes.

In this quasi-experimental study, 48 female student-athletes with low sleep quality were selected by convenience sampling and randomly divided into 4 groups: binaural beat (BB); binaural beat + lavender (BL); binaural beat + placebo (BP) and control. Over a 21-day period, the BB group listened to the binaural sounds generated by beta, alpha, and delta waves at 6 Hz for 28 minutes at 225 Hz for the left ear and 231 Hz for the right ear. Lavender scent groups inhaled two drops of lavender scent with a cotton ball every night for 7 nights before sleeping and the placebo group consumed water instead. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Social Mood Questionnaire were used to measure sleep quality and mood, respectively. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance with Bonferroni post hoc test using SPSS24 software at the significance level of 0.05.

The results showed that the mean sleep quality of the BB and BL groups were significantly improved compared to the control group (p≤0.05). In addition, the mood status of the BB, BL, and BP groups were significantly improved compared to the control group (p≤0.05).

Based on the findings, it seems that binaural beats with the inhaling the scent of lavender can improve sleep quality.

The purpose of this study was to examine the applicability of impulse-variability theory and the speed-accuracy trade-off in children’s kicking performance.

Forty-three children ages 9-11 were instructed to kick a ball at a target at 45%, 65%, 85%, and 100% of their maximum kicking speed.

Results indicated a significant quadratic relationship in variable error across the target conditions (p=0.048), such that children demonstrated significantly lower variable error at 65% versus 100% max speed. Additionally, there was a significant inverse linear relationship was indicated for spatial error (p<.0001), with post-hoc analyses indicating that mean radial error at <59%, 60-69%, and 70-79% of maximum speed was higher than at >90% of maximum speed.

These data demonstrated that principles of impulse-variability theory (i.e., Inverted-U function) and the speed-accuracy trade-off were not supported for the multi-joint ballistic skill of kicking in this sample of children. These results, along with other recent data, imply a need to reevaluate instructional emphases when promoting the learning of multi-joint ballistic skills such as kicking.

The present study has been conducted with the aim of the effect of the simultaneous implementation of the dual task on the dynamic balance of people with forward head posture.

In this quasi-experimental study, 40 male students with forward head posture and 40 normal male students were purposefully selected to participate in the present study. After familiarizing the participants with the test implementation conditions (dynamic balance with cognitive task and dynamic balance without cognitive task), each of the tests was performed three times, and between each performance, the subject rested for 30 seconds.

The results shown that there is significant difference between the dynamic balance of the participants with forward head posture position and normal participants, and the participants with forward head posture statistically have weaker dynamic balance (P<0.05). Also, the implementation of the dual task has a significant effect on the balance of both groups of participants with forward head and normal posture and statistically weakens the dynamic balance of participants with forward head posture and normal participants (P<0.05).

In general, the results of the research made it clear that the posture of the forward head posture will cause the loss and decrease of the stability of the person's posture. Also, in both groups of people with forward head and normal posture, performing a dual task leads to the weakening of postural stability.