Motor Development and Learning
Moniralsadat Arvin; Zohreh Meshkati; Rokhsareh Badami
Abstract
Purpose and context: Executive brain functions are a vital indicator of athletic success, and one of the interventions that can affect them is quadrato exercises. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of these exercises at the behavioral level on the executive function ...
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Purpose and context: Executive brain functions are a vital indicator of athletic success, and one of the interventions that can affect them is quadrato exercises. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of these exercises at the behavioral level on the executive function of semi-skilled athletes.
Research method: A total of 100 semi-skilled female athletes participating in club levels of shooting sports in the age range of 15 to 18 years were selected from among the shooters of Yazd province using an accessible method and randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. In separate sessions, each of the Wisconsin, N-Back, and Flanker card tests was taken to measure executive function. The intervention of Quadrato exercises was performed for 6 minutes every day for 28 days. Then, the post-test was taken according to the pre-test. The data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate covariance tests in SPSS version 26 software and the significance level was considered (p<0.05).
Findings: The findings showed that quadrato exercises improved response inhibition by 12.6%, working memory by 21.6%, and cognitive flexibility by 18%.
Conclusion: The results of this research were in line with the structural and functional research of the brain. Quadrato motor training at the behavioral level had a positive effect on the three cores of executive function (cognitive flexibility, working memory, response inhibition) and can be a suitable intervention to increase the executive function of athletes.
Motor Development and Learning
elahe siavashi; ayoub hashemi; abouzar saadatian
Abstract
Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of different cognitive conditions in dyad trainings on the improvement and stability of executive functions (working memory, response inhibition) of table tennis players.
Methods: In a semi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test ...
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Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of different cognitive conditions in dyad trainings on the improvement and stability of executive functions (working memory, response inhibition) of table tennis players.
Methods: In a semi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test and retention design, 24 boys (mean age 15.03±0.076) were selected through convenience sampling from boys' schools in yasouj city and randomly assigned to two groups: high cognitive load and low cognitive load. Both groups performed dyad trainings for 6 sessions with their respective cognitive engagement levels. Each session consisted of 20 repetitions (3 minutes) with a 1-minute rest period between repetitions. The participants' working memory and response inhibition were measured by the n-back and go/no go tests in the pre-test, post-test, and retention stages, respectively. Data were analyzed using a mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) test.
Results: The results showed that both high and low cognitive load groups had a significant effect from pre-test to retention on working memory (P<0.05), and the high cognitive load group performed better than the low cognitive load group. Neither group showed a significant effect on response inhibition (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: In general, the results of the present study indicate that dyad trainings with high cognitive load provide the possibility of improving the working memory of table tennis players.
Motor Development and Learning
Hassan Mohammadzade; sara soltanifar; zahra afazeli
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of gender stereotypes threat and conceptions of Ability on (a) motor performance (soccer dribbling) and (b) working memory (2- back) in young adolescent girls.
Methods: Ninety participants (Mage = 14.02 years old) were randomly ...
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Introduction: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of gender stereotypes threat and conceptions of Ability on (a) motor performance (soccer dribbling) and (b) working memory (2- back) in young adolescent girls.
Methods: Ninety participants (Mage = 14.02 years old) were randomly assigned into a gender stereotype threat and a control group (neutral; without stereotype threat). Each group was further randomly divided into inherent ability and acquired skill subgroups. Research tasks included soccer dribbling and the n-back test. In the pre test, they performed 1 blocks of five trials soccer dribbling and n-back test. in the practice phase, the individuals performed 12 blocks of five trials and then 48 hr later in retention and transfer (under pressure) participated in the same way as the pre test.
Results: Findings showed that there was no significant difference between the groups in the acquisition phase of the soccer dribbling task (p >.05), but there was a significant difference in time and error scores in the retention and transfer tests. However, gender Stereotype threat and ability concepts did not affect working memory.
Conclusion: Implicit activation of gender stereotypes does not always lead to negative consequences. Possible mechanisms regarding the effect of gender stereotypes threat and conceptions of Ability on motor performance and working memory were discussed.
Keywords: Motor skill, Stereotype threat, Working memory
Motor Development and Learning
heidar hanoon; ali heyrani; ehsan amiri
Abstract
Introduction: This research investigates the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation, in one or more sessions, on the executive functions of novice tennis players.
Methods: 27 novice male tennis players (mean age 20.29 ± 0.29) were randomly and double-blindly divided into three groups: experimental ...
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Introduction: This research investigates the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation, in one or more sessions, on the executive functions of novice tennis players.
Methods: 27 novice male tennis players (mean age 20.29 ± 0.29) were randomly and double-blindly divided into three groups: experimental group 1 (5 sessions of anodal stimulation), experimental group 2 (1 session of anodal stimulation), and control group (no anodal stimulation). Stimulation was applied for 20 minutes at an intensity of 2 mA in the M1 and DLPFC regions. Indicators of selective attention, working memory, response inhibition and cognitive flexibility were measured before (pre-test), after 5 sessions (post-test) and 2 weeks after the intervention (retention). For statistical analysis, a repeated measures ANOVA test (3x3 factorial design) was used.
Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference between the intervention groups in the indicators of selective attention and working memory in any of the evaluation stages (P> 0.05). However, experimental group 1 showed a more significant improvement in response inhibition (p= 0.018) and cognitive flexibility (p= 0.14) indices in the retention test compared to the control group, while no significant difference was observed between the other groups (P> 0.05). Both experimental groups showed significant improvement in all indicators in the post-test and retention. Notably, experimental group 1 showed a significant improvement in all indicators from post-test to retention (P<0.05).
Conclusion: In conclusion, both single-session and multi-session tDCS enhance executive functions in novice tennis players, with repeated stimulation yielding more durable cognitive benefits.
Javad Nasiri; Rasool Zeidabadi; Mohammad reza Shahabi kaseb
Abstract
Introduction: Achieving a high level of motor learning requires finding an optimal combination of variables and methods. This research aimed to investigate the interactive effect of the focus of attention (internal and external) and learning approach (explicit and implicit) on the retention and transfer ...
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Introduction: Achieving a high level of motor learning requires finding an optimal combination of variables and methods. This research aimed to investigate the interactive effect of the focus of attention (internal and external) and learning approach (explicit and implicit) on the retention and transfer of basketball free throw skills.Methods: Forty-eight volunteer male students were randomly assigned to four Explicit Learning - Internal Attention, Explicit Learning - External Attention, Implicit Learning - Internal Attention, and Implicit Learning - External Attention groups. In the acquisition phase, the groups practiced basketball free throws in 6 blocks of 10 trials. 24 hours after the end of the acquisition phase, a retention test and two transfer tests were performed in a block of 10 trials for each test. The first transfer test was performed 10 minutes after the retention test under pressure conditions, and the second transfer test was performed ten minutes after the first transfer test from a 4-meter distance and a 45-degree angle.Results: The results showed that in explicit learning conditions, the external focus of attention and in implicit learning conditions, the internal focus of attention led to better learning in basketball free throw.Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, the cognitive overload of the explicit learning approach was moderated by providing the external focus of attention instructions. However, in the implicit learning approach, due to the use of analogy learning, little cognitive load is exerted on the learners’ working memory and it is possible to direct their attention to the skill itself or parts of the body that are involved in the execution of skill to achieve the benefits of the internal focus of attention.
Mahta Eskandarnejad; Zahra Hoseinzadeh
Abstract
Introduction: Athletes in team sports must make many decisions when perceiving and interpreting available environmental information regarding the position of the ball,teammates, and opposing players while taking appropriate actions. Considering the nature of volleyball and the need to pay attention to ...
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Introduction: Athletes in team sports must make many decisions when perceiving and interpreting available environmental information regarding the position of the ball,teammates, and opposing players while taking appropriate actions. Considering the nature of volleyball and the need to pay attention to multiple stimuli during training and matches, a high capacity for cognitive abilities such as working memory seems essential. This research aimed to compare the effectiveness of spatial and numerical working memory of skilled and semi-skilled volleyball players following decision-making exercises.Methods: sixty female volleyball players, 30 of them for the semi-skilled group (15 people for each of the training and control groups) and 30 for the skilled group (15 people for each of the training and control groups) with the age range of 19-25 years were selected according to purposive sampling method. The protocol of decision-making exercises was carried out for 18 sessions and three blocks of 20-trial exercises were performed according to the training instructions for each group. The working memory capacity test was used to evaluate working memory. To test the hypothesis, due to the normal distribution of the data, the between- and within-groups factorial analysis of variance (mixed model) was used.Results: The results of the analysis at the significance level of α = 0.05 showed that there is a significant difference between the training groups, and the decision-making group got the highest score. The decision-making exercises at the semi-skilled level of proficiency compared to the skill level has a significant improvement in the spatial working memory variable.Conclusion: The result shows that exercises with high cognitive load can be a necessity to ncrease spatial working memory in semi-skilled female volleyball players.
Maryam Kavyani; Behrouz Abdoli; Reza Ebrahimi
Abstract
The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cognitive empowerment on working memory and observational learning of dart throwing skill in children. 40 students aged between 10 and 11 were selected by convenience sampling method. In the first phase, cognitive empowerment was performed and ...
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The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cognitive empowerment on working memory and observational learning of dart throwing skill in children. 40 students aged between 10 and 11 were selected by convenience sampling method. In the first phase, cognitive empowerment was performed and in the second phase observational learning of dart throwing skill was performed. In the first phase, the cognitive pretest was performed and the subjects were divided into two homogenies groups (each group 20 subjects): cognitive practice and no cognitive practice based on their age and pretest scores. The cognitive group received 8 sessions (45 minutes per session) of cognitive empowerment practice. Then, both groups received cognitive posttest. The cognitive tests were performed using Corsiblack (working memory) software. In the second phase of the study, each of the first phase groups were divided into 2 groups (10 subjects each group): observational + physical and physical. After dart throwing pretest, dart throwing was practiced in the form of observational and physical (3 sections of 20 throwing). The observational + physical group watched the skilled model of dart throwing through video in addition to dart throwing. Then, posttest was performed at the end of the second phase. Analysis of variance with repeated measures of 2 * 3 and 4 * 2 was used. The results showed that the working memory of cognitive group was significantly better than non-cognitive group. The cognitive + observational + physical group performed significantly better in the dart posttest than the other groups. It seems that cognitive empowerment can facilitate learning trough observation.
Alihossein Naseri; Abbas Bahram; Hamid Salehi; Afkham Daneshvar
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of errorless practice on learning an aiming skill in mentally retarded adolescents. 40 mentally retarded adolescents were assigned to four practice groups based on intelligence quotient and working memory capacity. The task was to throw basketball mini ...
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The aim of this study was to determine the effects of errorless practice on learning an aiming skill in mentally retarded adolescents. 40 mentally retarded adolescents were assigned to four practice groups based on intelligence quotient and working memory capacity. The task was to throw basketball mini balls into a target with concentric circles. The practice of groups was different from each other. The subjects performed 200 practice attempts in 5 practice blocks in the acquisition stage. Single task and dual task tests were implemented immediately, with 24-hour latency and one-week latency. The secondary task involved counting even numbers forward. The results showed that the groups with the least error and the least involvement in work memory during the practice outperformed other groups in acquisition stage, the single task test and dual task test. The findings of this study were consistent with the Adam's closed loop theory, the reinvestment theory, and the estimates of the challenge point framework regarding errors in the acquisition stage, but they were contradictory with the estimates of the schema theory. These findings also provided evidence to support the claim of the challenge point framework and the reinvestment theory about special individuals (mentally retarded).
Golchin Shokreh; Fatemeh Hosseini
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on working memory in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest and posttest and retention with experimental and control groups. ...
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on working memory in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest and posttest and retention with experimental and control groups. The research population consisted of children (age: 7-11 years old) in Urmia city in 2018. 16 children with DCD were selected as the sample with convenience sampling method and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and then were randomly divided into two groups: experimental (n=8) and control (n=8). The experimental group received 10 sessions (each session 10 minutes) of tDCS on f4 and f3 brain zones with 0.75 mA circuitry. The control group received 10 sessions of sham circuitry for 20 seconds, then the circuity was cut off, but they were not informed of this sham circuity. The data of working memory were collected using N-BACK test. The analysis of variance with repeated measurements was used to test the research hypothesis (P=0.05). The results showed that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) had a significant effect on the enhancement of working memory and the effect would continue to the retention phase (P=0.05). This approach can be used to improve working memory in children with DCD.
Zahra Soori; Ali Heirani; Frozan Rafie; Zahra Falahi
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of perceptual-motor training on working memory in children with hearing disorders. For this purpose, 24 student with hearing loss (9-12 years old) in Kermanshah were selected and randomly divided to experimental and control groups. A working memory ...
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of perceptual-motor training on working memory in children with hearing disorders. For this purpose, 24 student with hearing loss (9-12 years old) in Kermanshah were selected and randomly divided to experimental and control groups. A working memory test by Wechsler memory software was used in this study. The experimental group performed a perceptual-motor training program (static and dynamic balance exercises, throw and receive the ball …) for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week, 60 minutes each session. Finally, both groups conducted the posttest. Based on α=0.01 and normal distribution of data, mixed ANOVA test was used. The results showed that working memory was influenced by perceptual-motor training (P<0.05). Children in the experimental group showed a better significant performance in terms of counting on forward and visual memory span than control group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the countdown between the two groups (P˃0.05). The present findings suggest that perceptual-motor training can improve working memory in children with hearing loss.
Jalal Dehghanizade; Maryam Lotfi; Hasan Mohammadzade
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of physical training and working memory training on mental rotation ability. 45 non-athlete female students were purposively selected and randomly assigned to one of these groups: aerobic training, working memory training and control (each group ...
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The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of physical training and working memory training on mental rotation ability. 45 non-athlete female students were purposively selected and randomly assigned to one of these groups: aerobic training, working memory training and control (each group 15 subjects). This study was quasi-experimental, which was a type of pretest-posttest with a control group. Mental rotation test was conducted for the sample. Physical training and working memory training groups participated respectively in aerobic training and working memory training for 30 minutes daily for two weeks. The control group performed their daily activities. Results of ANOVA with repeated measures showed that aerobic and working memory training affected mental rotation ability (P≤0.05). The findings suggested that cognitive abilities are facilitated by cognitive and motor interventions.
