The Comparison of Self-Control and Experimental-Control Feedback Frequencies on Learning a Throwing Task in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a term commonly used for conditions characterized by motor dysfunction due to non-progressive brain damage in early life. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of self-control and experimental-control feedback frequencies on the acquisition, retention and transfer of a throwing task in children with spastic cerebral palsy. From 1750 students with cerebral palsy in Tehran special schools, 30 children (7-12 years old) with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (SHCP) were selected by a convenience sampling method. A pretest consisting of 10 trials was performed to homogenize the participants. Participants were randomly divided into three self-control groups (with 25%, 50% and 75% feedback frequencies) and three experimental-control groups (with 25%, 50% and 75% feedback frequencies) in acquisition, retention, and transfer phases. In the acquisition phase, subjects completed 10 blocks of 8 trials (total of 80 trials). Retention and transfer phases were conducted 24 hours after the acquisition phase. These phases consisted of 10 trials without feedback, except that the subjects performed the transfer phase from 4m distance (vs. 3m distance in acquisition and retention phases). One-way ANOVA test showed no significant difference between the groups receiving the same frequencies (self-control and experimental-control groups) in the acquisition phase while self-control group outperformed in retention and transfer phases. Furthermore, participants who received higher feedback frequencies (self-control or experimental-control group) outperformed those in lower feedback frequencies in all acquisition, retention, and transfer phases. Thus, while the advantages of self-control feedback against experimental-control feedback were observed in the same feedback frequencies, it seems that children use feedbacks in a manner different from adults during motor learning. Thus children may require higher feedback frequencies than adults in order to optimize their motor learning

The Effect of Contextual Interference and Self-Regulation on Transfer of Volleyball Services

Introduction: The purpose of present study was to test the effect of contextual interference and self-regulation on the transfer of volleyball services (underhand and windmill service).Methods: Participants were 39 male students (20-25 years old) were randomly assigned to one of three groups (blocked, random and self-regulation) and performed total of 40 trials of volleyball service each session (6 sessions). The blocked group practiced 40 trials of one service each session but the random group randomly practiced both services. In self-regulated group, the type of services in each session was determined by subjects. The transfer test was conducted one week after practice period in 5 trials. In order to analyze the data, the one-way analysis of variance and the Tukey’s post hoc tests were used.Results: The comparison between the pre-test and transfer test showed that the difference between blocked and random groups was not statically significant. The  self-regulation group had higher transfer scores compared to blocked and random groups.Conclusion: The results of present work support the contexuual interference affect but it’s not significant. Self-regulated practices involve the subjects in learning processes. Also, with his method, they participate more activity in determining the characteristics of the exercise. These factors lead to the improvement of learning and better performance

The Effect of (Perceptual-Motor and Music) Enrichment of Environment on Age Equivalents of Gross and Fine Motor Movements in 5-8-Month-Old Infants

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of perceptual-motor and music enrichment of environment on the development of fine and gross motor movements in infants. 32 healthy infants (5 to 8 months old) participated in this study and were divided homogenously into four groups (each group 8 subjects): three experimental groups and one control group. Experimental groups had 36 training sessions, 60 minutes per session in their specific enriched environments. Infants in group A were assigned to a perceptual-motor and music enriched environment, infants in group B to a perceptual-motor enriched environment and infants in group C to a music enriched environment. Peabody motor development scale (second edition) was used to evaluate fine and gross motor skills. Data were analyzed using the variables of age equivalent of this scale. The obtained data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed a significant difference in mean age equivalent scores in gross motor movements (P=0.001) and in fine motor movements (P=0.001) between experimental and control groups. These findings showed that perceptual-motor and music experience had a positive effect on motor development generally and on age equivalents of fine and grossmotor movements specifically. In other words, environmental condition and experience were positive factors in fundamental and basic motor skill development in infants who participated in the three experimental groups

Mathematical modeling of hypoxia and adenosine to explore tumor escape mechanisms in DC-based immunotherapy

Abstract Identifying and controlling tumor escape mechanisms is crucial for improving cancer treatment effectiveness. Experimental studies reveal tumor hypoxia and adenosine as significant contributors to such mechanisms. Hypoxia exacerbates adenosine levels in the tumor microenvironment. Combining inhibition of these factors with dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy promises improved clinical outcomes. However, challenges include understanding dynamics, optimal vaccine dosages, and timing. Mathematical models, including agent-based, diffusion, and ordinary differential equations, address these challenges. Here, we employ these models for the first time to elucidate how hypoxia and adenosine facilitate tumor escape in DC-based immunotherapy. After parameter estimation using experimental data, we optimize vaccination protocols to minimize tumor growth. Sensitivity analysis highlights adenosine’s significant impact on immunotherapy efficacy. Its suppressive role impedes treatment success, but inhibiting adenosine could enhance therapy, as suggested by the model. Our findings shed light on hypoxia and adenosine-mediated tumor escape mechanisms, informing future treatment strategies. Additionally, identifiability analysis confirms accurate parameter determination using experimental data

A Compression of Quiet Eye in Children with High and Low Motor Proficiency

The aim of this study was to compare quiet eye in children with high and low motor proficiency. In this causal-comparative study, 40 children (7 to 14 years old) in Isfahan city were selected by multiple cluster sampling method. Participants performed throwing and catching task in 10 trials. The data of quiet eyes were recorded by an eye tracking device (Ergoneers) and analyzed by Dikablis 3.1 software when performing the desired task.  After the evaluation of data normality, the data were analyzed by independent t test and Pearson correlation coefficient at the significance level of 0.05. Independent t test results showed that children with high motor proficiency were better in the onset of QE (P=0.0001), offset of QE (P=0.023), QE duration (P=0.0001) and catching performance (P=0.0001) than children with lower motor proficiency. Also, the results showed a significant negative relationship between the catching performance and the onset of QE and a significant positive relationship between the catching performance and the offset of QE and QE duration in both groups of children with high and low motor proficiency. The results of the study generally revealed that the QE is considered as an effective variables associated with motor performance and appropriate to expertise level

Contributions of External Attentional Focus, Enhanced Expectancies and Autonomy Support to Enhance Learning Skills of Throwing Darts

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the combination of attention (external focus) and internal motivation (autonomy support and enhanced expectancies) on learning the skill of throwing darts. Methods: For this purpose, 60 women participated in the study. our study included 4 groups: a) autonomy support - external focus (AS-EF); b) enhanced expectancies - external focus (EE-EF); C) enhanced expectancies - autonomy support (EE-AS); and d) enhanced expectancies - autonomy support - external focus (EE-AS-EF). Participants were asked to throw darts at a target with their non-dominant arm. In the EE conditions, they received (false) positive social-comparative feedback. In the AS conditions, they were allowed to throw 5 of 10 trials in each block with their dominant arm chosen by them. In the EF conditions, participants were asked to focus on the target. on the post-test after the end of the training period and retention and transfer test 24 hours after practice, the AS-EE-EF group had the highest accuracy scores and outperformed all other groups. Results: The results of the between-group comparison for throwing accuracy showed that the EE-AS-EF group was a significant difference compared to the other groups. Conclusions: The findings provide evidence that enhanced expectancies, autonomy support, and an external focus can contribute in an additive style to optimize motor performance and learning

Effect of Attentional Focus Instructions on Spatial Memory in Children

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of attentional focus instructions on spatial memory in children.Thirty girl students with the mean age from 7 to 12 years were selected by convenience sampling from elementary schools in Tehran. Participants were randomly divided into three attentional focus groups (internal, external, control). Participants in the internal focus group were asked to focus their attention on the movements of their hand, whereas participants in the external focus group were asked to focus their attention to the movement path and target. Control group participants received no focus instructions. Acquisition phase lasted five consecutive days. The instrument used for measuring spatial memory was linear movement apparatus (LM-01 model). Analysis of Covariance and Bonferoni tests were used at

The Effect of Self-Controlled and Instructor-Controlled Feedbacks on Acquisition, Retention and Transfer of a Motor Skill Using Videotape Feedback

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of self-controlled (SC) and instructor-controlled (IC) feedbacks on the acquisition of dart motor skill using videotape feedback. For this purpose, 200 female volunteer students of University of Tehran participated in this research. After the questioners had been filled out, 36 individuals were randomly selected from 152 qualified participants. After a 10-trial pretest, they were divided into three groups: SC, IC, and Yoked group. The SC group received videotape feedback whenever they asked for it; the IC group after 5 trails, and the yoked group at the points that SF group received it. All the groups were videotaped. Practice phase consisted of 100 trials including 10 10-trail blocks. Retention and transfer tests were carried out 48 hours later. Foe data analysis, one-way ANOVA, repeated measures and Tukey test were used and EXCEL software was used to draw the plots. The results showed that the type of feedback had a significant effect on the form and accuracy of dart motor skill in acquisition, retention and transfer (

Determining the Relationship between General Health Condition, Depression Prevalence and Body Mass Index in Athlete and Non-Athlete Students of University of Tehran

The purpose of this study was to investigate general health condition, outbreak of depression and body mass index (BMI) in athlete and non-athlete students of Tehran University. Both female and male junior students participated in this study and 200 students, 50 athletes and 50 non-athletes were selected. In order to determine general health and outbreak of depression, questionnaires of general health and Beck's depression test were used, and in order to determine BMI, height and weight of the subjects were measured. In order to analyze the data, two-way ANOVA test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used. The results of this study showed no significant difference in the average value of BMI between athlete and non-athlete students based on their gender (P=0.09), but there was a significant difference in BMI between female and male students. No significant interaction was observed between gender and physical activity in BMI index. There was a significant difference in general health between athlete and non-athlete students based on their gender (P=0.007). There were no significant differences among general health subscales, BMI and Beck scores of students based on their gender and physical activity. However, there was a significant relationship between GHQ28 subscales and Beck scores based on gender and physical activity

Psicología educativa : revista de los psicólogos de la educación

Resumen basado en el de la publicaciónTítulo, resumen y palabras clave en inglés y españolResumen ampliado, método, resultados y discusión y conclusión en españolSe investigan los efectos de los tipos de destreza (abierta y cerrada) y del nivel de competición (élite y no élite) en las funciones del aprendizaje observacional en atletas. Se contó con 247 atletas de Taekwondo que contestaron voluntariamente al Cuestionario de Funciones de Aprendizaje Observacional (FOLQ). Los resultados de un ANOVA 2 (nivel de destreza) x 2 (tipos de destreza) muestran que los atletas con destrezas cerradas utilizan las funciones de destrezas y estrategias más significativamente que los atletas con destrezas abiertas, que se sirven más de la función de desempeño. Además, los atletas de élite utilizan las tres funciones del aprendizaje observacional más que los que no son de élite. Por otra parte, fue significativo el efecto interactivo de los tipos de destreza y de nivel de competición en las funciones de aprendizaje observacional. Se muestra que el efecto de los tipos de destreza en las funciones de aprendizaje observacional es superior al del nivel de competición.ES