Journal of Applied Sport Psychology / Consumer-grade brain stimulation devices in sports : a challenge for traditional sport psychology?

The implementation of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques to improve sports performance is getting more and more popular. There are, however, practical and ethical concerns about the benefits of using NIBS in sports psychology. Two studies on the efficacy of two specific NIBS devicesAVWF method and OGIRO Modulationwere conducted and revealed no obvious benefits for cognitive and mental skills and psychophysiological activity in pupils and sport students. Recommendations derived from the empirical effectiveness of NIBS for the ethical application in routine training protocols are discussed. Finally, we suggest guidelines for sports psychologists who are faced with modern technological devices.(VLID)250891

The modified German subjective vitality scale (SVS-GM): Psychometric properties and application in daily life

Subjective vitality describes the positive feeling of experiencing physical and mental energy, which can lead to purposive actions, but no German instruments exist with action-oriented verbiage: This work supports the development and modification of already existing German Subjective Vitality Scales and provides further evidence for its psychometric properties. In a first step (N = 56) two modified (action-oriented) short-forms were developed. An extension of time perspectives (past, present, future) should also enrich the scale by enhancing the accuracy of self-reports. Study 1 (N = 183) then examined the psychometric properties for each time perspective. Study 2 (N = 27) was a 6-day diary study to identify the reliability of within- and between-person differences in vitality over time and working days with responses recorded three times per day. The exploratory factor analysis from study 1 revealed a three-factor solution with three items each. Test-retest reliability was moderate for the past and future time perspective and less stable for state subjective vitality. The modified German Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS-GM) showed divergent validity with fatigue, negative affect, and optimism, and convergent but distinguishable validity with life satisfaction, positive affect, and perceived self-efficacy. High reliability for daily vitality measures (with lower vitality rates in the morning) was found in study 2, but no substantial variation was found between working days and days off. The SVS-GM shows good psychometric properties in different settings and provides researchers with a 3-item (for cross-sectional or longitudinal studies) and 1-item (for short screenings) version to measure subjective vitality in German-speaking populations

Evaluation of a Novel Thiol–Norbornene-Functionalized Gelatin Hydrogel for Bioprinting of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Introduction: Three-dimensional bioprinting can be considered as an advancement of the classical tissue engineering concept. For bioprinting, cells have to be dispersed in hydrogels. Recently, a novel semi-synthetic thiolene hydrogel system based on norbornene-functionalized gelatin (GelNB) and thiolated gelatin (GelS) was described that resulted in the photoclick hydrogel GelNB/GelS. In this study, we evaluated the printability and biocompatibility of this hydrogel system towards adipose-tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). Methods: GelNB/GelS was synthesized with three different crosslinking densities (low, medium and high), resulting in different mechanical properties with moduli of elasticity between 206 Pa and 1383 Pa. These hydrogels were tested for their biocompatibility towards ASCs in terms of their viability, proliferation and differentiation. The extrusion-based bioprinting of ASCs in GelNB/GelS-high was performed to manufacture three-dimensional cubic constructs. Results: All three hydrogels supported the viability, proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs to a similar extent. The adipogenic differentiation of ASCs was better supported by the softer hydrogel (GelNB/GelS-low), whereas the osteogenic differentiation was more pronounced in the harder hydrogel (GelNB/GelS-high), indicating that the differentiation fate of ASCs can be influenced via the adaption of the mechanical properties of the GelNB/GelS system. After the ex vivo chondrogenic differentiation and subcutaneous implantation of the bioprinted construct into immunocompromised mice, the production of negatively charged sulfated proteoglycans could be observed with only minimal inflammatory signs in the implanted material. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the GelNB/GelS hydrogels are very well suited for the bioprinting of ASCs and may represent attractive hydrogels for subsequent in vivo tissue engineering applications

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science / Agingrelated changes of cognitive performance and stress regulation in high functioning elderly individuals

This article aims to analyse longterm changes in cognitive performance and psychophysiological stress regulation in a specific sample of 10 youngold (age at pretest: M SD = 63.2 1.5) and 12 oldold (age at pretest: M SD = 69 2) persons possessing a high psychosocial status and a physically active lifestyle. Psychophysiological parameters were recorded prior to, during, and after the administration of a cognitive performance test battery. The measurements took place three times within a 6month period, and again 6 years later in a followup test. Considering practice and habituation effects, findings provide no compelling evidence of an agingassociated cognitive decline in attention, multiple choice reaction performance, and information processing speed, either in the youngolds, or in the oldolds. Furthermore, psychophysiological stress regulation showed no longterm alteration regarding skin conductance level and heart rate. Based on these findings, it is assumed that psychosocial health and physical activity might contribute to the preservation of cognitive abilities and stress regulation into the 70s. Finally, this study demonstrated the significance of considering practice and habituation effects elicited through test repetitions in order to estimate longterm effects.(VLID)359843

Aging-related changes in the relationship between the physical selfconcept and the physical fitness in elderly individuals

The paper focuses on longterm changes in parameters of selfperception (ie, physical selfconcept, selfesteem, and selfefficacy), physical activity, and its relationship to physical fitness of healthy and active old adults. The sample of 22 physically active and healthy elderly (age Mt1 = 66.00) originates in an earlier skiing intervention study following a longitudinal study design with four time points of measurement over a period of 6 years. Selfreports on physical selfconcept (PSK), general selfesteem and selfefficacy, and an activity index were assessed and compared to physical fitness data (VO2max and muscle strength). Significant time effects (over 6 years) were obtained with respect to global physical selfconcept, endurance (PSK), and VO2max. Muscle strength turned out to be stable over time. The positive correlations between VO2max and the corresponding selfconcept evaluation of endurance abilities diminished across the 6 years. Selfesteem correlated with the PSK scales and VO2max. In contrast to our expectation, selfesteem, selfefficacy, and activity level hardly predicted changes in the PSK scales, VO2max, and physical strength. Although VO2max and some parameters of the physical selfconcept declined over the 6 years, results indicate that physical selfconcept, selfesteem, selfefficacy, physical fitness, and physical activity display a complex pattern. The decrease in selfperception measured by the correlation of PSK and physical fitness suggests that selfconcept of old adults is not sensitive to changes in physical fitness.(VLID)359844

Over-expression of protein kinase C-α enhances platelet-derived growth factor- and phorbol ester- but not calcium ionophore-induced formation of prostaglandins in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

AbstractOver-expression of human protein kinase C-α in murine NIH 3T3 fibroblasts is associated with an increased platelet-derived growth factor- and phorbol ester-mediated formation of prostaglandins, whereas the calcium ionophore-induced release of arachidonic acid metabolites is unaffected; however, the differences of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin formation are much more pronounced with platelet-derived growth factor than with phorbol ester. Platelet-derived growth factor induces an identical elevation of intracellular free calcium in control and protein kinase C-α over-expressing cells; the phorbol ester has no effect on intracellular free calcium in both cell lines. These results demonstrate that protein kinase C-α may couple to arachidonic acid cascade in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

Investigation of action planning on the electrophysiological level

Koester D, Yu L, Schack T. Investigation of action planning on the electrophysiological level. In: Amesberger G, Würth S, Finkenzeller T, eds. Zukunft der Sportpsychologie - zwischen Verstehen und Evidenz. Salzburg: Universität Salzburg; 2020: 36