Joseph Baker & Nick Wattie – new insights into the concept of innate talent in sport

In this target article, Joseph Baker and Nick Wattie revisited the review article on the evidence for innate talent published by Howe, Davidson and Sloboda 20 years ago, and focused mainly on whether this concept was reasonable and scientifically sound, and whether the concept of innate talent was valid also in the world of sport. The main article (CISS_3:006) is then discussed by five peer commentaries (CISS_4:102 – CISS_4:106), written by research experts in this field. Finally, Joseph Baker and Nick Wattie provided a closing response (CISS_4:108) acknowledging critiques, suggestions, and extensions brought forward by the commentators

Effects of synchronous, auditory stimuli on running performance and heart rate

Research has demonstrated that the human being tends to couple body movements and external, acoustic stimuli (metronome or music). This effect is called auditory-motor synchronization. Motivational music possesses qualities which distract from feelings like fatigue and exertion. Combining these two effects may enhance the sports performance even more. Investigations showed that runners can increase their original cadence up to 2%. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of accelerated, synchronized stimuli on the running performance. Therefore, 28 students (15 ♀, 13 ♂) of the Institute of Sports Science in Innsbruck were asked to do two cooper tests each. After run 1 (no auditory signal), the sample was divided into two groups. In run 2, which took place on a different day, one group listened to music while running; the other group was stimulated by the sound of a metronome. Distance (m) and average heartrate were measured. 75% of the athletes achieved a greater distance under the influence of an acoustic stimulus. In fact, the running distance changed significantly using an acoustic stimulus: +61 m (SD ± 100) or 2.1% (SD ± 3.6). In group 1 (music), the performance improved up to + 3.8% (SD ± 3.3). This difference was significant compared to group 2 (metronome). The average heart rate decreased by 1.5 beats (SD ± 5) from run 1 to run 2. Influenced by music, the average heart rate measured 179 beats (SD ± 8) in contrast to 182 beats (SD ± 10) in run 1 (no acoustic stimulus). If the tempo of the acoustic stimulus is adapted to the accelerated cadence of an athlete (maximum 2%), improved distances due to the synchronization effect can be achieved. In combination with the motivating qualities of music, improved effects in sport performances could be produced

Biological Maturity Status, Anthropometric Percentiles, and Core Flexion to Extension Strength Ratio as Possible Traumatic and Overuse Injury Risk Factors in Youth Alpine Ski Racers: A Four-Year Prospective Study

The aim of the present study was to investigate prospectively the role of biological maturity status, anthropometric percentiles, and core flexion to extension strength ratios in the context of traumatic and overuse injury risk identification in youth ski racing. In this study, 72 elite youth ski racers (45 males, 27 females) were prospectively observed from the age of 10 to 14 years. Anthropometric parameters, biological maturity status, and core flexion to extension strength ratios were assessed twice per year. Type and severity of traumatic and overuse injuries were prospectively recorded during the 4 years. Generalized estimating equations were used to model the binary outcome (0: no injury; 1: ≥1 injury). Factors tested on association with injury risk were sex, relative age quarter, age, maturity group, puberty status, core flexion to extension strength ratio, height percentile group, and weight percentile group. In total, 104 traumatic injuries and 39 overuse injuries were recorded. Age (odds ratio (OR) = 3.36) and weight percentile group (OR = 0.38) were significant risk factors for traumatic injuries (tendency: pubertal status). No significant risk factor for overuse injuries was identified (tendency: maturity group, puberty status, height percentile group). Future studies should focus on identifying risk factors for overuse injuries; growth rates might be of importance

Physical activity in short study breaks: Short-term effects on cognition and potential for implementation in students’ everyday life

Prolonged bouts of sitting while studying are a common behavior in college students. To prevent sitting-induced decline in cognition, restorative breaks are necessary. The activity during the breaks should be beneficial for cognitive abilities and should show characteristics favoring the implementation of the activity in students’ everyday life. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a short physical activity intervention (running) on cognition and behaviorally important variables. Using a within-subject crossover design with randomized starting order, 15 students of sport science completed a ten-minute running bout and a sitting bout with equal duration (washout: one week). The basal cognitive domain of visual attention was assessed immediately post-intervention using a modified trail making test. Information on perceived efficacy, affective states (pre, post, and at follow-up 30 minutes after the intervention), and satisfaction with the intervention (at follow-up) was collected. Visual attention showed a significant period-by-sequence group interaction, p = .028, part. η² = 0.32, with higher attention immediately after the physical activity bout compared to the sitting bout. Perceived attention, p = .048, part. η² = 0.19, and perceived arousal, p = .007, part. η² = 0.30, showed significantly stronger pre-post increases after the physical activity bout compared to the sitting bout, which were not evident pre-follow-up, p > .596. No significantly different changes in affective valence were found between conditions, p = .669, part. η² = 0.03. The findings suggest a short-term positive effect of the physical activity bout on cognition, revealing the potential of using physical activity bouts intentionally prior to cognitively challenging study tasks in the population of students of sport science. Furthermore, the physical activity bout in the present form (running indoors) showed limited potential for an implementation in students’ everyday life since the behaviorally important variables were similar at follow-up

International Journal of Environmental Health and Public Health / Relationship of changes in physical fitness and anthropometric characteristics over one season, biological maturity status and injury risk in elite youth ski racers: a prospective study

Alpine ski racing is a sport with a high risk of injuries. In order to contribute to the longitudinal career development of young athletes, prevention measures should be elaborated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate prospectively the role of biological maturity status, and changes in anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness parameters over one season in elite youth ski racers younger than 15 years. Eighty-nine elite youth ski racers (39 females, 50 males), aged 1014 years (mean age: 12.1 1.3), were investigated. Anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness parameters were assessed prior and after the winter season; traumatic and overuse injuries were recorded over the 32 weeks. Binary logistic regression analyses (R = 0.2020.188) revealed that the biological maturity (Wald = 4.818; p = 0.028), and changes over the season in the jump agility test (Wald = 4.692; p = 0.03), in body height (Wald = 6.229; p = 0.013), and in leg length (Wald = 4.321; p = 0.038) represented significant injury risk factors. Athletes who could improve their jump agility performance more, had smaller changes in the anthropometric characteristics and who were closer to their peak height velocity were at a lower injury risk. In the context of injury prevention, regular neuromuscular training should be incorporated, and phases of rapid growth have to be considered.(VLID)471785

Limb symmetry index in competitive alpine ski racers : Reference values and injury risk identification according to age-related performance levels

Purpose The aims of this study were to assess differences of limb symmetry index (LSI) in strength- and coordination-related tasks between high-level, competitive, noninjured ski racers of different age-related performance levels and to prospectively assess limb differences as a possible risk factor for traumatic and overuse injury in youth ski racers. Methods The study (Study 1) included 285 high-level competitive ski racers (125 females, 160 males) of 3 age-related performance levels and based on the school system: 95 youth (1014 years, secondary modern school), 107 adolescent (1519 years, grammar school), and 83 elite athletes (2034 years). To investigate the second aim (Study 2), 67 of the 95 youth athletes were included and any traumatic or overuse injuries were prospectively recorded over 2 seasons. All athletes performed 4 unilateral tests (strength related: one-leg counter movement jump (OL-CMJ) and one-leg isometric/isokinetic press strength test (OL-ILS); coordination related: one-leg stability test (OL-ST) and one-leg speedy jump test (OL-SJ)). The LSI was calculated by dividing the dominant leg by the nondominant leg and multiplying by 100. Kruskal-Wallis H tests and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results There were significant differences between the LSI of the 3 age-related performance-level groups only in the strength-related tests: the OL-CMJ ((2, 285) = 9.09; p = 0.01) and the OL-ILS ((2, 285) = 14.79; p < 0.01). The LSI for OL-ILS was found to be a significant risk factor for traumatic injury in youth ski racers (Wald = 7.08; p < 0.01). No significant risk factors were found for overuse injuries. Conclusion Younger athletes display slightly greater LSI values only in the strength-related tests. The cut-off value of limb differences of <10% for return to sport decisions seems to be appropriate for elite athletes, but for youth and adolescent athletes it has to be critically discussed. It seems to be necessary to define thresholds based on specific performance tasks (strength vs. coordination related) rather than on generalizations, and age-related performance levels must be considered. Limb differences in unilateral leg extension strength represent a significant injury risk factor in youth ski racers.(VLID)300634

Acute Effects of a Short Bout of Physical Activity on Cognitive Function in Sport Students

Physical activity is a promising intervention to restore cognitive function after prolonged sedentary periods. However, little is known about the effect of short physical activity bouts on cognition especially among individuals that are used to physical activity. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to assess the impact of a single ten-minute physical activity bout on the cognitive domain of visual attention compared to sedentary behavior in a population of physically active sport students. Using a randomized controlled design, 51 healthy and physically active sport students [mean age: 22.3 (SD: 2.0) years, 33.3% female] were allocated to one of the following interventions in the break of a two-hour study course: physical activity group (running for ten minutes) and sedentary control group. Visual attention was measured post-intervention using a modified trail making test. Pre-, post-, and 30 min after intervention, perceived attention, and affective states were measured. Between-group comparisons were used to analyze whether visual attention and/or changes in perceived attention or affective states differed between groups. The physical activity group showed significantly higher visual attention post-intervention compared with the sedentary control group, p = 0.003, d = 0.89. Perceived attention, p = 0.006, d = 0.87, and arousal, p &lt; 0.001, d = 1.68, showed a significantly larger pre- and post-intervention increase in the physical activity group compared with the sedentary control group, which was not evident 30 min after intervention. A single ten-minute running intervention in study breaks might help to restore the basal visual attentional domain of cognition after prolonged sedentary periods more effectively compared with common sedentary behavior in breaks between study lessons

First operation of the KATRIN experiment with tritium

The determination of the neutrino mass is one of the major challenges in astroparticle physics today. Direct neutrino mass experiments, based solely on the kinematics of β β -decay, provide a largely model-independent probe to the neutrino mass scale. The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment is designed to directly measure the effective electron antineutrino mass with a sensitivity of 0.2 eV 0.2 eV (90% 90% CL). In this work we report on the first operation of KATRIN with tritium which took place in 2018. During this commissioning phase of the tritium circulation system, excellent agreement of the theoretical prediction with the recorded spectra was found and stable conditions over a time period of 13 days could be established. These results are an essential prerequisite for the subsequent neutrino mass measurements with KATRIN in 2019

Quantitative Long-Term Monitoring of the Circulating Gases in the KATRIN Experiment Using Raman Spectroscopy.

The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment aims at measuring the effective electron neutrino mass with a sensitivity of 0.2 eV/c2, i.e., improving on previous measurements by an order of magnitude. Neutrino mass data taking with KATRIN commenced in early 2019, and after only a few weeks of data recording, analysis of these data showed the success of KATRIN, improving on the known neutrino mass limit by a factor of about two. This success very much could be ascribed to the fact that most of the system components met, or even surpassed, the required specifications during long-term operation. Here, we report on the performance of the laser Raman (LARA) monitoring system which provides continuous high-precision information on the gas composition injected into the experiment's windowless gaseous tritium source (WGTS), specifically on its isotopic purity of tritium-one of the key parameters required in the derivation of the electron neutrino mass. The concentrations cx for all six hydrogen isotopologues were monitored simultaneously, with a measurement precision for individual components of the order 10-3 or better throughout the complete KATRIN data taking campaigns to date. From these, the tritium purity, εT, is derived with precision of &lt;10-3 and trueness of &lt;3 × 10-3, being within and surpassing the actual requirements for KATRIN, respectively