Variability of the Motor Behavior during Continued Practice of the Same Motor Game: A Preliminary Study

Motor behavior assessment during games could help physical education teachers and team coaches to design effective and efficient motor interventions. This study aimed to assess the variability of the physical and behavioral responses during continued practice of the game tail tag with a ball. Sixteen Spanish youth soccer players from an under-14 team played tail tag, with a ball, during four sessions (5 repetitions of 1 min per session). Physical (i.e., Total Distance (TD) and PlayerLoad (PL)) and behavioral (i.e., Surface Area (SA) and change in the Geometrical Centre position (cGCp)) dimensions were assessed with a local positioning system. The mean of the five series of each session was considered for further statistical analysis. The main finding was that the external load decreased (d = small − large) and the use of space varied during the continued practice of tail tag. Initially, SA increased substantially (d = large) and cGCp decreased slightly (d = small), and then both variables tended to stabilize. This suggests that after several repetitions of the same motor game, physical education teachers and team sports coaches should use this again later, modifying this or proposing new motor games where players respond to these activities that consist in greater uncertainty than to well-known motor games.The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of a Spanish government subproject Integration ways between qualitative and quantitative data, multiple case development, and synthesis review as main axis for an innovative future in physical activity and sports research [PGC2018-098742-B-C31] (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Programa Estatal de Generación de Conocimiento y Fortalecimiento Científico y Tecnológico del Sistema I + D + i), that is part of the coordinated project New approach of research in physical activity and sport from mixed methods perspective (NARPAS_MM) [SPGC201800X098742CV0]

Identification of redundant and synergetic circuits in triplets of electrophysiological data

Neural systems are comprised of interacting units, and relevant information regarding their function or malfunction can be inferred by analyzing the statistical dependencies between the activity of each unit. Whilst correlations and mutual information are commonly used to characterize these dependencies, our objective here is to extend interactions to triplets of variables to better detect and characterize dynamic information transfer. Our approach relies on the measure of interaction information (II). The sign of II provides information as to the extent to which the interaction of variables in triplets is redundant (R) or synergetic (S). Here, based on this approach, we calculated the R and S status for triplets of electrophysiological data recorded from drug-resistant patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy in order to study the spatial organization and dynamics of R and S close to the epileptogenic zone (the area responsible for seizure propagation). In terms of spatial organization, our results show that R matched the epileptogenic zone while S was distributed more in the surrounding area. In relation to dynamics, R made the largest contribution to high frequency bands (14-100Hz), whilst S was expressed more strongly at lower frequencies (1-7Hz). Thus, applying interaction information to such clinical data reveals new aspects of epileptogenic structure in terms of the nature (redundancy vs. synergy) and dynamics (fast vs. slow rhythms) of the interactions. We expect this methodology, robust and simple, can reveal new aspects beyond pair-interactions in networks of interacting units in other setups with multi-recording data sets (and thus, not necessarily in epilepsy, the pathology we have approached here).Comment: 31 pages, 6 figures, 3 supplementary figures. To appear in the Journal of Neural Engineering in its current for

Endocannabinoid Modulation of Dopaminergic Motor Circuits

There is substantial evidence supporting a role for the endocannabinoid system as a modulator of the dopaminergic activity in the basal ganglia, a forebrain system that integrates cortical information to coordinate motor activity regulating signals. In fact, the administration of plant-derived, synthetic or endogenous cannabinoids produces several effects on motor function. These effects are mediated primarily through the CB1 receptors that are densely located in the dopamine-enriched basal ganglia networks, suggesting that the motor effects of endocannabinoids are due, at least in part, to modulation of dopaminergic transmission. On the other hand, there are profound changes in CB1 receptor cannabinoid signaling in the basal ganglia circuits after dopamine depletion (as happens in Parkinson’s disease) and following l-DOPA replacement therapy. Therefore, it has been suggested that endocannabinoid system modulation may constitute an important component in new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of motor disturbances. In this article we will review studies supporting the endocannabinoid modulation of dopaminergic motor circuits

Cannabinoids and Motor Control of the Basal Ganglia: Therapeutic Potential in Movement Disorders

Cannabinoid receptors in the brain appear to be intimately involved in the motor control. Cannabinoid CB1 receptors are densely located in the basal ganglia (BG), a forebrain system that integrates cortical information to coordinate motor activity regulating signals. In fact, the administration of plant-derived, synthetic or endogenous cannabinoids produces several effects on motor function. These effects are paralleled to changes in the levels of different neurotransmitters in the BG, including GABA, dopamine and glutamate, all of which are important players in movement control

Battery Sizing Optimization in Power Smoothing Applications

The main objective of this work was to determine the worth of installing an electrical battery in order to reduce peak power consumption. The importance of this question resides in the expensive terms of energy bills when using the maximum power level. If maximum power consumption decreases, it affects not only the revenues of maximum power level bills, but also results in important reductions at the source of the power. This way, the power of the transformer decreases, and other electrical elements can be removed from electrical installations. The authors studied the Spanish electrical system, and a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was used to model battery sizing in peak power smoothing applications for an electrical consumption point. This study proves that, despite not being entirely profitable at present due to current kWh prices, implanting a battery will definitely be an option to consider in the future when these prices come down.The authors were supported by the government of the Basque Country through research grants ELKARTEK 21/10: BASQNET: Estudio de nuevas técnicas de inteligencia artificial basadas en Deep Learning dirigidas a la optimización de procesos industriales

Different Sampling Frequencies to Calculate Collective Tactical Variables during Competition: A Case of an Official Female’s Soccer Match

The objective of the study was to assess the impact of the sampling frequency on the outcomes of collective tactical variables during an official women’s soccer match. To do this, the first half (lasting 46 min) of an official league match of a semi-professional soccer team belonging to the Women’s Second Division of Spain (Reto Iberdrola) was analysed. The collective variables recorded were classified into three main groups: point-related variable (i.e., change in geometrical centre position (cGCp)), distance-related variables (i.e., width, length, height, distance from the goalkeeper to the near defender and mean distance between players), and area-related variables (i.e., surface area). Each variable was measured using eight different sampling frequencies: data every 100 (10 Hz), 200 (5 Hz), 250 (4 Hz), 400 (2.5 Hz), 500 (2 Hz), 1000 (1 Hz), 2000 (0.5 Hz), and 4000 ms (0.25 Hz). With the exception of cGCp, the outcomes of the collective tactical variables did not vary depending on the sampling frequency used (p > 0.05; Effect Size < 0.001). The results suggest that a sampling frequency of 0.5 Hz would be sufficient to measure the collective tactical variables that assess distance and area during an official soccer match.This study was supported by the Spanish government subproject Mixed method approach on performance analysis (in training and competition) in elite and academy sport [PGC2018-098742-B-C33] (2019-2021) [Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), la Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) y el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)], that is part of the coordinated project New approach of research in physical activity and sport from mixed methods perspective (NARPAS_MM) [SPGC201800X098742CV0]

A Systematic Review of Collective Tactical Behaviour in Futsal Using Positional Data

Although many studies on collective tactical behaviour have been published in the last decade, no study has revised and summarized the findings provided for futsal. The main aim of this systematic review was to identify and discuss the geometrical centre (GC), distance and area tactical variables used to assess team behaviour in futsal. In addition, it summarizes the findings on the tactical response during futsal competition and training. A systematic review of the relevant articles provided on futsal was carried out using seven electronic databases (SPORTDiscus, ProQuest, Cochrane Plus, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed and Web of Science) until September 25, 2019. From a total of 1,209 studies initially found, 12 were included in the qualitative synthesis. There were some trends in the analysis of positional data in futsal with the most relevant situations analysed being 1 vs 1 and 5 vs 4+Goalkeeper. The distances and angles between two points were the most assessed tactical variables. Five types of distance variables were used to assess collective tactical behaviour in futsal: GC-GC, GC-player, player-player, player-ball and player-space. Pressure (GC-GC) was greater in shots on goal than in tackles during professional futsal matches. Area variables were reduced to occupied space, exploration space and dominant area. Occupied space was measured only during competition while the dominant area was measured only during training sessions. The surface area and dominant regions were greater when players were attacking in comparison to when they were defending. In addition, two non-linear techniques (i.e. relative phase and entropy) were applied to analyse synchronisation and complexity and regularity or predictability. Defenders were highly synchronous, while attackers tried to break this coordination to achieve possibilities for action. Task constraints are suitable to induce different regularity patterns. This review is an opportunity to develop studies aimed at bridging the gap in collective tactical behaviour in futsal.The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of a Spanish government subproject Integration ways between qualitative and quantitative data, multiple case development, and synthesis review as main axis for an innovative future in physical activity and sports research [PGC2018-098742-B-C31] (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades, Programa Estatal de Generacion de Conocimiento y Fortalecimiento Cientifico y Tecnologico del Sistema I+D+i), that is part of the coordinated project New approach of research in physical activity and sport from mixed methods perspective (NARPAS_MM) [SPGC201800X098742CV

Identification, Computational Examination, Critical Assessment and Future Considerations of Distance Variables to Assess Collective Tactical Behaviour in Team Invasion Sports by Positional Data: A Systematic Review

The aim of the study was the identification, computational examination, critical assessment and future considerations of distance variables to assess collective tactical behaviour in team invasion sports by positional data. A total of 3973 documents were initially retrieved. Finally, 72 articles met the inclusion criteria, but only 26 suggested original tactical variables based on the distance variables. The distance variables can be classified into player–player, player–space, player–ball, and Geometrical Centre (GC)–GC /player/space/goal. In addition, several nonlinear techniques have been used to analyse the synchronisation and predictability of the distance variables in team invasion sports. Player–opponent distance is of special interest in those sports in which man-marking is commonly used, and in the micro-structure close to scoring situations in all sports. In addition, player–player distances are used to measure the length and the width of the team and player–GC distance to assess the dispersion of the team. Player–space distances have been measured to assess the distance of the player/team-line to relevant areas of the playing space. Several techniques have been applied to analyse the synchronisation (i.e., Hilbert transformation and cluster analyses) and the complexity and regularity or predictability (i.e., approximate entropies, sample entropy, cross-sample entropy and average mutual information) of the distance variables in team invasion sports, revealing the lack of consensus. Although the distance variables may be interesting tactical variables when considered in isolation, it would be enriching to analyse the relationship among these variables