Coaching Imagery to Athletes with Aphantasia

We administered the Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (Psi-Q) which tests multi-sensory imagery, to athletes (n=329) from 9 different sports to locate poor/aphantasic (baseline scores <4.2/10) imagers with the aim to subsequently enhance imagery ability. The low imagery sample (n=27) were randomly split into two groups who received the intervention: Functional Imagery Training (FIT), either immediately, or delayed by one month at which point the delayed group were tested again on the Psi-Q. All participants were tested after FIT delivery and six months post intervention. The delayed group showed no significant change between baseline and the start of FIT delivery but both groups imagery score improved significantly (p=0.001) after the intervention which was maintained six months post intervention. This indicates that imagery can be trained, with those who identify as having aphantasia (although one participant did not improve on visual scores), and improvements maintained in poor imagers. Follow up interviews (n=22) on sporting application revealed that the majority now use imagery daily on process goals. Recommendations are given for ways to assess and train imagery in an applied sport setting

An interdisciplinary approach to improving the quality of life in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: A case study

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Imagery training for athletes with low imagery abilities

Imagery training, specifically visual and kinesthetic imagery training, is a well-established method of increasing performance in sport. However, some athletes may have impoverished imagery abilities (e.g., aphantasia; low visual imagery) which may hinder performance increments that benefit others. We administered the Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (Psi-Q) which tests multisensory imagery, to 329 participants from nine different sports across two levels: semiprofessional and professional. This formed the baseline test, finding no significant differences between sport or level for imagery ability. The Psi-Q located 27 low imagers (mean total scores <4.2/10), including seven non-visual imagers, three non-auditory, seven non-olfactory, and five non-gustatory imagers, and one across all senses. We split the sample randomly into two groups and immediately delivered the imagery intervention, Functional Imagery Training (FIT) to the first group (over two weeks), followed by delivering the same intervention to the wait group. A wait period was due to the lengthy delivery time of the personalized intervention. Both groups received the intervention for the same duration ending in a Psi-Q retest after the intervention. In both groups, FIT increased overall imagery scores which was maintained six months after intervention completion. This indicates that imagery can be trained and maintained in those with a low ability. Follow up interviews (n = 22) explored how imagery was being used beyond the intervention, revealing that the majority now use imagery to plan and manage thinking. Recommendations are given for ways to train imagery in an applied sport setting and future research in broader areas is detailed. Lay summary: We identified 27 individuals with low multi-sensory imagery scores, and used Functional Imagery Training (FIT) to produce enduring improvements in imagery ability, positioning FIT as a valuable tool for enhancing cognitive skills in sports

From couch to ultra marathon: using functional imagery training to enhance motivation

Abstract Objectives This study evaluates ultra-marathon runners’ use of goal-setting, self-talk, and imagery as strategies to help them through the challenge of long-distance running. Methods In stage one, thirty-one self-professed non-runners were recruited and received motivational interviewing (MI) in a group setting, examining their motivation to get healthy. In stage two, five months later, participants were asked if they would consider running an ultra-marathon, and fifteen (M age=39.47, SD=5.84) agreed. At this point participants were randomly split into an MI or Functional Imagery Training (FIT) group. FIT teaches participants how to master goal centred imagery by controlling attention and elaboration. Groups received similar contact hours and completed four measures that assess grit, resilience, self-efficacy, and imagery ability at baseline and after the race. Results We found no significant differences between measures for finishers and non-finishers or between groups or over time. However, the likelihood of completing the ultra-marathon was five times as likely in the FIT group, than in MI (RR=5.25). Grit and resilience scores were strongly correlated. By receiving FIT, there was a significant association (p=0.04) to complete the ultra-marathon. Conclusions FIT is a relatively cost-effective method to increase exercise adherence through multi-sensory elaboration of goal setting and overcoming barriers or challenges. </jats:sec

Effect of inbreeding on reproduction performance in breeds included in conservation programs

W Polsce szczególnie zagrożone obniżeniem produkcji na skutek wzrostu inbredu są rasy świń objęte programem ochrony (złotnicka biała, złotnicka pstra oraz puławska). W rasach tych, mimo hodowli ukierunkowanej na minimalizację inbredu, stwierdza się w ostatnich latach stopniowy wzrost tego parametru. W związku z powyższym podjęto badania, których celem była ocena wpływu zinbredowania loch ras objętych hodowlą zachowawczą i inbredu prosiąt na wyniki ich odchowu. Badaniami objęto 6025 loch ras rodzimych (2971 loch rasy puławskiej, 1323 loch rasy złotnickiej białej i 1731 loch rasy złotnickiej pstrej), urodzonych w latach 2003-2011. Zebrano dane dotyczące ich miotów, tj. liczbę prosiąt urodzonych i odchowanych. Łącznie zebrano informacje o 23 829 miotach. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników stwierdzono, że w rasach złotnickich wzrost zinbredowania matek do wartości 6,25% wpływa na poprawę wyników ich użytkowości rozpłodowej, zwiększając liczbę urodzonych prosiąt w czwartych i kolejnych miotach rasy złotnickiej pstrej (P≤0,05) oraz liczbę odchowanych prosiąt w miotach drugich i trzecich rasy złotnickiej białej (P≤0,05). Lochy o inbredzie przekraczającym 12,5% rodziły i odchowywały nieco mniej prosiąt w miotach drugich i kolejnych, jednak różnice nie były statystycznie istotne. Zinbredowanie potomstwa o wartości powyżej 12,5% miało istotny wpływ na zmniejszenie liczby urodzonych i odchowywanych prosiąt, przede wszystkim w pierwszych miotach ras złotnickich (P≤0,05). W rasie puławskiej nie stwierdzono powyższych zależności.In Poland, the pig breeds included in the conservation program (Złotnicka White, Złotnicka Spotted and Puławska) are at particular risk of decreased production due to an increase in inbreeding. In recent years, despite mating designed to minimize inbreeding, this parameter has gradually increased within these breeds. Therefore, a study was undertaken to determine the effect of inbreeding of sows and their litters on the rearing performance of the piglets. The subjects were 6,025 sows of native breeds (2,971 Puławska, 1,323 Złotnicka White and 1,731 Złotnicka Spotted) born between 2003 and 2011. Data were collected for a total of 23,829 litters and the number of piglets born and reared was noted. The results showed that in comparison to dam inbreeding, litter inbreeding had a greater effect on the number of piglets born and reared. Among the Złotnicka breeds, sows in which inbreeding was greater than 12.5% gave birth to and reared slightly fewer piglets in the second and later parities, but the differences were not significant. An increase in dam inbreeding to 6.25% was found to improve the reproductive performance of sows, increasing the number of piglets born in the fourth and later parities in the Złotnicka Spotted breed (P≤0.05) and the number of piglets reared in the second and third litters of Złotnicka White sows (P≤0.05). Litter inbreeding greater than 12.5% had significantly reduced the number of piglets born and reared, especially in the first parities of the Złotnicka breeds (P≤0.05). These relationships were not observed for the Puławska breed

The future of value-based emergency care: Development of an emergency medicine MIPS value pathway framework

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) to accelerate the transition of physician payment toward value-based care models and away from traditional fee-for-service payment programs. In recent years, CMS has sought to modify the program by developing a MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) framework intended to use existing and future physician quality and cost measures to reward value-based care delivery. This article describes the multi-step process of the MVP Task Force, convened by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) to develop an emergency medicine-specific MVP proposal informed by diverse stakeholder perceptions regarding: (1) which existing quality measures reflect high quality emergency care, and (2) the degree to which emergency clinicians can impact clinical outcomes and cost for the care domains captured by existing quality measures. The MVP Task Force synthesized stakeholder feedback and underwent a consensus-building approach to develop the Adopting Best Practices and Promoting Patient Safety within Emergency Medicine MVP, recently reviewed and approved by CMS for national implementation starting in 2023. Our process and findings have broad implications for clinicians, administrators, and policymakers navigating the continued transition to value-based care in conjunction with CMS\u27s implementation of the MVP framework