Voice Instruction Enhances Children's Spatial Ability: Tonal (Thai) Speaker Case Study

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of individual music instruction featuring the singing on the spatial reasoning of the tonal (Thai) speaker children. Thirty Thai children were equally assigned to one of two conditions, singing (N=15) or no music (N=15). Children in the music group received weekly individual instruction at their private music programs for a period of 3 months. All children were pretested and posttested with two spatial tasks: Mechanical Aptitude and Spatial Relations Sub-tests including Matching Part and Figures (MPF) and Spatial Views (SV). Means and standard deviations scores of music group were significantly higher than no music group in both tasks after 3 months of lessons (Music group, MPF, Mean = 8.33 (±.62) and SV, Mean = 9.33 (±.72); No music group, MPF, Mean = 5.07 (±1.34), SV, Mean = 6.40 (±1.84), respectively. The posttest scores of the music group was significantly greater than those of the no music group in both tasks (MPF, t(14) = -8.009, p < .0001; SV, t(14) = -5.12, p < .0001), respectively. The improvement for the no music group was presumably due to maturation. This study suggests that learning music is an important developmental activity in tonal (Thai) speaker children’s spatial ability. Neurophysiological basis of this finding is however needed to explore changes in the structure and function of the tonal (Thai) speaker children’s brain in relation to the neural circuitry involved in judging spatial skills. Keywords: Brain; Spatial ability; Music education; Voice instruction; Tonal speaker Résumé: Le but de cette étude était de déterminer les effets des cours de musique individuels, caractérisés par le chant, sur le raisonnement spatial des enfants qui parlent une langue à tons (thailandais). Trente enfants thaïlandais ont été également attribué à l'une des deux conditions, le chant (N = 15) ou pas de musique (N = 15). Les enfants du groupe de musique ont reçu un enseignement individuel hebdomadaire en accord avec leurs programmes de musique privés pour une période de 3 mois. Tous les enfants ont été pré-testés et post-testés par deux tâches spatiales: l'aptitude mécanique et les tests apparentés aux relations spatiales, y compris l'assemblage des parties et des figures (APF) et les vues spatiales (VS). Les notes moyennes et les notes standards du groupe de musique étaient significativement plus élevées que celles de groupe de pas de musique dans les deux tâches après 3 mois de cours (groupe de musique, APF, moyenne = 8,33 (± 0,62) et SV, moyenne = 9,33 (± 0,72); groupe de pas de musique, APF, moyenne = 5,07 (± 1,34), SV, moyenne = 6,40 (± 1,84). Les notes de post-test du groupe de musique ont été significativement plus élevées que celles du groupe de pas de musique dans les deux tâches (APF, t (14) = -8,009,

Contribution of Arousal and Mood States to Mozart Listening: Audiovisual Integration Study

Several scientific evidences confirm that arousal and mood influence performance on a variety of cognitive tasks. We examined whether the Mozart effect is a consequence of between-condition differences in arousal and mood after simultaneously music and visual graphic presentation. Follow-up analyses were conducted separately for each musical excerpt, visual graphic piece, and simultaneously music and visual graphic presentation. The three posttest measures of arousal and mood were examined separately with mixed-design ANOVAs that had one within-subjects variable and one between-subjects variable. We found that effects of music attributed to differences in arousal and mood, as well as enjoyment. Participants who listened to Mozart scored significantly higher on positive mood and arousal and significantly lower on negative mood compared with their counterparts who listened to Albinoni. Enjoyable stimuli statistically induced positive affect and heightened levels of arousal, which lead to modest improvements in performance on visual graphic perception. Listeners’ use of music shows as an agent of emotional change. Our results support previous studies suggesting that the short-term effects of listening to Mozart on spatial ability are an artifact of arousal and mood. The present investigation is the first to examine directly the contribution of arousal and mood to the Mozart listening compared to seeing visual graphic condition. Changes in mood may be induced by giving participants a visual graphic, and changes in arousal occur in response to environmental events. Keywords: Music; Arousal and Mood; Audiovisual perception; Mozart; AlbioniRésumé: Plusieurs évidences scientifiques confirment que l'excitation et l'humeur influencent la performance dans une variété de tâches cognitives. Nous avons examiné si l'effet Mozart est une conséquence de différences entre les conditions de l'éveil et de l'humeur après une présentation simultanée de la musique avec des visuels graphiques. Des analyses suivies ont été réalisées séparément pour chaque extrait musical, chaque morceau visuel graphique, et chaque présentation simultanée de la musique avec des visuels graphiques. Les trois mesures post-test de l'exitation et de l'humeur ont été examinés séparément avec le design mixte d'ANOVA qui avait une variable d'intra-sujets et une variable inter-sujets. Nous avons constaté que les effets de la musique attribuaient à des différences dans l'excitation et l'humeur, ainsi que la jouissance. Les participants qui écoutaient Mozart avaient eu des notes plus élevées dans l'humeur positive et l'excitation et des notes plus faibles sur l'humeur négative par rapport à leurs homologues qui ont écouté Albinoni. Le stimulus agréable induit statistiquement un affect positif et augemente des niveaux d'excitation, qui conduisent à des améliorations modestes dans la performance sur la perception visuelle graphique. L'utilisation de musique se montre en tant qu'un agent de changement affectif. Nos résultats confirment des études antérieures suggérant que les effets à court terme de l'écoute de Mozart sur la capacité spatiale sont un artefact de l'excitation et de l'humeur. La présente enquête est la première à examiner directement la contribution de l'excitation et de l'humeur à l'écoute de Mozart, comparée à la condition de visualisation graphique. Changements d'humeur peuvent être induits en donnant aux participants une image visuelle, et des changements dans l'excitation se produit en réponse aux événements environnementaux.Mots-clés: musique; exitation et humeur; perception audiovisuelle; Mozart; Albion

Exercise Program on the Quality of Life in Cancer Patients

World Health Organization has estimated that there are an increase number of cases deaths from cancer in the near future. Cancer has become one of the most discussed. In this study, we focus on the quality of life of the cancer patients, by using exercise program and to observe the difference between pre-test and post-test results with exercise program. This study was to examine the alternative therapies using of exercise program to enhance and quality of life, using the Thai Hospice Quality of Life Index (T-HQOLI), in cancer patients. The 11 cancer patients were divided into two different groups; the control (non-exercise) group followed their routine schedules; the exercise group participated in exercise program under supervision of a professional trainer. The results from both questionnaires, collected during 4th, 8th and 12th week, showed that exercise group was most significantly improved compared to the other two groups. This suggested that the combination of exercise activities has the most potential to increase the quality of life for the cancer patients. It can be concluded that exercise program is a good model to improve both psychological and physiological conditions. The treatment can also be used in general clinics or hospitals as an alternative treatment for cancer patients. Keywords: Exercise, Quality of life, Cancer patien

Music Therapy on the Quality of Life in Cancer Patients

World Health Organization has estimated that there are an increase number of cases deaths from cancer in the near future. Cancer has become one of the most discussed. In this study, we focus on the quality of life of the cancer patients, by using music therapy and to observe the difference between pre-test and post-test results with music treatment. This study was to examine the alternative therapies using of music to enhance, and quality of life, using the Thai Hospice Quality of Life Index (T-HQOLI), in cancer patients. The 11 cancer patients were divided into two different groups; the control (non-music) group followed their routine schedules; the music group received additional music therapy with a music leader. The results from both questionnaires, collected during 4th, 8th and 12th week, showed that music group is most significantly improved compared to the control (non-music) group. This suggested that the combination of music has the most potential to increase the quality of life for the cancer patients. It can conclude that the music treatment is a good model to improve both psychological and physiological conditions. The treatment can also be used in general clinics or hospitals as an alternative treatment for cancer patients. Keywords: Music Therapy, Quality of life, Cancer patien

Learning Disabilities

Language Disabilities: Myths and Misconceptions vs. Reality / Mouzakitis, George S. -- Achievement Gaps: Learning Disabilities, Community Capital, and School Composition / Algozzine, Bob; Porfeli, Erik; Wang, Chuang; McColl, Ann; Audette, Robert -- Dyslexia in Hong Kong: Challenges and Opportunities / Chi-man Tsui; Li-Tsang ; Cecilia W. P.; Lung, Pui Yee Grace -- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Writing Learning Disabilities / Rodríguez, Celestino -- González-Castro, Paloma; Cerezo, Rebeca; Álvarez, David -- Reading and Writing Achievement Tests for Assessing Orthographical and Phonological Impairments of Japanese Children with Developmental Disorders / Yatabe, Kiyomi; Goto, Takaaki; Watanabe, Katsumi; Kaga, Makiko; Inagaki, Masumi -- Interventions in Specific Learning Disabilities Through Families / Robledo-Ramón, Patricia; García-Sánchez, Jesús-Nicasio; Preventing Children’s Writing Difficulties Through Specific Intervention in the Home / Robledo-Ramón , Patricia; García-Sánchez, Jesús-Nicasio; The Family Environment of Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD / Robledo-Ramón, Patricia; García-Sánchez, Jesús-Nicasio; Meeting the Needs of Twice-Exceptional Children in the Science Classroom / Sumida, Manabu -- The Quality of Teaching Determines Students' Achievement in Writing / Pacheco Sanz, Deilis Ivonne; García-Sánchez, Jesús-Nicasio -- Diagnosis of Teachers’ Practicein the Teaching of Written Composition / Pacheco Sanz, Deilis Ivonne; García-Sánchez, Jesús-Nicasio -- Motor Skill Performance of Children with Sensor Impairments / Ilić-Stošović, Danijela; Nikolić, Snežana -- Could Motor Development Be an Emergent Property of Vestibular Stimulation and Primary Reflex Inhibition? A Tentative Approach to Sensorimotor Therapy / Niklasson, Mats -- Contributions of an Augmented Reality Musical System for the Stimulation of Motor Skills in Music Therapy Sessions / Dionísio Corrêa, Ana Grasielle; Karaguilla Ficheman, Irene; Nascimento, Marilena do; Lopes, Roseli de Deus -- Deafness-Specific Tactic Knowledge : A New Understanding of Mental Health, and Social and Professional Participation / Jacobs, Paul G. -- Environmental Chemical Substances in Relation to Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review / Sone, Hideko; Tin-Tin Win-Shwe; Xian-Yang Qin; Akanuma, Hiromi; Imanishi, Satoshi -- Disability and Oral Health / Gallagher, Jenny; Scambler, SashaLearning disability is a classification that includes several disorders in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner. Depending on the type and severity of the disability, interventions may be used to help the individual learn strategies that will foster future success. Some interventions can be quite simplistic, while others are intricate and complex. This book deserves a wide audience; it will be beneficial not only for teachers and parents struggling with attachment or behavior issues, but it will also benefit health care professionals and therapists working directly with special needs such as sensory integration dysfunction

Learning Styles of Undergraduate Musical Students Attending Music College in Thailand

Some previous studies postulate that every individual has a different learning style. Students have preferences for the ways in which they receive information. One of the most challenges that music educator in Thailand face today is improving the level of music student satisfaction with the curriculum and learning environment. To determine whether a particular teaching method might enhance student satisfaction with the learning process, a learning preferences survey linked to sensory modalities was given to music students of Undergraduate Studies at College of Music Mahidol University, Thailand. The survey called VARK (an acronym for Visual, Aural, Read-Write, and Kinesthetic) was applied in order to identify student’s preferences for particular modes of information presentation. The purpose of this descriptive study was thus to determine the learning style and measure the distribution of learning preference mean scores of the music students and note any significant differences among classes and gender determined using 348 participants from the Mahidol University College of Music, Thailand, in 2008-2009.According to the VARK questionnaire, students were divided into five groups (visual, auditory, read-write, kinesthetic, and multimodal learners). The unimodality preference was 33.9 % and multimodality was 66.1 %.Among the students who preferred one mode of information presentation, 15.3 % were kinesthetic, 62.7 % were auditory, 10.2 % were visual, and 11.9 % were read-write learners, respectively. Some students preferred multiple modes: bimodal (26.4 %), trimodal (27.3 %), and quadmodal (12.4 %), respectively. Music students prefer aural learning at a higher percentage than other modes. Inter-class differences varied while gender differences were not significant. Introducing the VARK survey can provide a vehicle for self-knowledge and to explore opportunities for making the music educational experience both more productive and enjoyable for students and faculty members. Knowing the music students preferred learning modes can: (1) help provide instruction tailored to the student’s individual preferences, (2) overcome the predisposition to treat all music students in a similar way, (3) motivate teachers to move from their preferred mode(s) to using others, and (4) develop appropriate learning approaches and explore opportunities so that music educators will be able to make the educational experience more productive

Investigation of Synbiotic Effect in Thai Night Shift Workers Identified by Epworth Sleepiness Scales

Many sleep disorders are characterized by excessive sleepiness. As a type of circadian rhythms sleep-wake disorder, shift work sleep disorder consists of insomnia or excessive drowsiness caused by a recurrent task schedule that crosses with usual sleep hours. Night-shift workers have a disrupted circadian rhythm, indicating less overall sleep time than evening and day workers. Probiotic supplementation has been found to improve subjective sleep quality, associated with balancing gut microbiota. The objective was to investigate the sleeping habits of night shift workers after treating with a synbiotic supplement. Eleven excessive drowsiness among night-shift workers was included in this study. Epworth Sleepiness Scale assessed each participant. For 8 weeks, all participants were given a synbiotic supplement containing 7 probiotics and 3 prebiotics once a day. The Epworth Sleepiness Scales of night shift workers who participated in the pre-intervention showed that most of the night shift workers were mild excessive daytime sleepiness, while fewer night shift workers showed moderate excessive daytime sleepiness. It was found that most of the night shift workers were moved to lower normal daytime sleepiness, while the less of night shift workers showed higher normal daytime sleepiness. It showed a significant improvement of the Epworth Sleepiness Scales (p=0.003). Although these data are preliminary, they may not reflect all of the night shift workers' sleep propensities after treatment with synbiotics. It requires more research to be conducted in a wider scale