scholarly journals Effects of an external compared to an internal focus of attention on the excitability of fast and slow(er) motor pathways

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves-Alain Kuhn ◽  
Martin Keller ◽  
Sven Egger ◽  
Wolfgang Taube
Keyword(s):  
Motor Task ◽  
Motor Command ◽  
Intracortical Inhibition ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Target Line ◽  
Motor Pathways ◽  
Surround Inhibition ◽  
Internal Focus ◽  
Behavioural Parameter ◽  
The Right

AbstractThe neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the behavioural improvements usually associated with an external (EF) compared with an internal focus of attention (IF) remain poorly investigated. Surround inhibition in the primary cortex has been shown to be more pronounced with an EF, indicating a more spatial restriction of the motor command. However, the influence of different foci on the temporal aspect of the motor command, such as the modulation of fast versus slow(er) motor pathways, remains unknown and was therefore investigated in this study. Fourteen participants were asked to press on a pedal with the right foot to match its position with a target line displayed on a screen. The deviation of the pedal from the target line was used as a behavioural parameter and compared between both foci (EF vs IF). Additionally, conditioned H-reflexes were evoked during the motor task to assess the excitability of fast (direct) and slower (more indirect) motor pathways when adopting an EF or IF. With an EF compared to an IF, the motor performance was enhanced (P = .001; + 24%) and the activation of slow(er) motor pathways was reduced (P < 0.001, − 11.73%). These findings demonstrate for the first time that using different attentional strategies (EF and IF) has an influence on the excitability of slow(er) motor pathways. Together with the increased intracortical inhibition and surround inhibition known from previous studies, the diminished activation in the slow(er) motor pathways further explains why using an EF is a more economic strategy.

Human Cerebral Potentials During Motor Training Under Different Forms of Sensory Feedback

1999 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 234-244
Author(s):  
Uwe Niederberger ◽  
Wolf-Dieter Gerber
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Sensory Feedback ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Tactile Feedback ◽  
Proprioceptive Feedback ◽  
Motor Training ◽  
Feedback Group ◽  
Emg Feedback ◽  
The Right ◽  
Training Success

Abstract In two experiments with four and two groups of healthy subjects, a novel motor task, the voluntary abduction of the right big toe, was trained. This task cannot usually be performed without training and is therefore ideal for the study of elementary motor learning. A systematic variation of proprioceptive, tactile, visual, and EMG feedback was used. In addition to peripheral measurements such as the voluntary range of motion and EMG output during training, a three-channel EEG was recorded over Cz, C3, and C4. The movement-related brain potential during distinct periods of the training was analyzed as a central nervous parameter of the ongoing learning process. In experiment I, we randomized four groups of 12 subjects each (group P: proprioceptive feedback; group PT: proprioceptive and tactile feedback; group PTV: proprioceptive, tactile, and visual feedback; group PTEMG: proprioceptive, tactile, and EMG feedback). Best training results were reported from the PTEMG and PTV groups. The movement-preceding cortical activity, in the form of the amplitude of the readiness potential at the time of EMG onset, was greatest in these two groups. Results of experiment II revealed a similar effect, with a greater training success and a higher electrocortical activation under additional EMG feedback compared to proprioceptive feedback alone. Sensory EMG feedback as evaluated by peripheral and central nervous measurements appears to be useful in motor training and neuromuscular re-education.

ADDITIONAL CONCLUSION ON A DISSERTATION

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-180
Author(s):  
А.V. Gabov
Keyword(s):  
System Analysis ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
The State ◽  
State System ◽  
Federal Law ◽  
Current Regulation ◽  
Historical Method ◽  
The Right ◽  
Academic Degrees

Introduction: the article deals with the legal phenomenon of an additional conclusion on a dissertation that rarely comes into the focus of attention of domestic researchers, which is regulated in the Regulations on Awarding Academic Degrees and the Regulations on the Council for the Defense of Dissertations for the Degree of Candidate of Science, for the Degree of Doctor of Science. The relevance of the issue is explained by the ongoing processes of transformation of all the main elements of the state system of scientific certification. Purpose: to show the main elements of this institute, the problems of its regulation, including in connection with the changes made to the state system of scientific certification by Federal Law of 23 May 2016 No. 148-FZ “On Amendments to Article 4 of the Federal Law ‘On Science and State Scientific and Technical Policy’” (hereinafter – Law No. 148-FZ), as well as the directions for improving legal regulation of this institute. Methods: system analysis, historical method. Results: the goals of the institute of additional conclusions on the dissertation are revealed; marked defects in the regulation of additional conclusion on the dissertation; given the significant changes in the state system of scientific attestation in connection with the receipt of a number of organizations right of self-awarding degrees, as well as the accumulated practice of application of this institute, the directions of its improvement are formulated. Conclusions: according to the author of the article, the institute of additional conclusion should not be abandoned, it may well be in demand in the future and in the activities of organizations, those who have received the right to independently award academic degrees. The current regulation of the institute of additional conclusion requires complete renovation.

scholarly journals Thinking Outside the Block: External Focus of Attention Improves Reaction Times and Movement Preparation Times in Collegiate Track Sprinters

Sports ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Attila Kovacs ◽  
Garrett Miles ◽  
Harsimran Baweja
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Track And Field ◽  
Movement Preparation ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Internal Focus ◽  
Coaching Methods ◽  
Gastrocnemius Muscles

While focusing attention on external cues (EF) has been shown to enhance performance track and field coaches tend to provide instructions that promote internal focus of attention (IF) during block starts. The aims of this study were to determine: (1) whether promoting EF versus IF would improve reaction time (RT) of sprinters, and (2) if changes occur at the level of central processes during movement preparation (premotor RT) or peripheral processes during movement execution (motor RT). Twelve collegiate track sprinters (age 20.8 ± 1.7) completed three testing sessions under EF, IF, and no focus instruction (NF) conditions. RT was recorded from the left and right blocks. Muscle activation time (EMG) was recorded from the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius muscles. Mean rear foot RT was significantly shorter (p < 0.0001) under the EF (212.11 ms) compared with the IF (234.21 ms) and NF conditions (236.87 ms). Front foot RT was significantly shorter (p < 0.05) during EF (250.24 ms), compared to IF (266.98 ms) but not shorter than the NF (268.73 ms) condition. Mean premotor RT under the EF condition (157.75 ms) was significantly shorter (p < 0.001) compared with the IF (181.90 ms) and NF (173.60 ms) conditions. No differences were found in motor RT across conditions (p > 0.05). Adopting an EF improves RT during sprint starts. This improvement likely originates from a shortening in movement preparation time, as opposed to a faster excitation contraction coupling of the muscle fibers. These findings could potentially contribute to the development of new coaching methods aimed at improving the starting technique of athletes.

Verbal Cues and Attentional Focus: A Simulated Target-Shooting Experiment

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa D. Raisbeck ◽  
Jed A. Diekfuss
Keyword(s):  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Verbal Cues ◽  
Task Load ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Gun Barrel ◽  
Internal Focus ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Nasa Task Load Index ◽  
Learning And Performance

Performance benefits exist for an external focus of attention compared with an internal focus of attention for performance and learning (Wulf, 2013). It is unknown, however, if varying the number of verbal cues affects learning and performance. Focus of attention and the number of verbal cues were manipulated during a simulated handgun-shooting task. For the internal focus conditions, participants were told to focus on their hand, arm, and wrist, whereas the external focus instructions were to focus on the gun, gun barrel, and gun stock. To manipulate the number of verbal cues, participants received instruction to focus on a single verbal cue or multiple verbal cues. Shooting performance was assessed at baseline, acquisition, and at two separate retention phases (immediate, delayed) that included transfer tests. Participants completed the NASA—Task Load Index to assess workload following all trials. Participants who received one verbal cue performed significantly better during immediate retention than those who received three verbal cues. Participants who used external focus of attention instructions had higher performance and reported less workload at delayed retention compared to those who used internal focus instructions. This research provides further support for the benefits of an external focus and highlights the importance of minimizing the number of verbal cues.

scholarly journals Do Children Benefit External Focus of Attention as Much as Adults? A Motor Learning Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somaye Roshandel ◽  
Hamidreza Taheri ◽  
Amir Moghadam
Keyword(s):  
Motor Skills ◽  
Retention Test ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Learning Study ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Internal Focus ◽  
And Task

Recent evidence supports advantages of an external focus of attention on learning motor skills, however, there is a need to retest these finding for children and comparing them with adults. Thus, the purpose of current study was to determine the effect of different attentional focus on learning a motor skill in children and adults. Thirty children (8-12 year) and thirty adults (25-42 years) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) Children external focus of attention (EFA), (2) Children- internal focus of attention (IFA), (3) Adults- External focus of attention (EFA), (4) Adults- internal focus of attention (IFA). Following initial instructions and task demonstration, participants performed 60 darts throwing in six blocks and 24 hours later performed 10 additional throws for retention test. Results revealed that children benefited from EFA and IFA instruction in the same manner, however, adults benefited from EFA more than IFA instruction. Future studies should continue to examine effects of different attentional focus on other skills.

Where to Focus Attention When Performing the Jump Float Serve in Volleyball

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vickie Grooms Denny
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Focus Attention ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Attention Focus ◽  
College Female ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Internal Focus ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Sport Skills

The purpose of this study was to determine if an external attention focus was more effective than an internal attention focus for college female volleyball players practicing the complex open skill of the jump float serve. Sixteen college females with prior competitive volleyball playing experience were matched into either an internal or external attention focus group, each serving a total of 30 balls in three blocks of ten serves. After the pre-test, two days of practice and day off, a post-test was conducted for both groups. Results demonstrated a 25% improvement for the internal focus group and a 26.8% improvement for the external focus group. These results suggest that both internal and external focuses of attention are beneficial for practicing the complex jump float serve. However, a paired t-test from the improvement scores of both groups demonstrated no significant difference between the two practice conditions suggesting that either an internal focus or an external focus of attention is effective for practicing the complex jump float serve. In this particular study, external focus of attention was not found to be more effective than an internal focus of attention. Since these results do not support much of the research done with attention focus and sport skills, additional studies are needed comparing internal and external focus of attention, especially when practicing open sport skills.

scholarly journals A motor imagery during blind action is guided by the same foci of attention as actual performance in a sample comprising females

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Bassem Khalaf
Keyword(s):  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Direct Role ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Deviation Measure ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Internal Focus ◽  
Perceptual Representations ◽  
Better Than

There is strong evidence that focussing on the goal of an action improves performance relative to focussing on the concrete motor behaviours. The current study tests whether blind action guided by imagery relies on the same foci of attention. Thirty female participants took part in an experiment. In each condition there were 20 trials, they were asked to close their eyes and draw a straight line between two landmarks on a graphics tablet. We instructed them, in three conditions, to focus on (1) mental imagery of the goal landmark (external focus of attention), (2) drawing a straight line with the fingers (internal focus), or (3) without a specific focus of attention (control). We tested to what extent these attention instructions affected drawing performance, in terms of both deviations of the participants’ lines from an ideal straight line, and the time it took to complete the line. The study revealed that the manipulation specifically affected the deviation measure and that an external focus of attention was better than an internal focus and the control condition. These findings reveal that that mental imagery during blind action relies on same processes as actual performance. These data give perceptual representations of a direct role in motor control. They will be related to current theories of action control (constrained action hypothesis, ideomotor theories, and dual task accounts).

scholarly journals FAIDRAS: „GIMDYMO GROŽYJE“ FENOMENOLOGIJA

Problemos ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Skirmantas Jankauskas
Keyword(s):  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Favorable Condition ◽  
Human Relation ◽  
Phenomenological Aspect ◽  
Ethical Thinking ◽  
Theoretical Thinking ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Natural Way

Straipsnyje mėginama rekonstruoti platoniškosios meilės sampratos fenomenologinį aspektą. Šios sampratos kontūrus Platonas nužymi dar „Puotoje“, tačiau daugiausia dėmesio jai skiria bene poetiškiausiame ir mįslingiausiame savo dialoge „Faidras“. Įvadinėje dalyje teigiama, kad graikiškasis filosofavimas klostosi natūraliai, t. y. tematizuoja filosofavimui rūpimus turinius, tik susiklostant filosofavimui palankioms aplinkybėms. Brandą pasiekusi filosofija jau mėgina perprasti save, taigi ir įsisąmoninti tas natūralias prielaidas. Platonas dar „Puotoje“ nustato, kad palankiausia filosofavimui natūrali žmogaus būsena yra meilė. „Puotoje“ jam pavyksta išryškinti vertybinį meilės profilį, o filosofavimas čia aprašomas kaip grožio vertybės užangažuotas „teisingasis kelias“, kreipiantis mąstymą grynojo teorinio žinojimo link. Pati meilė čia traktuojama dar gana neapibrėžtai, t. y. kaip „gimdymas grožyje“. Sutelkdamas dėmesį į žmogiškąjį santykį, „Faidre“ Platonas kaip tik imasi detalizuoti „gimdymo grožyje“ fenomenologiją. Platonas struktūruoja sielą, t. y. pavaizduoja ją kaip vadeliotojo važnyčiojamą sparnuotą dvikinkę. Grožio veikiama ši dvikinkė pasikelia į uždangės sritį, ir vadeliotojui palankiausiu atveju pavyksta išvysti „tiesos lygumą“. Metaforiškai aprašytos sielos dalys straipsnyje susiejamos su atitinkamomis kasdienio ir etinio mąstymo temomis bei teoriniu mąstymu apskritai, o sparnuotumas – su vertybiškumu. Sekant Platono aprašyta sielos dalių dinamika pavyksta parodyti, kaip veikiant grožiui teorinis mąstymas gali tematizuoti etiškumo temą ir veikiai pelnyti būties įžvalgą. Pagrindiniai žodžiai: meilė, šėlas, tiesa, būtis, grožis, gėris, natūralus filosofavimas, fenomenologijaPhaidros: Phenomenology of “Giving Forth upon the Beautiful”Skirmantas Jankauskas   SummaryThe author makes an attempt to reconstruct the phenomenological aspect of Plato’s concept of love. The contours of this concept are only outlined by Plato in his Symposium to be later developed in his probably the most poetic and enigmatic dialogue Phaedrus. A hypothesis is put forward here that love as ‘madness’ – as described in Phaedrus – could be treated as a further elaboration of the concept of ‘giving forth upon the beautiful’ as portrayed in Symposium. The article starts with a thesis that Greek philosophizing  proceeds in a natural way, i.e. it thematises the preferred contents only within favorable external circumstances. As philosophy reaches its maturity, it tries to learn itself, i.e. to realize these favorable natural circumstances. It is already in Symposium that Plato establishes that love is the most favorable condition for philosophizing. In this dialogue Plato manages to elucidate the axiological profile of love. Philosophizing is presented as the ‘right way’ to be engaged by the beautiful and to lead towards pure theoretical thinking. Love itself is treated in an inde terminate way as ‘giving forth upon the beautiful’. By putting the human relation in the focus of attention, Plato reveals in his Phaedrus the phenomenology of ‘giving forth upon the beautiful’. He describes the soul as ‘a team of winged steeds and their winged charioteer’. Affected by the beautiful, this ‘team’ climbs the boundaries of the heavens and the ‘charioteer’, in the utmost case, manages to contemplate the ‘plain of truth’. In the article, those metaphorically described parts of the soul are associated correspondingly with themes of everyday thinking and ethical thinking as well as theoretical thinking in general, while wingness is related to valuesness. Tracing the dynamics of the parts of the soul, as portrayed in Phaedrus, the author manages to describe the way in which theoretical thinking thematises the theme of ethical thinking and attains the insight into being under the impact of the beautiful. Keywords: love, madness, truth, being, the beautiful, the good, natural philosophising, phenomenology.p;

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