Spatial training using game play in preschoolers improves computational skills

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharlene D. Newman ◽  
Erin Loughery ◽  
Ambur Ecklund ◽  
Marriah Smothers ◽  
Jefney Ongeri
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Mathematical Thinking ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Kindergarten Readiness ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Readiness Assessment ◽  
Block Play ◽  
Cognitive Benefits ◽  
Building Activities

Previous studies have found that block play results in better spatial ability which may lead to greater mathematical skills. The current study examined a specific type of block play, structured block play in which a copy of a block configuration is constructed. Structured block play is a difficult cognitive task that requires an understanding of spatial relations, hand-eye coordination, and spatial working memory among others. This preliminary study was designed to determine whether training using structure block play would lead to improvements in skills linked to mathematical thinking. Two groups of children participated in the study. One group played a competitive structured block building game once a week for 8 weeks. A control group was also tested. All participants completed a kindergarten readiness assessment before and after the 8-week period. Children in the block play group showed significant improvements in the computation module of the assessment. No such effect was observed for the control group. The results presented demonstrate that young children can, with assistance, engage in structured block play and that they have cognitive benefits from such block building activities.

The Effects of a Caffeine Placebo and Experimenter Expectation on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Well-Being, and Cognitive Performance

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Walach ◽  
Stefan Schmidt ◽  
Yvonne-Michelle Bihr ◽  
Susanne Wiesch
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Being There ◽  
To Receive

We studied the effect of experimenter expectations and different instructions in a balanced placebo design. 157 subjects were randomized into a 2 × 4 factorial design. Two experimenters were led to expect placebos either to produce physiological effects or not (pro- vs. antiplacebo). All subjects except a control group received a caffeine placebo. They were either made to expect coffee, no coffee, or were in a double-blind condition. Dependent measures were blood pressure, heart rate, well-being, and a cognitive task. There was one main effect on the instruction factor (p = 0.03) with the group “told no caffeine” reporting significantly better well-being. There was one main effect on the experimenter factor with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” having higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.008). There was one interaction with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” to receive coffee doing worse in the cognitive task than the rest. Subjects instructed by experimenter “antiplacebo” were significantly less likely to believe the experimental instruction, and that mostly if they had been instructed to receive coffee. Contrary to the literature we could not show an effect of instruction, but there was an effect of experimenters. It is likely, however, that these experimenter effects were not due to experimental manipulations, but to the difference in personalities.

In a Working Mood?

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard Reinecke ◽  
Sabine Trepte
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Prior Experience ◽  
Computer Game ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mood Management ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Personal Media ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Subsequent Task

Abstract. This quasi-experimental study examined the effects of exposure to a computer game on arousal and subsequent task performance. After inducing a state of low arousal, participants were assigned to experimental or control conditions via self-selection. Members of the experimental group played a computer game for five minutes; subjects in the control group spent the same amount of time awaiting further instructions. Participants who were exposed to the computer game showed significantly higher levels of arousal and performed significantly better on a subsequent cognitive task. The pattern of results was not influenced by the participants' prior experience with the game. The findings indicate that mood-management processes associated with personal media use at the workplace go beyond the alteration of arousal and affect subsequent cognitive performance.

Using Data to Drive Instruction: A Comparative Study of Lexia Scores to Other Reading Assessments, Attendance, Grades, and Behavior

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (04) ◽  
pp. 20318-20344
Author(s):  
Dr. Felicia Sawyer ◽  
Dr. Bobbie Little ◽  
Dr. Darlene Cantey ◽  
Principal Lionel Martin
Keyword(s):  
Kindergarten Readiness ◽  
Reading Program ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Independent Practice ◽  
Office Referrals ◽  
Readiness Assessment ◽  
Student Progress ◽  
Benchmark Assessment ◽  
Report Card Grades ◽  
Using Data

The purpose of this study is to analyze student progress after the frequent usage of a computerized reading program that provides phonics instruction and gives students independent practice in basic reading skills. Further, the study observes and analyzes the correlation between student progress in Lexia to progress report grades, report card grades, attendance, office referrals for poor behavior, the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) scores, Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) language and social scores, and the Reading Inventory scores (RI).     

scholarly journals How cognitive loads modulate the postural control of older women with low back pain?

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Ge ◽  
Qiuhua Yu ◽  
Chuhuai Wang ◽  
Huanjie Huang ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Difficulty Level ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Dual Tasks ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Arithmetic Task

Abstract Background The capacity of postural control is a key factor related to falling in older people, particularly in older women with low back pain (LBP). Cognitive involvement in postural control increases with age. However, most scholars have not considered different difficulty levels of cognitive loads when exploring the effects of cognition on postural control in older patients with LBP. The present study is to investigate how different levels of cognitive loads modulate postural control in older women with LBP. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. Twenty older women with LBP were recruited into the LBP group, and 20 healthy older women without the history of LBP were recruited into the healthy control group. Balance parameters were computed to quantify postural control. All participants underwent the balance test, which required the participant to maintain stability during standing on a force platform with or without a concurrent cognitive task. The balance test included three levels of difficulties of posture tasks (eyes-open vs. eyes-closed vs. one-leg stance) and three cognitive tasks (without cognitive task vs. auditory arithmetic task vs. serial-7 s arithmetic task). Results A repeated-measure analysis of variance (3 postural tasks × 3 congnitive tasks× 2 groups) testing the effects of the different congnitive task levels on the performance in different postural conditions. Older women with LBP had worse postural control (as reflected by larger center of pressure (COP) parameters) than control group regardless of postural or cognitive difficulties. Compared with the single task, the COP parameters of participants with LBP were larger during dual tasks, even though the difficulty level of the cognitive task was low. Larger COP parameters were shown only if the difficulty level of the cognitive task was high in control group. Correlations between sway area/sway length and the number of falls were significant in dual tasks. Conclusion Our findings shed light on how cognitive loads modulate postural control for older women with LBP. Compared with control group, cognitive loads showed more disturbing effects on postural control in older women with LBP, which was associated with falling.

The Portable Warrior Test of Tactical Agility: A Novel Functional Assessment That Discriminates Service Members Diagnosed With Concussion From Controls

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Seal Cecchini ◽  
Julianna Prim ◽  
Wanqing Zhang ◽  
Courtney H Harrison ◽  
Karen L McCulloch
Keyword(s):  
Construct Validity ◽  
Functional Assessment ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Service Members ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Readiness Assessment ◽  
Mobility Assessment ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
High Level ◽  
Return To Duty

ABSTRACT Introduction Return-to-duty (RTD) readiness assessment for service members (SM) following concussion requires complex clinical considerations. The Portable Warrior Test of Tactical Agility (POWAR-TOTAL) is a functional assessment which improves on previous laboratory-based RTD assessments. Methods Sixty-four SM diagnosed with concussion and 60 healthy control (HC) SM participated in this study. Group differences were analyzed to validate the POWAR-TOTAL. The High-level Mobility Assessment Test (HiMAT) was used to examine concurrent construct validity. An exploratory logistic regression analysis examined predictive validity. Results The groups were demographically well-matched except for educational level. POWAR-TOTAL measures were statistically significantly different between the groups with moderate to large effect sizes. Concussed participants were less likely to be able to complete all trials of the POWAR-TOTAL. Motor scores correlated highly with HiMAT scores. POWAR-TOTAL motor task performance and membership in the control group was significantly associated with self-reported physical readiness to deploy. Conclusion The POWAR-TOTAL is a clinically feasible, military relevant assessment that is sensitive to differences between concussed and HC SM. This analysis supports the discriminant and construct validity of the POWAR-TOTAL, and may be useful for medical providers evaluating RTD readiness for SM who have sustained a concussion.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of employing the enrichment activities of mental thinking on the development of thinking and mathematical achievement among the students of the second cycle Education has been essential: فاعلية توظيف الأنشطة الإثرائية للتفكير الذهني في تنمية التفكير والتحصيل الرياضي لدى طلاب الحلقة الثانية من التعليم الأساسي

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (28) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salim Ahmed Saif Al-rashdi
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Mathematical Thinking ◽  
Achievement Test ◽  
Cognitive Achievement ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

    The present study aimed at uncovering the effectiveness of employing the enrichment activities for mental thinking on the development of mathematical thinking and achievement among Grade 7 students. To achieve the research objectives, the researcher used the semi experimental design known as the design of the control group with the tribal and remote tests. In light of the experimental design, the average Grade 7 students tested the sample of the study in the second semester of 30 students who were divided into 15 students for the experimental group and 15 students for the control group after checking the validity and stability of the tools. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference at (0.05) between the mean scores of the experimental and control groups in the cognitive achievement test related to the unit of Engineering in the second semester and the mathematical thinking test for the average of the experimental group. The results also showed a statistically significant difference) between the average scores of the experimental group students in the tribal and remote applications in the cognitive achievement test and the mathematical thinking test, and in favor of the average post-implementation. In the light of these results, the study presented a number of recommendations and suggestions.   ، ، ، ،

scholarly journals Negative Effects of Embodiment in a Visuo-Spatial Working Memory Task in Children, Young Adults, and Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Amico ◽  
Sabine Schaefer
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Negative Effects

Studies examining the effect of embodied cognition have shown that linking one’s body movements to a cognitive task can enhance performance. The current study investigated whether concurrent walking while encoding or recalling spatial information improves working memory performance, and whether 10-year-old children, young adults, or older adults (Mage = 72 years) are affected differently by embodiment. The goal of the Spatial Memory Task was to encode and recall sequences of increasing length by reproducing positions of target fields in the correct order. The nine targets were positioned in a random configuration on a large square carpet (2.5 m × 2.5 m). During encoding and recall, participants either did not move, or they walked into the target fields. In a within-subjects design, all possible combinations of encoding and recall conditions were tested in counterbalanced order. Contrary to our predictions, moving particularly impaired encoding, but also recall. These negative effects were present in all age groups, but older adults’ memory was hampered even more strongly by walking during encoding and recall. Our results indicate that embodiment may not help people to memorize spatial information, but can create a dual-task situation instead.

scholarly journals The Differential Effects of Acute Right- vs. Left-Sided Vestibular Deafferentation on Spatial Cognition in Unilateral Labyrinthectomized Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thanh Tin Nguyen ◽  
Gi-Sung Nam ◽  
Jin-Ju Kang ◽  
Gyu Cheol Han ◽  
Ji-Soo Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Cognition ◽  
Motor Coordination ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Spatial Navigation ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Y Maze ◽  
Lesion Side ◽  
Unilateral Labyrinthectomy

This study aimed to investigate the disparity in locomotor and spatial memory deficits caused by left- or right-sided unilateral vestibular deafferentation (UVD) using a mouse model of unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL) and to examine the effects of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) on the deficits over 14 days. Five experimental groups were established: the left-sided and right-sided UL (Lt.-UL and Rt.-UL) groups, left-sided and right-sided UL with bipolar GVS with the cathode on the lesion side (Lt.-GVS and Rt.-GVS) groups, and a control group with sham surgery. We assessed the locomotor and cognitive-behavioral functions using the open field (OF), Y maze, and Morris water maze (MWM) tests before (baseline) and 3, 7, and 14 days after surgical UL in each group. On postoperative day (POD) 3, locomotion and spatial working memory were more impaired in the Lt.-UL group compared with the Rt.-UL group (p < 0.01, Tamhane test). On POD 7, there was a substantial difference between the groups; the locomotion and spatial navigation of the Lt.-UL group recovered significantly more slowly compared with those of the Rt.-UL group. Although the differences in the short-term spatial cognition and motor coordination were resolved by POD 14, the long-term spatial navigation deficits assessed by the MWM were significantly worse in the Lt.-UL group compared with the Rt.-UL group. GVS intervention accelerated the vestibular compensation in both the Lt.-GVS and Rt.-GVS groups in terms of improvement of locomotion and spatial cognition. The current data imply that right- and left-sided UVD impair spatial cognition and locomotion differently and result in different compensatory patterns. Sequential bipolar GVS when the cathode (stimulating) was assigned to the lesion side accelerated recovery for UVD-induced spatial cognition, which may have implications for managing the patients with spatial cognitive impairment, especially that induced by unilateral peripheral vestibular damage on the dominant side.

Inter-Hemispherical Investigations on the Functional Connectivity in Controls and Autism Spectrum Using Resting State fMRI

2020 ◽  
pp. 169-186
Author(s):  
S. Vidhusha ◽  
A. Kavitha
Keyword(s):  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Granger Causality ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Resting State Fmri ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Neural Connectivity ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
The Brain

Autism spectrum disorders are connected with disturbances of neural connectivity. Functional connectivity is typically examined during a cognitive task, but also exists in the absence of a task. While a number of studies have performed functional connectivity analysis to differentiate controls and autism individuals, this work focuses on analyzing the brain activation patterns not only between controls and autistic subjects, but also analyses the brain behaviour present within autism spectrum. This can bring out more intuitive ways to understand that autism individuals differ individually. This has been performed between autism group relative to the control group using inter-hemispherical analysis. Indications of under connectivity were exhibited by the Granger Causality (GC) and Conditional Granger Causality (CGC) in autistic group. Results show that as connectivity decreases, the GC and CGC values also get decreased. Further, to demark the differences present within the spectrum of autistic individuals, GC and CGC values have been calculated.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of the Effect of Dietary Supplements on Cognitive Performance in Healthy Young Adults and Military Personnel

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane E. Pomeroy ◽  
Katie L. Tooley ◽  
Bianka Probert ◽  
Alexandra Wilson ◽  
Eva Kemps
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Cognitive Outcome ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cognitive Benefits

Intake of dietary supplements has increased, despite evidence that some of these have adverse side effects and uncertainty about their effectiveness. This systematic review examined the evidence for the cognitive benefits of a wide range of dietary supplements in healthy young adult samples; the aim was to identify if any might be useful for optimising cognitive performance during deployment in military personnel. Searches were conducted in 9 databases and 13 grey literature repositories for relevant studies published between January 2000 and June 2017. Eligible studies recruited healthy young adults (18–35 years), administered a legal dietary supplement, included a comparison control group, and assessed cognitive outcome(s). Thirty-seven of 394 identified studies met inclusion criteria and were included for synthesis. Most research was deemed of low quality (72.97%; SIGN50 guidelines), highlighting the need for sound empirical research in this area. Nonetheless, we suggest that tyrosine or caffeine could be used in healthy young adults in a military context to enhance cognitive performance when personnel are sleep-deprived. Caffeine also has the potential benefit of improving vigilance and attention during sustained operations offering little opportunity for sleep. Inconsistent findings and methodological limitations preclude firm recommendations about the use of other specific dietary supplements.

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