scholarly journals Effect of the Brain Balance Program® on Cognitive Performance in Children and Adolescents with Developmental and Attentional Issues

2021 ◽  
pp. 27-41
Author(s):  
Rebecca Jackson ◽  
Conor J. Wild
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Academic Activities ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Cognitive Task Performance ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Attentional Difficulties ◽  
The Brain

We reviewed the cognitive task performance of children and adolescents with developmental and attentional issues, before and after participation in the Brain Balance® (BB) program. The program consisted of three 1-hour sessions/week (sensorimotor stimulation and academic activities) with other multimodal activities, for 3 months. Participants were compared to a control group that had the same underlying demographic and phenotypical features but did not yet complete the program (participated on average for 27 days). For all ages (4-6 and 7+ years), we found a significant main effect of group, such that BB groups improved overall more than controls (CTRLs). More specifically, BB groups improved on all cognitive tests (three tests for ages 4-6 years; 12 tests for ages 7+ years), whereas CTRLs only improved on one test. These data support the potential of multimodal training programs toward the overarching goal of improving cognitive performance in children with developmental and attentional difficulties.

Effect of acupuncture on cognitive task performance of college students: a pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geetha B. Shetty ◽  
Jithin Jacob ◽  
Prashanth Shetty ◽  
A. Mooventhan ◽  
Pratikshya Aryal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cognitive Task Performance ◽  
Before And After ◽  
And Control

Abstract Objectives Reduction in cognitive function of college students affects their academic recitation. Acupuncture is widely practiced for health promotion. Objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on cognitive task performance in college students. Methods Sixty students aged 18–25 years were randomly allocated into acupuncture group (AG) (n=30) and control group (CG) (n=30). The AG underwent 20 min of acupuncture/day, while the CG underwent their normal routine for 10 days. Assessments were performed before and after the intervention. Results Between-group analysis showed a significant increase in the six-letter cancellation test (SLCT) score in AG compared with CG. Within-group analysis showed a significant increase in the scores of all tests (i.e. SLCT, forward and backward Digit span test [DST]) in AG, while a significant increase in backward DST was observed in CG. Conclusion Acupuncture has a beneficial effect on improving the cognitive function of college students.

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.

scholarly journals Using Brain-Breaks® as a Technology Tool to Increase Attitude towards Physical Activity among Students in Singapore

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 784
Author(s):  
Govindasamy Balasekaran ◽  
Ahmad Arif Bin Ibrahim ◽  
Ng Yew Cheo ◽  
Phua Kia Wang ◽  
Garry Kuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
School Students ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Brain Breaks ◽  
Student's Attitudes ◽  
The Brain

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of classroom-based Brain Breaks® Physical Activity Solution in Southeast Asia Singaporean primary school students and their attitude towards physical activity (PA) over a ten-week intervention. A total of 113 participants (8–11 years old) were randomly assigned to either an experimental (EG) or a control group (CG), with six classes to each group; the Brain Breaks® group (EG: six classes) and the Control group (CG: six classes). All EG members participated in a Brain Breaks® video intervention (three–five min) during academic classes and the CG continued their lessons as per normal. The student’s attitudes towards PA in both research conditions were evaluated using the self–reported Attitudes toward Physical Activity Scale (APAS), applied before and after intervention. The effects of the intervention on APAS scores were analysed using a mixed model analysis of variance with Time as within-subject and Group as between-subject factors. The analysis revealed evidence in support of the positive effect of classroom video interventions such as Brain Breaks® on student’s attitudes toward benefits, importance, learning, self-efficacy, fun, fitness, and trying to do their personal best in PA. The Brain Breaks® intervention provided a positive significant impact on students in Singapore. This study also revealed that interactive technology tools implemented into the school curriculum benefit students in terms of health and education.

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.

Teaching about Near-Death Experiences: The Effectiveness of Using the Day I Died

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice Miner Holden ◽  
Kathy Oden ◽  
Kelly Kozlowski ◽  
Bert Hayslip
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Waitlist Control ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Waitlist Control Group ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
The Mind ◽  
Near Death Experiences ◽  
The Brain

In this article, we reviewed results of research on near-death experiences (NDEs) over the past 3 decades and examined the effect of viewing the hour-long 2002 BBC documentary The Day I Died: The Mind, the Brain, and Near-Death Experiences on accurate knowledge about near-death experiences among advanced undergraduates at a southwestern university. In a quasi-experimental research design, the experimental group completed a 20-item questionnaire before and after viewing the documentary ( n = 66; 45 females, 21 males), and the waitlist control group completed the questionnaire as pre- and posttest before viewing the documentary ( n = 39; 36 female, 3 male). The two groups' scores at pretest were not significantly different ( p > .05). Group by occasion repeated measures ANOVA revealed the experimental group's posttest scores moved significantly in the direction of correctness with a large effect size ( p < .001; η2= .56), whereas waitlist control group posttest scores remained similar to pretest scores. We discuss two exceptions to the effectiveness of the documentary and recommendations for educators using it as well as for future research.

scholarly journals The EEG Activity during Binocular Depth Perception of 2D Images

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marsel Fazlyyyakhmatov ◽  
Nataly Zwezdochkina ◽  
Vladimir Antipov
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Cortical Activity ◽  
Stereoscopic Vision ◽  
Image Perception ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Before And After ◽  
False Image ◽  
Random Dot Stereogram ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Band Activity

The central brain functions underlying a stereoscopic vision were a subject of numerous studies investigating the cortical activity during binocular perception of depth. However, the stereo vision is less explored as a function promoting the cognitive processes of the brain. In this work, we investigated a cortical activity during the cognitive task consisting of binocular viewing of a false image which is observed when the eyes are refocused out of the random-dot stereogram plane (3D phenomenon). The power of cortical activity before and after the onset of the false image perception was assessed using the scull EEG recording. We found that during stereo perception of the false image the power of alpha-band activity decreased in the left parietal area and bilaterally in frontal areas of the cortex, while activity in beta-1, beta-2, and delta frequency bands remained to be unchanged. We assume that this suppression of alpha rhythm is presumably associated with increased attention necessary for refocusing the eyes at the plane of the false image.

scholarly journals Effects of the Brain Wave Modulation Technique Administered Online on Stress, Anxiety, Global Distress, and Affect During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Cozzolino ◽  
Giovanna Celia ◽  
Laura Girelli ◽  
Pierpaolo Limone
Keyword(s):  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Brain Wave ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Wave Modulation ◽  
Modulation Technique ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Global Distress

This study aims to evaluate the effects of an innovative mind-body practice named the brain wave modulation technique (BWM-T) on stress, anxiety, global distress, and affect. The technique was administered online through a web-based video conferencing platform. The intervention started on week four of the first quarantine in Italy (week commencing 30th March 2020), for a duration of 4 weeks and ended before lockdown measures were loosened. 310 people participated in the study, mean age 28.73 years old (SD = 9.16), 77.8% women. Of these, about half were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the other half served as controls. Participants completed online psychological tests before and after the intervention. 266 people (144 experimental, 122 controls) completed the post-intervention tests. Consistent with our hypothesis, the study’s findings indicate a reduction in the levels of stress, anxiety, global distress, and negative affect in the experimental group, compared to the control group. Moreover, the experimental group also showed higher levels of positive affect, compared to controls after the intervention. The present findings add to the current literature in suggesting that the BWM-T reduced stress not only when administered face-to face but also when administered online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, we also noted that the BWM-T has an effect on anxiety, global distress, and affect, which we had not investigated in previous studies.

scholarly journals The Effects of 12 Weeks Pilates Exercises on Functional and Cognitive Performance in Elderly People

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3S) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Buket Kayaoğlu ◽  
İlbilge Özsu
Keyword(s):  
Elderly People ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Berg Balance Scale ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Functional Reach Test ◽  
Before And After

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of 12 weeks Pilates exercises on functional and cognitive performance in elderly people which are living in an elderly care center. Forty three elderly were randomly allocated either to Pilates group (PG, n= 21; mean age, 72.8 ± 7.84 years), which performed three session of Pilates per week for 12 weeks, or to control group (CG, n= 22; mean age, 77.7 ± 7.25 years), which no performed any exercise is except from daily works. Participants tested to handgrip strength, Berg balance scale, Functional reach test and Mini Mental State Examination Test before and after the 12 weeks of exercise. Finally, PG demonstrated improvement in all variables. However, CG has no improvement any variables. Pilates exercises led to significant improvement in functional and cognitive performance. Therefore, elderly people can apply a well-structured Pilates exercise program under Pilates instructor and physiotherapist.

The Vegetative Status Correction in the Patients with Chronic Dyscirculatory Encephalopathy on the Sanatorium Rehabilitation Stage

10.12737/5760 ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Куликов ◽  
N. Kulikov ◽  
Череващенко ◽  
Lyubov Cherevashchenko ◽  
Череващенко ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Therapy ◽  
The State ◽  
The Body ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Autonomic Imbalance ◽  
Dyscirculatory Encephalopathy ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Adaptive Reactions

Among vascular brain diseases a special place in its importance takes chronic cerebrovascular pathology in the form of dyscirculatory encephalopathy. The most frequently affected cerebral structures with discirculatory encephalopathy are those parts of the brain that are largely responsible for shaping over segmental vegetative disorders, which are characteristic of clinics chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency. The purpose of this work is to develop a new modern high technology of sanatorium rehabilitation of the patients with circulatory encephalopathy on stage I and to correct autonomic imbalance. The authors observed 60 patients who were divided into 2 groups. The control group received radon baths, the patients from the main group in addition to radon baths received laser therapy paravertebrally C1-Th3, according to scanning technique. In all patients before and after treatment the state of the autonomic nervous system studied. It was found that the initial manifestations of vascular encephalopathy accompanied by autonomic imbalance with a predominance of sympathetic tone, activation and inhibition effects of ergotrop activities segmental systems, primarily due to the parasympathetic division. The results of this study demonstrate feasibility of incorporating laser therapy in complex radon baths for rehabilitation of patients with circulatory encephalopathy autonomic imbalance. The findings suggest that improving the functional state mechanisms vegetative maintenance activities, which help to eliminate the state of surge and flow of adaptive reactions in the body.

scholarly journals Correlation between Peripheral Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Hippocampal Volume in Children and Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Lauxen Peruzzolo ◽  
Mauricio Anes ◽  
Andre de Moura Kohmann ◽  
Ana Claudia Mércio Loredo Souza ◽  
Ramiro Borges Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Hippocampal Volume ◽  
Pediatric Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Drug Naïve ◽  
Short Time ◽  
The Brain

Pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) is a serious mental disorder that affects the development and emotional growth of affected patients. The brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is recognized as one of the possible markers of the framework and its evolution. Abnormalities in BDNF signaling in the hippocampus could explain the cognitive decline seen in patients with TB. Our aim with this study was to evaluate possible changes in hippocampal volume in children and adolescents with BD and associate them to serum BDNF. Subjects included 30 patients aged seven to seventeen years from the ProCAB (Program for Children and Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder). We observed mean right and left hippocampal volumes of 41910.55 and 41747.96 mm3, respectively. No statistically significant correlations between peripheral BDNF levels and hippocampal volumes were found. We believe that the lack of correlation observed in this study is due to the short time of evolution of BD in children and adolescents. Besides studies with larger sample sizes to confirm the present findings and longitudinal assessments, addressing brain development versus a control group and including drug-naive patients in different mood states may help clarify the role of BDNF in the brain changes consequent upon BD.

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