Exercise mode and attentional networks in older adults: a cross-sectional study

Background Previous studies have indicated that physical exercise enhances attentional function; however, the relationship between exercise mode and attentional networks has not been clarified for older adults (>60 years old). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between attentional networks and different exercise modes in older adults. Methods Two hundred and fifty-nine participants aged between 60 to 81 years were enrolled and classified into three groups (closed-skill group, open-skill group, or sedentary control group) using an exercise-related questionnaire. All participants completed an attention network test (ANT), which measured executive control, orienting, and alerting networks. Results The open-skill group had significantly higher executive network efficiency compared to the closed-skill (p < 0.01) and sedentary (p < 0.01) groups. The closed-skill group had significantly higher values compared to the sedentary control group (p < 0.05). Differences were not detected among groups for alerting and orienting networks (p > 0.05). The open-skill group had significantly higher values compared to the sedentary control group regarding proportion score of executive network (p < 0.01). In comparison, no significant differences were detected among groups for proportion scores of alerting and orienting networks. Conclusion This study extends current knowledge by demonstrating that open-skill exercises selectively enhance the executive control of attentional networks in older adults. Open-skill exercises combines physical exercise and cognitive training, potentially representing a more effective exercise mode to maintain or enhance attentional function in older adults.

UPAYA MENINGKATKAN FUNGSI KOGNITIF DAN KEBERSAMAAN PADA ABH LPKA BANDUNG MELALUI RECREATION SKILL GROUP

Kegiatan bermain di usia anak dan remaja tidak dapat dipisahkan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Di usia tersebut bagi mereka bermain adalah kegiatan yang membuat mereka bahagia dan sangat menyenangkan. Namun bermain bukan hanya untuk kesenangan semata melainkan juga bermanfaat bagi tumbuh dan kembang anak. Di masa inilah melalui permainan anak dapat meningkatkan kognisi serta belajar untuk bersosialisasi membangun kerjasama dengan orang lain.Setiap anak seharusnya memiliki waktu yang cukup banyak untuk bermain namun berbeda dengan apa yang dialami oleh ABH LPKA Bandung. Dikarenakan mereka sedang berhadapan dengan hukum maka waktu bermain mereka tidak sebanyak anak dan remaja lainnya. Mereka juga hanya bersosialisasi dengan lingkungan LPKA. Hal ini memungkinkan membuat mereka merasa sedih dan membuat perkembangan kognitif mereka terhambat sehingga akan membuat fungsi kognitif yang tidak sesuai. Dengan begitu maka terbentuklah kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat ini. Tim kami akan membantu memberikan permainan yang menyenangkan bagi mereka melalui Recreation Skill Group dimana kegiatan ini akan membantu ABH dalam meningkatkan fungsi kognitif dan menggantikan rasa bosan mereka menjadi keceriaan. Kegiatan ini dilakukan melalui 3 tahap, yaitu : (1) Pengajuan izin dan pemberitahuan informasi mengenai LPKA; (2) Mempersiapkan permainan dan alat yang digunakan; (3) Pelaksanaan kegiatan yang melakukan tiga permainan. Play activities at the age of children and adolescents can not be separated from everyday life. At this age playing is an activity that makes them happy. But playing is not just for fun but also beneficial for the growth and development of children. At this time, children's play can improve their cognition and learn to socialize in order to build cooperation with others.Every child should have enough time to play but it is different from what is experienced by ABH LPKA Bandung. Because they are dealing with the law their play time is not as much as other children and teenagers. They also only socialize within the LPKA environment. This instills in them great sadness and their cognitive functions are not well developed. This was why these community service activities were formed. Our team will help provide fun games for them through the Recreation Skill Group where this activity will help ABH improve cognitive function and replace their boredom into joy. This activity is carried out through 3 stages, namely: (1) Submission of permits and notification of information regarding LPKA; (2) Preparing the game and the tools that will be used; (3) Implementation of activities.

Implementing Cognitive Training Into a Surgical Skill Course: A Pilot Study on Laparoscopic Suturing and Knot Tying

Mini-invasive surgery—for example, laparoscopy—has challenged surgeons’ skills by extending their usual haptic space and displaying indirect visual feedback through a screen. This may require new mental abilities, including spatial orientation and mental representation. This study aimed to test the effect of cognitive training based on motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) on surgical skills. A total of 28 postgraduate residents in surgery took part in our study and were randomly distributed into 1 of the 3 following groups: (1) the basic surgical skill, which is a short 2-day laparoscopic course + MI + AO group; (2) the basic surgical skill group; and (3) the control group. The MI + AO group underwent additional cognitive training, whereas the basic surgical skill group performed neutral activity during the same time. The laparoscopic suturing and knot tying performance as well as spatial ability and mental workload were assessed before and after the training period. We did not observe an effect of cognitive training on the laparoscopic performance. However, the basic surgical skill group significantly improved spatial orientation performance and rated lower mental workload, whereas the 2 others exhibited lower performance in a mental rotation test. Thus, actual and cognitive training pooled together during a short training period elicited too high a strain, thus limiting potential improvements. Because MI and AO already showed positive outcomes on surgical skills, this issue may, thus, be mitigated according to our specific learning conditions. Distributed learning may possibly better divide and share the strain associated with new surgical skills learning.

EFEKTIVITAS GROUP BEHAVIOR THERAPY TERHADAP CONVERSATIONAL SKILL PADA PASIEN SKIZOFRENIA TIPE RESIDUAL (STUDI KASUS PADA INSTANSI X)

<p><em>Schizophrenia residual type is one of schizophrenia types which is the symptoms of schizophrenia are no longer appears significantly. The schizophrenia patients are need to be prepared before they complete their treatment in a mental health institution and back into society. A skill that is needed by schizophrenia residual type is conversational skills. However, some of schizophrenia patients are encountering problems in learning the conversational skills. The aim of this research is to study the effectiveness of group behavior therapy into the conversational skills of schizophrenia residual type patients. The technique used in the therapy is modeling and shaping. Statistical test with significance p = 0,002 &lt; 0,01 shows that group behavior therapy can improve conversational skills in schizophrenia residual type patients. However, there are some limitations in the study so further study is needed.</em><em></em></p><p><strong><em> </em></strong></p><strong><em>Keywords</em>: </strong><em>schizophrenia residual type</em>; <em>conversational skill; group behavior therapy</em>

The Wage Impact of the Marielitos: A Reappraisal

This article brings a new perspective to the analysis of the wage effects of the Mariel boatlift crisis, in which an estimated 125,000 Cuban refugees migrated to Florida between April and October, 1980. The author revisits the question of wage impacts from such a supply shock, drawing on the cumulative insights of research on the economic impact of immigration. That literature shows that the wage impact must be measured by carefully matching the skills of the immigrants with those of the incumbent workforce. Given that at least 60% of the Marielitos were high school dropouts, this article specifically examines the wage impact for this low-skill group. This analysis overturns the prior finding that the Mariel boatlift did not affect Miami’s wage structure. The wage of high school dropouts in Miami dropped dramatically, by 10 to 30%, suggesting an elasticity of wages with respect to the number of workers between −0.5 and −1.5.