No Relationship between Lean Mass and Functional Asymmetry in High-Level Female Tennis Players

The relationship between lean mass and functional asymmetry in terms of their magnitude and direction was examined in 22 high-level female tennis players (20.9 ± 3.6 years). Lean mass of both upper and lower extremities was examined using Dual X-ray Absorptiometry. Functional asymmetry was assessed using a battery of field tests (handgrip strength, seated shot-put throw, plate tapping, single leg countermovement jump, single leg forward hop test, 6 m single leg hop test, and 505 change of direction (time and deficit)). Paired sample t-tests compared the dominant (overall highest/best (performance) value) against the non-dominant value (highest/best (performance) value of the opposing extremity). Linear regressions were used to explore the relationship between lean mass and functional asymmetry magnitudes. Kappa coefficients were used to examine the consistency in direction between the extremity displaying the highest lean mass value and the extremity performing dominantly across tests. Significant asymmetry magnitudes (p < 0.05) were found for all upper and lower extremity lean mass and functional values. No relationship was apparent between lean mass and functional asymmetry magnitudes (p-value range = 0.131–0.889). Despite finding perfect consistency in asymmetry direction (k-value = 1.00) for the upper extremity, poor to fair consistency (k-value range = −0.00–0.21) was found for the lower extremity. In conclusion, lean mass and functional asymmetries should be examined independently.

Cerebral Hemispheric Dominance and Lateralization. Examination methods and procedures

On the basis of electrophysiological and neuropsychological investigations the existence of cerebral hemispheric dominance has been established. Thus, a certain psycho-behavioural function may not be equally governed by either the left or the right hemisphere, a tendency towards lateralization coming into play (Sperri, 1974; Arseni, Golu, Dănăilă, 1983; Funnell, Carballis, Gazzanga, 2000). The functional asymmetry of the analysers is encountered both at the peripheral level, through the sensory-motor lateralization of paired receptors, and at the cortical level, through the asymmetrical functioning of the cerebral hemispheres. Consequently, tests for hemispheric dominance, as well as tests for lateralization must, respectively, be employed. When examining cerebral hemispheric dominance and lateralization, the characteristics of the organs under investigation are taken into account, and so is the age of the subjects. The examination of functional asymmetry in the case of analyzers with paired receptors has relied on an impressive number of trials, procedures, tests and questionnaires on lateralization, all suitable for the subjects’ age and for the psycho-physiological characteristics of the respective couple of paired organs. The combined use of lateralization tests specifically adapted for all paired organs (hand, eye, is essential in order to establish the degree of lateralization homogeneity. The examinations and the calculation of the laterality index are to be done periodically, the results being recorded in a chart that reflects the evolution of lateralization as a result of engaging the child in various activities meant for a specific type of lateralization.

Immune response and localization of focal brain lesions

Since the discovery of the functional asymmetry of the cerebral hemispheres, interhemispheric lateralization and intrahemispheric organization of the brain have been a leading problem in clinical neurology.

THE STUDY OF THE DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF HAND MOVEMENTS OF FEMALE BOXERS WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNCTIONAL ASYMMETRY

Purpose: determining peculiarities of speed characteristics of hand movements of female boxers with different functional asymmetry types during dynamic work performance. Material: 50 highly skilled female boxers (masters of sports of international class, masters of sports). The study of female boxer psychomotor functions was designed according to a certain scheme. The motor component of motor response was examined by means of tapping test. The time of a simple and two complex visual-motor responses was determined. The study was completed by determining the identification time for visual stimuli of various degrees of complexity without a motor response. It was assumed that this will allow to consider the visual-gnostic component in a "pure" form. Such a design of the study permitted to evaluate the contribution of each component of psychomotor response to the response speed of female boxers with different types of functional hemispheric asymmetry (FHA) profile. Results: For the first time, the psychophysiological indices of female boxers were obtained. Female boxers were conditionally divided into right-handers, left-handers and ambidexters. The differences of these groups of female athletes in psychophysiological indices were established. Conclusions: In convenient mode, ambidexters perform work at a high rate than right-handers. At that, their right hand is faster than the left. The total number of movements performed by left-handers is greater than that of right-handers and ambidexters (it concerns both hands). The speed characteristics of female boxers with different types of functional asymmetry in accelerated mode are the same. The pace stability of right-handers and left-handers is high, but less than that of ambidexters. Ambidexters who use the right-handed stance are at advantage than right-handers with right-handed stance. Left-handed female athletes perform movements with greater speed than right-handed ones. For right-handed and left-handed female athletes it is more difficult to maintain the optimal pace of the right than the left hand, whereas ambidexters have problems with maintaining the optimal pace of the left hand. Left-handed female athletes are faster than right-handed ones.

Interdisciplinary Educational Technology based on the Concept of Human Brain Functional Asymmetry

The main aspects of interdisciplinary ICT technology of educational process based on the concept of functional asymmetry of the cerebral hemispheres, which reflect space-time asymmetry of the Universe and constitute a certain psychophysiological focus of human organism, are presented in the article. Its urgency stems from the tendencies of contemporary world, evolving towards the information society (or the "society of knowledge") and influencing the development of modern education, becoming increasingly multimedia-rich and psychologised. The authors consider the major peculiarities of cognitive strategies of brain’s hemispheres, which should be taken into account in modern educational systems that apply versatile multimedia means in teaching different academic disciplines. It is shown that training information offered to the students can be differentiated by the right (abstract and verbal) and left (concrete and graphic) video sequences, which corresponds to hemispheric information processing strategies and promotes the synergetic state of synchronization of the hemispheres functions. And the encephalographic studies show that such functional synchronization, revealing the medication state of human brain, presupposes the integration of two information processing strategies, leading to harmonization of the processes of the first and second signalling systems. The algorithms of the most effective influence of multimedia presentations of teaching materials on a student based on the concept of functional asymmetry of human brain are substantiated. These algorithms presuppose combining the "left" and "right" information in such a way that the volumes of two types of information would form a harmonious (golden) proportion.