Effects of handling and context preexposure on the immediate shock deficit

Theimmediate shock deficit refers to the failure of a shock to become associated with contextual stimuli when the shock is presented simultaneously with the rat’s placement in a context. The basic procedure consists of a presentation of the shock as soon as the animal is placed in an observation chamber. Handling of the animal, which immediately precedes the shock, and the novelty of the chamber in which the immediate shock is delivered are potential variables that might be responsible for this associative deficit. In Experiment 1, handling reduced context conditioning but was not responsible for the immediate shock deficit. Experiment 2 revealed that the novelty of the chamber was not a significant factor. These results discount the possibility that handling and the novelty of the chamber are responsible for the deficit produced by the immediate shock. It is suggested that immediate shock could be employed as a control procedure for the study of context conditioning.     

Metaphonological abilities of Japanese children

Linguists generally conceive of speech as a sequence of elementary soundunits or phones. On the other hand, cognitive psychologists have established the existence of a close link between segmental awareness (SA) and alphabetic literacy: the best speech segmenters are also the best readers; conversely, the lack of SA leads to lagging in the acquisition of the written code. Studies carried out with illiterate adults and preliterate children suggest that SA does not arise outside the context of learning to read and write. Furthermore, cross-cultural studies have so far supported the hypothesis that SA is promoted by alphabetic literacy only, and not by logographic or syllabic literacy. The present study is inspired by Mann's (1986) research and aims at studying the phonological (i.e. syllabic and phonemic) analysis abilities of Japanese first-graders who are learning to read in a syllabic writing system. The relatively poor performance of subjects tends to confirm the starting hypothesis that SA is closely linked to alphabetic literacy. Moreover, the subjects apparently resorted to spelling-based strategies to accomplish the tasks presented. This comes to support the general idea that the written characters used to transcribe a language tend to exert a strong influence on the conscious perceptual representation of the phonology of this language.This study would not have been possible without the precious help of Miss T. Yamamoto for the construction of the experimental items. We are also much indebted to Mrs. A. M. Van Craen for her good advice and for having introduced one of us (Carmela Spagnoletti) to the Japanese School of Brussels. We also wish to thank the Director of the Japanese School of Brussels for his permission to carry out the experimental work with his pupils, and to all the professors for having invited the parents to cooperate and provided us with many useful information. We are especially grateful to the children who participated to the experinmental sessions as well as to their parents. The present work has been partially supported by the Belgian Fonds de la Recherche fondamentale collective (convention n° 2.4562.86) and the Ministry of scientific Policy (Action de Recherche concertée: Processus cognitifs dans la lecture).     

Effect of 8 weeks of concurrent plyometric and running training on spatiotemporal and physiological variables of novice runners

Concurrent plyometric and running training has the potential to improve running economy (RE) and performance through increasing muscle strength and power, but the possible effect on spatiotemporal parameters of running has not been studied yet. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of 8 weeks of concurrent plyometric and running training on spatiotemporal parameters and physiological variables of novice runners. Twenty-five male participants were randomly assigned into two training groups; running group (RG) (n?=?11) and running + plyometric group (RPG) (n?=?14). Both groups performed 8 weeks of running training programme, and only the RPG performed a concurrent plyometric training programme (two sessions per week). Anthropometric, physiological (VO_2max, heart rate and RE) and spatiotemporal variables (contact and flight times, step rate and length) were registered before and after the intervention. In comparison to RG, the RPG reduced step rate and increased flight times at the same running speeds (P?P?P?2max increased more in the RPG than in the RG. In conclusion, concurrent plyometric and running training entails a reduction in step rate, as well as increases in VT speed, RCT speed, peak speed and VO_2max. Athletes could benefit from plyometric training in order to improve their strength, which would contribute to them attaining higher running speeds.     

Eccentric flywheel post-activation potentiation influences swimming start performance kinetics

This study aimed to assess the effects of post-activation potentiation in the strength related variables of a kick start. Thirteen competitive swimmers performed three kick starts after a standardized warm up (denoted USUAL) and another after inducing post-activation through five isotonic repetitions on an eccentric flywheel (denoted PAP). A T-test was used to quantify differences between USUAL and PAP warm up. The best trial of each subject achieved by natural conditions (denoted PEAK) was compared with data obtained after PAP. An instrumented starting block with independent triaxial force plates, collected the strength variables related with the impulse at take off. Improvements in the vertical components of force were observed after PAP compared with USUAL, meanwhile no differences were detected on the horizontal components of it. The velocity at take off was higher after PAP compared with USUAL (4.32 ± 0.88 vs 3.93 ± 0.60 m*s-1; p = 0.02). No differences in force or velocity were detected comparing PAP with PEAK (4.13 ± 0.62 m*s-1, p = 0.11). The PAP warm-up increased vertical force and it was transferred to a higher resultant velocity at take-off. This improvement would equal the best result possible obtained in natural conditions after some trials.     

Kinematic analysis of three water polo front crawl styles

During water polo matches, players use different front crawl styles. The purpose of this study was to conduct a kinematic analysis of three water polo front crawl styles: front crawl with head under water, front crawl with head above water, and front crawl when leading the ball. Ten proficient water polo players performed 3 × 15 m sprints in each front crawl style, which were recorded three-dimensionally by two surface and four underwater cameras. The results showed no differences in performance and several kinematic characteristics among the water polo front crawl styles. However, front crawl when leading the ball showed shorter stroke length and greater stroke frequency. Front crawl with head underwater presented greater maximal finger depth and elbow angle at mid-stroke position. Front crawl with head above water and when leading the ball showed greater trunk obliquity and maximal depth of right and left foot, and shorter kick stroke frequency. The findings suggest that proficient players learn to master front crawl with head above water to achieve top velocity. Despite the common use of the front crawl with head underwater as the basis for water polo fast displacement, coaches should emphasize the use of the specific water polo styles to attain high performance.     

The association of child abuse and neglect with adult disability in schizophrenia and the prominent role of physical neglect

ObjectiveTo assess long-lasting effects of childhood trauma on the functional outcome of adult patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.MethodNinety-nine stable patients with schizophrenia followed in an outpatient program at a public university hospital in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, were investigated for childhood traumatic experiences by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and for functional impairment by the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO/DAS). The schizophrenia diagnosis was assessed by ICD-10 and DSM-IV criteria according to the Operational Criteria Checklist for Psychotic Illness (OPCRIT).ResultsChildhood trauma in general was associated with increased disability in adulthood, reflected by impaired Overall Behavior (p = .023) and Global Evaluation (p = .032). Analysis of specific traumatic domains revealed that increased childhood physical neglect was associated with functional impairment in Overall Behavior (p < .000), Social Role Performance (p = .037) and Global Evaluation (p = .014). Higher emotional abuse was associated with impaired Overall Behavior (p = .026), and higher emotional neglect with poor Global Evaluation (p = .047). Additionally, earlier onset of illness was associated with lower level of functioning evidenced by impairment in Overall Behavior (p = .042). Linear regression using WHO/DAS sections (Overall Behavior, Social Role Performance and Global Evaluation) as dependent variables and CTQ subscales indicated that only physical neglect had an effect on adult functionality.ConclusionsChildhood trauma was associated with functional and social impairment in adult patients with schizophrenia. Specific types of abuse and neglect, such as physical neglect and emotional abuse and neglect, influenced disability, and the most robust association was physical neglect. Studies involving more patients, with normal controls and additional measurements of biological liability, should be conducted to confirm this association and to increase the understanding of gene-environment relationship in schizophrenia and pathways to disability.Practice implicationsFurther investigation is warranted to clarify the association between childhood trauma and disability in schizophrenia, as well as to develop standardized instruments for the assessment of trauma and earlier detection of risk along with education of patients and families about adequate care, in an effort to reduce the incidence of disability in schizophrenia.     

Análisis evolutivo de la empatía y la ansiedad como variables mediadoras del comportamiento de ayuda

Resumen

En este trabajo se analizan los efectos de la empatía y la ansiedad sobre la conducta de ayuda. Las hipótesis intentan discriminar entre las diferentes motivaciones (altruistas o egoístas) que pueden suscitar la conducta de ayuda. Se realizaron dos estudios, uno con niños y otro con adolescentes. Los datos se analizaron con ecuaciones estructurales (Lisrel, VI). Los resultados mostraron diferencias evolutivas en cuanto a la capacidad de las condiciones experimentales para provocar empatía y ansiedad, y por lo tanto, para producir la conducta de ayuda. Como conclusión se propone la ampliación del modelo de Batson y Coke, dado el peso que ha mostrado tener la variable «empatia disposicional» para explicar la conducta de ayuda. Respecto al tipo de motivación que originó la ayuda cabe señalar que, en ambos estudios, la ayuda se explicó por la empatía (disposicional y situacional) por lo que podemos deducir que la motivación fue altruista.