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Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance Jul 2024While there are numerous factors that may affect pilot attentional performance, we hypothesize that an increased expiratory work of breathing experienced by fighter...
While there are numerous factors that may affect pilot attentional performance, we hypothesize that an increased expiratory work of breathing experienced by fighter pilots may impose a "distraction stimulus" by creating an increased expiratory effort sensation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which increasing expiratory pressure time product or expiratory effort sensation impacts attentional performance. Data was collected on 10 healthy participants (age: 29 ± 6 yr). Participants completed six repetitions of a modified Masked Conjunctive Continuous Performance Task protocol while breathing against four different expiratory threshold loads. Repeated measures analysis of variances and generalized additive mixed effects models were used to investigate the effects of expiratory threshold load conditions on expiratory pressure time product, expiratory effort sensation, and the influence of altered end tidal gases on Masked Conjunctive Continuous Performance Task scores. The overall median hit reaction times were significantly longer as the expiratory threshold loads increased. Specific shape-conjunctive and non-conjunctive median hit reaction times were longer with increased expiratory effort sensation. Additionally, increased expiratory effort sensation did not significantly change commission error rates, but did significantly increase omission error rates. The findings of our work suggest that both progressively greater expiratory threshold loads during spontaneous breathing and expiratory effort sensation may impair subjects' attentional performance due to longer reaction times and increased stimuli recognition error rates.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Attention; Male; Young Adult; Exhalation; Reaction Time; Female; Task Performance and Analysis; Pilots
PubMed: 38915161
DOI: 10.3357/AMHP.6383.2024 -
PloS One 2024Motor issues are frequently observed accompanying core deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Impaired motor behavior has also been linked to cognitive and social...
Motor issues are frequently observed accompanying core deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Impaired motor behavior has also been linked to cognitive and social abnormalities, and problems with predictive ability have been suggested to play an important, possibly shared, part across all these domains. Brain imaging of sensory-motor behavior is a promising method for characterizing the neurobiological foundation for this proposed key trait. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) developmental study, involving children/youth with ASD, typically developing (TD) children/youth, and neurotypical adults, will investigate brain activations during execution and observation of a visually guided, goal-directed sequential (two-step) manual task. Neural processing related to both execution and observation of the task, as well as activation patterns during the preparation stage before execution/observation will be investigated. Main regions of interest include frontoparietal and occipitotemporal cortical areas, the human mirror neuron system (MNS), and the cerebellum.
Topics: Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Child; Brain; Male; Adolescent; Female; Adult; Brain Mapping; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Movement; Autistic Disorder; Young Adult; Psychomotor Performance; Mirror Neurons
PubMed: 38913636
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296225 -
ELife Jun 2024Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents a range of challenges, including heightened sensory sensitivities. Here, we examine the idea that sensory overload in ASD may be...
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents a range of challenges, including heightened sensory sensitivities. Here, we examine the idea that sensory overload in ASD may be linked to issues with efference copy mechanisms, which predict the sensory outcomes of self-generated actions, such as eye movements. Efference copies play a vital role in maintaining visual and motor stability. Disrupted efference copies hinder precise predictions, leading to increased reliance on actual feedback and potential distortions in perceptions across eye movements. In our first experiment, we tested how well healthy individuals with varying levels of autistic traits updated their mental map after making eye movements. We found that those with more autistic traits had difficulty using information from their eye movements to update the spatial representation of their mental map, resulting in significant errors in object localization. In the second experiment, we looked at how participants perceived an object displacement after making eye movements. Using a trans-saccadic spatial updating task, we found that those with higher autism scores exhibited a greater bias, indicating under-compensation of eye movements and a failure to maintain spatial stability during saccades. Overall, our study underscores efference copy's vital role in visuo-motor stability, aligning with Bayesian theories of autism, potentially informing interventions for improved action-perception integration in autism.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Adult; Young Adult; Eye Movements; Psychomotor Performance; Visual Perception; Adolescent; Saccades; Autistic Disorder
PubMed: 38913073
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.94946 -
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) Jun 2024Glymphatic dysfunction has been correlated with cognitive decline, with a higher choroid plexus volume (CPV) being linked to a slower glymphatic clearance rate....
Glymphatic dysfunction has been correlated with cognitive decline, with a higher choroid plexus volume (CPV) being linked to a slower glymphatic clearance rate. Nevertheless, the interplay between CPV, glymphatic function, and cognitive impairment in white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) has not yet been investigated. In this study, we performed neuropsychological assessment, T1-weighted three-dimensional (3D-T1) images, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in a cohort of 206 WMHs subjects and 43 healthy controls (HCs) to further explore the relationship. The DTI analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index, as a measure of glymphatic function, was calculated based on DTI. Severe WMHs performed significantly worse in information processing speed (IPS) than other three groups, as well as in executive function than HCs and mild WMHs. Additionally, severe WMHs demonstrated lower DTI-ALPS index and higher CPV than HCs and mild WMHs. Moderate WMHs displayed higher CPV than HCs and mild WMHs. Mini-Mental State Examination, IPS, and executive function correlated negatively with CPV but positively with DTI-ALPS index in WMHs patients. Glymphatic function partially mediated the association between CPV and IPS, indicating a potential mechanism for WMHs-related cognitive impairment. CPV may act as a valuable prognostic marker and glymphatic system as a promising therapeutic target for WMHs-related cognitive impairment.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Choroid Plexus; White Matter; Aged; Glymphatic System; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Middle Aged; Cognitive Dysfunction; Neuropsychological Tests; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Processing Speed
PubMed: 38912605
DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae265 -
BMJ Open Jun 2024Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) show deviations in motor development and motor skills in early childhood where the learning and execution of...
INTRODUCTION
Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) show deviations in motor development and motor skills in early childhood where the learning and execution of coordinated motor skills are below the level expected for their age. Early detection of DCD is critical to provide an opportunity for intervention and support, yet many cases remain undetected until school age. The study described aims to determine the warranty, feasibility and validity of a mobility screening in Tyrolean kindergartens and evaluate its potential benefit to enhance the motor development prospects of affected children.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
This research employs a two-stage cross-sectional approach with 6 months of follow-up assessments. The initial stage involves a playful mobility screening for all participating kindergarten children, followed by individual assessments for those displaying conspicuous motor skills. Motor skills will be evaluated using MobiScreen 4-6 and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2. Prior to the screening, informed consent is obtained from kindergarten bodies and authorities, parents and the children themselves. Parents are provided with information sheets and questionnaires to assess their attitudes and their child's eligibility. The study described aims to form a representative sample of kindergarten children, aged 4-6, in Tyrol. To target approximately 20-40 children with DCD for follow-up, the goal is to include 650 children, assuming an incidence of 3%-6%. For the follow-up, matching control groups will be formed and information about how identified motor deficits were addressed, including therapies or sports, will be gathered. Quantitative data will mainly be analysed descriptively, while feedback from kindergarten teachers regarding the practical implementation will be analysed using qualitative content analyses, according to Mayring.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
The study has been approved by the Research Committee for Scientific Ethical Questions (RCSEQ 3369/24). Findings will be disseminated through contributions, peer-reviewed journals, and conferences.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Motor Skills Disorders; Child, Preschool; Child; Male; Female; Motor Skills; Mass Screening; Feasibility Studies; Research Design
PubMed: 38908849
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081311 -
Journal of Developmental and Behavioral...
Topics: Humans; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders; Visual Perception; Child; Psychomotor Performance; Motor Skills; Female
PubMed: 38905011
DOI: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000001287 -
JMIR Human Factors Jun 2024Strokes pose a substantial health burden, impacting 1 in 6 people globally. One-tenth of patients will endure a second, often more severe, stroke within a year....
BACKGROUND
Strokes pose a substantial health burden, impacting 1 in 6 people globally. One-tenth of patients will endure a second, often more severe, stroke within a year. Alarmingly, a younger demographic is being affected due to recent lifestyle changes. As fine motor and cognitive issues arise, patient disability as well as the strain on caregivers and health care resources is exacerbated. Contemporary occupational therapy assesses manual dexterity and cognitive functions through object manipulation and pen-and-paper recordings. However, these assessments are typically isolated, which makes it challenging for therapists to comprehensively evaluate specific patient conditions. Furthermore, the reliance on one-on-one training and assessment approaches on manual documentation is inefficient and prone to transcription errors.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the feasibility of using an interactive electronic pegboard for stroke rehabilitation in clinical settings.
METHODS
A total of 10 patients with a history of stroke and 10 healthy older individuals were recruited. With a limit of 10 minutes, both groups of participants underwent a series of challenges involving tasks related to manual operation, shape recognition, and color discrimination. All participants underwent the Box and Block Test and the Purdue Pegboard Test to assess manual dexterity, as well as an array of cognitive assessments, including the Trail Making Test and the Mini-Mental Status Examination, which served as a basis to quantify participants' attention, executive functioning, and cognitive abilities.
RESULTS
The findings validate the potential application of an interactive electronic pegboard for stroke rehabilitation in clinical contexts. Significant statistical differences (P<.01) were observed across all assessed variables, including age, Box and Block Test results, Purdue Pegboard Test outcomes, Trail Making Test-A scores, and Mini-Mental Status Examination performance, between patients with a history of stroke and their healthy older counterparts. Functional and task testing, along with questionnaire interviews, revealed that patients with a history of stroke demonstrated prolonged completion times and slightly inferior performance. Nonetheless, most patients perceived the prototype as user-friendly and engaging. Thus, in the context of patient rehabilitation interventions or the evaluation of patient cognition, physical functioning, or manual dexterity assessments, the developed pegboard could potentially serve as a valuable tool for hand function, attention, and cognitive rehabilitation, thereby mitigating the burden on health care professionals.
CONCLUSIONS
Health care professionals can use digital electronic pegboards not only as a precise one-on-one training tool but also as a flexible system that can be configured for online or offline, single-player or multiplayer use. Through data analysis, a more informed examination of patients' cognitive and functional issues can be conducted. Importantly, patient records will be fully retained throughout practices, exercises, or tests, and by leveraging the characteristics of big data, patients can receive the most accurate rehabilitation prescriptions, thereby assisting them in obtaining optimal care.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Aged; Middle Aged; Stroke Rehabilitation; Cognition; Motor Skills; User-Computer Interface; Occupational Therapy; Feasibility Studies
PubMed: 38904991
DOI: 10.2196/56357 -
Journal of Vision Jun 2024Accurately estimating time to contact (TTC) is crucial for successful interactions with moving objects, yet it is challenging under conditions of sensory and contextual...
Accurately estimating time to contact (TTC) is crucial for successful interactions with moving objects, yet it is challenging under conditions of sensory and contextual uncertainty, such as occlusion. In this study, participants engaged in a prediction motion task, monitoring a target that moved rightward and an occluder. The participants' task was to press a key when they predicted the target would be aligned with the occluder's right edge. We manipulated sensory uncertainty by varying the visible and occluded periods of the target, thereby modulating the time available to integrate sensory information and the duration over which motion must be extrapolated. Additionally, contextual uncertainty was manipulated by having a predictable and unpredictable condition, meaning the occluder either reliably indicated where the moving target would disappear or provided no such indication. Results showed differences in accuracy between the predictable and unpredictable occluder conditions, with different eye movement patterns in each case. Importantly, the ratio of the time the target was visible, which allows for the integration of sensory information, to the occlusion time, which determines perceptual uncertainty, was a key factor in determining performance. This ratio is central to our proposed model, which provides a robust framework for understanding and predicting human performance in dynamic environments with varying degrees of uncertainty.
Topics: Humans; Motion Perception; Uncertainty; Male; Female; Adult; Young Adult; Photic Stimulation; Eye Movements; Reaction Time; Time Perception; Psychomotor Performance
PubMed: 38904641
DOI: 10.1167/jov.24.6.14 -
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) Jun 2024Time-on-task effect is a common consequence of long-term cognitive demand work, which reflects reduced behavioral performance and increases the risk of accidents.... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Time-on-task effect is a common consequence of long-term cognitive demand work, which reflects reduced behavioral performance and increases the risk of accidents. Neurofeedback is a neuromodulation method that can guide individuals to regulate their brain activity and manifest as changes in related symptoms and cognitive behaviors. This study aimed to examine the effects of functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based neurofeedback training on time-on-task effects and sustained cognitive performance. A randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled study was performed: 17 participants received feedback signals of their own dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity (neurofeedback group), and 16 participants received feedback signals of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity from the neurofeedback group (sham-neurofeedback group). All participants received 5 neurofeedback training sessions and completed 2 sustained cognitive tasks, including a 2-back task and a psychomotor vigilance task, to evaluate behavioral performance changes following neurofeedback training. Results showed that neurofeedback relative to the sham-neurofeedback group exhibited increased dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation, increased accuracy in the 2-back task, and decreased mean response time in the psychomotor vigilance task after neurofeedback training. In addition, the neurofeedback group showed slower decline performance during the sustained 2-back task after neurofeedback training compared with sham-neurofeedback group. These findings demonstrate that neurofeedback training could regulate time-on-task effects on difficult task and enhance performance on sustained cognitive tasks by increasing dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity.
Topics: Humans; Neurofeedback; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; Male; Female; Young Adult; Single-Blind Method; Cognition; Adult; Psychomotor Performance; Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex; Reaction Time; Prefrontal Cortex
PubMed: 38904080
DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae259 -
Sleep Advances : a Journal of the Sleep... 2024We previously reported that during a 45-day simulated space mission, a dynamic lighting schedule (DLS) improved circadian phase alignment and performance assessed once...
STUDY OBJECTIVES
We previously reported that during a 45-day simulated space mission, a dynamic lighting schedule (DLS) improved circadian phase alignment and performance assessed once on selected days. This study aimed to evaluate how DLS affected performance on a 5-minute psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) administered multiple times per day on selected days.
METHODS
Sixteen crewmembers (37.4 ± 6.7 years; 5F) underwent six cycles of 2 × 8-hour/night followed by 5 × 5-hour/night sleep opportunities. During the DLS ( = 8), daytime white light exposure was blue-enriched (~6000 K; Level 1: 1079, Level 2: 76 melanopic equivalent daytime illuminance (melEDI) lux) and blue-depleted (~3000-4000 K; L1: 21, L2: 2 melEDI lux) 3 hours before bed. In the standard lighting schedule (SLS; = 8), lighting remained constant (~4500K; L1: 284, L2 62 melEDI lux). Effects of lighting condition (DLS/SLS), sleep condition (5/8 hours), time into mission, and their interactions, and time awake on PVT performance were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models.
RESULTS
The DLS was associated with fewer attentional lapses (reaction time [RT] > 500 milliseconds) compared to SLS. Lapses, mean RT, and 10% fastest/slowest RTs were worse following 5 compared to 8 hours of sleep but not between lighting conditions. There was an effect of time into mission on RTs, likely due to sleep loss. Overall performance differed by time of day, with longer RTs at the beginning and end of the day. There were more lapses and slower RTs in the afternoon in the SLS compared to the DLS condition.
CONCLUSIONS
Future missions should incorporate DLS to enhance circadian alignment and performance. This paper is part of the Collection.
PubMed: 38903700
DOI: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpae032