Conscious Motor Research Articles

Relationship between Postural Control and Conscious Motor Control During Evoked Fear in Older Adults

Relationship between Postural Control and Conscious Motor Control During Evoked Fear in Older Adults

Exploring the Dimensions of Movement-Specific Reinvestment From Personal Characteristics Perspectives.

The purposes of the present study were three-fold: to examine (a) if the movement-specific reinvestment responses should be represented as two dimensional constructs, (b) whether dichotomization of the movement-specific reinvestment responses are appropriate, and (c) how the two dimensions are associated with relevant psychological concepts. To conduct a comparative examination of the MSRS structure in two Asian samples, participants were 236 Japanese university students (136 men, 100 women; Mage = 18.0, SD = 1.6) and 328 Singaporeans (167 men, 161 women; Mage = 21.8, SD = 1.8). After examining the factor structure of the movement-specific reinvestment responses for the first purpose, latent class factor analysis was conducted for both samples for the second purpose. For the third purpose, correlation analysis and mediation analysis were conducted for a part of the Singaporean sample. Through a series of latent class factor analysis, four and three classes were identified for the Japanese and Singaporean samples, respectively. For both samples, the patterns of the item-average scores for the two movement-specific reinvestment dimensions were parallel among the classes. Conscious Motor Processing was positively associated with mental toughness, intrinsic regulation, integrated regulation, mastery-approach and task goal orientations, and dispositional flow, whereas Movement Self-Consciousness was positively related with stress and mastery-avoidance goal orientation. The findings of the study supported (a) the two-dimensional representation of the movement-specific reinvestment responses, but did not fully support (b) the practice of dichotomization of the movement-specific reinvestment responses, and indicated that (c) at the trait level, Conscious Motor Processing and Movement Self-Consciousness were associated with positive and negative psychological constructs, respectively.

Mindfulness, reinvestment, and rowing under pressure: Evidence for moderated moderation of the anxiety-performance relationship

ObjectivesOur study had two objectives. First, we examined the relationship between dispositional sport-specific mindfulness and rowing performance. Second, we investigated whether dispositional sport-specific mindfulness moderated the moderating effect of conscious processing on the anxiety-performance relationship. DesignCross-sectional field study. Participants took part in a competitive race and completed a survey after the race. MethodRowers (N = 270) completed post-race measures of mindfulness, rowing specific reinvestment, perceived performance, anxiety and demographics. We also determined actual rowing performance. ResultsMindful refocus was positively associated with perceived and actual performance, whilst non-judgemental thinking was only positively associated with perceived performance. Rowing specific Conscious Motor Processing (RS-CMP) moderation effect on the anxiety-performance relationship was attenuated by high levels mindful awareness, this was true for both actual and perceived performance. Rowing specific movement self-consciousness (RS-MSC) moderation effect on the anxiety-performance relationship was moderated by non-judgmental thinking but only for perceived performance. ConclusionOur findings provide initial support that dispositional mindfulness may benefit performance under pressure and that this may be through the attenuation of reinvestment processes. Furthermore, the result demonstrated that mindful awareness and non-judgmental thinking may act on distinct reinvestment processes.

Movement-Specific Reinvestment in Older People Explains Past Falls and Predicts Future Error-Prone Movements.

The tendency to think about or consciously control automated movements (i.e., movement-specific reinvestment) is a crucial factor associated with falling in the elderly. We tested whether elderly people’s movement-specific reinvestment depended on their past falling history and whether it can predict future error-prone movements. In a longitudinal pre-post design, we assessed n = 21 elderly people’s (Mage = 84.38 years, SD = 5.68) falling history, movement-specific reinvestment (i.e., Movement-Specific Reinvestment Scale), and physical functioning (i.e., Short-Physical-Performance Battery). Following a baseline assessment, participants reported their movement behavior in a daily diary for 2 months, after which we assessed their movement-specific reinvestment and physical functioning again (longitudinal, pre-post design). Results revealed, first, that participants’ movement self-consciousness score was fairly stable, while their conscious-motor-processing score was less stable. Second, conscious motor processing was higher in participants who had fallen as opposed to those who had not fallen in the past. Third, conscious motor processing predicted error-prone future movement behavior reported in the daily diary. For identifying individuals who are more prone to fall, caregivers, rehabilitation staff, or doctors could apply the Movement-Specific Reinvestment Scale to screen elderly people’s psychomotor behavior. Based on conscious motor processing, monitoring cognitions could be tailored in theory-based, individual interventions involving both cognitive and motor training.

Peculiarities of the use of volleyball means in groups of sports improvement of students of higher education institutions

The article considers the peculiarities of the use of volleyball in groups of sports improvement of students of higher education institutions. The current state of physical fitness of student youth is characterized. The need to improve the system of sports training of volleyball students in connection with changes in government, structural, logistical, economic conditions, the need to educate young people in a healthy lifestyle, one of the main factors of which should be daily exercise . It is established that the existing system of physical education of students on the basis of traditional provisions of current organizational and methodological programs does not provide fully effective rehabilitation, education and upbringing of students from the standpoint of conscious mandatory motor activity and personal needs in solving important tasks of personal development.
 The reforms carried out in the modern system of higher education have deeply affected the physical education of student youth. The most important role in the general and professional development of students of higher education institutions belongs to physical education, both as a discipline and as one of the subsystems of the holistic pedagogical process.
 One of the ways to solve this problem is to reorient the target programs of different types of physical culture to meet the needs of personal orientations, interests and personal goals of each student, more fully take into account the level of physical development and physical fitness, targeted use of training loads.
 It is for each of the cultivated types of sports activities in higher education institutions it is necessary to develop a goal, objectives, tools, forms and a comprehensive educational and training complex. This becomes possible only on the basis of the development and application of new educational and training technologies aimed at conscious motor activity of female students of higher education institutions in the chosen sport.

Conscious Control of Gait Increases with Task Difficulty and Can Be Mitigated by External Focus Instruction

ABSTRACT Objectives: We aimed to address whether increased task difficulty is sufficient to induce heightened conscious control and influence gait performance in older adults through the manipulations of either task difficulty or attentional focus. Method: Fifty older adults, split into high- (HR) and low-reinvestor (LR) groups, performed a walking task on a 7.4 m straight walkway in two conditions: firm level-ground surface (GW) and foam surface (FW). They subsequently performed the same walking task under two attentional focus conditions: Internal focus (IF) and External focus (EF). Electroencephalography (EEG) T3-Fz and T4-Fz coherences were used to indicate real-time conscious motor control and visual-spatial control, respectively. Results: We observed significantly higher T3-Fz and T4-Fz coherences under FW compared to GW. HR reduced their gait speed at a greater extent than LR under FW. Significantly lower T3-Fz coherence and faster gait were demonstrated under EF compared to IF. LR walked slower under IF compared to Baseline while gait speed of HR did not differ. Discussion: Visual-spatial and conscious movement processing increase as a function of task difficulty during gait. Our findings also advocate the use of external focus instructions in clinical settings, with the potential to reduce conscious control and promote movement automaticity, even in relatively complex gait tasks.

Conscious processing and rowing: a field study

ABSTRACT Objectives: The theory of reinvestment has been used to explain underperformance of motor skills in sport. Our study had three objectives. First, we examined the influence of conscious processing on rowing performance in competitive races. Second, we investigated conscious processing as a function of rowing experience. Finally, we explored whether extreme conscious processing predicted catastrophic skill failure during competitive rowing. Design: Cross-sectional field study. Participants were observed during a competitive race before completing a multi-measure questionnaire. Method: Participants were recruited from one of five rowing events held in the English midlands. Rowers (N = 147) were observed racing and then completed measures of movement-specific reinvestment, perceived performance, and demographics. Actual performance was calculated from their race finishing position. Results: Post-hoc data analysis revealed that Movement Self-Consciousness (MSC) but not Conscious Motor Processing (CMP) was associated with actual race performance. CMP was positively associated with perceived technical performance, whereas MSC was negatively associated with perceived tactical performance. Two rowers who were observed to crab (i.e., choke) during their race reported extreme levels of CMP. Finally, the relationship between conscious processing and performance was not moderated by rowing experience. Conclusion: Our findings provide broad support for the theory of reinvestment in the rowing context. Poor race outcome was only associated with MSC, suggesting that the pressures of competition, such as social evaluation, impact field performance. Catastrophic performance failure during competition (i.e., crabbing) was linked to extremely high CMP, which may be due to excessive conscious control that CMP evokes, therefore disrupting automatic processes.

Effect of a without conscious motor imagery strategy on the excitability of spinal nerve function

Effect of a without conscious motor imagery strategy on the excitability of spinal nerve function

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ЕНЕРГЕТИЧНОГО МЕТАБОЛІЗМУ ОСІБ РІЗНОГО ВІКУ У ПРОЦЕСІ ЗАНЯТЬ ВОЛЕЙБОЛОМ

Introduction.The study of individual features of the functional support of conscious motor activity is an important area of research in sport physiology. Such studies are especially important for detecting age-related changes in the energy supply of muscular activity. Purpose.The purpose of the study is to identify features of the functional state of volleyball players of different ages.Methods. Computer testing ofthe functional state of volleyball players of different ages.Results.We found that volleyball players of different ages showed a higher level of functional training compared to non-athletes. Originality.Age features of the functional state of volleyball players of different ages and non-athletes are revealed.Conclusion.As a result of studying the functional state of volleyball players of different ages, we found that the formation and potential of bioenergetic capabilities of the body increased with age in both athletes and non-athletes.It was proved that the process of formation and improvement of bioenergetic characteristics of volleyball players was more intensive and was characterized by the advanced nature of development compared to non-athletes.It was found that the improvement of energy capabilities of volleyball players in ontogenesis occurred due to changes in the power of energy systems of the athlete’s body and demonstrated their plasticity and ability to improve in the process of long-term volleyball.Keywords:ontogenesis; individual-typological properties; bioenergy potential; volleyball

Electroencephalographic neurofeedback training can decrease conscious motor control and increase single and dual-task psychomotor performance

The control of human movements is thought to automize with repetition, promoting consistent execution and reduced dual-task costs. However, contingencies such as illness or constraints to regular movement patterns can promote conscious motor control, which can reduce movement proficiency and make dual-task situations more difficult. This experiment evaluated whether electroencephalographic neurofeedback training can reduce the adverse effects of conscious motor control. Twenty-five participants completed the timed-up-and-go task while wearing a leg brace to de-automize their regular movement, under both single and dual-task (walking + serial sevens) conditions, both before and after 30-min of neurofeedback training. Three different types of neurofeedback were prescribed across three laboratory visits. We hypothesised that training to decrease central EEG alpha-power at scalp sites above the supplementary motor area would facilitate performance compared to opposite (increase central EEG alpha-power) or sham neurofeedback training. Results revealed a pre-test to post-test improvement in performance on the single-task and on both aspects of the dual-task when participants were trained to decrease central EEG alpha-power. There were no benefits of opposite or sham neurofeedback training. Mediation analyses revealed that the improvement in dual-task motor performance was mediated by the improvement in cognitive performance. This suggests that the neurofeedback protocol was beneficial because it helped to reduce conscious control of the motor task. The findings could have important implications for rehabilitation and high-performance (e.g., elite sport) domains; neurofeedback could be prescribed to help alleviate the problems that can arise when individuals exert conscious motor control.

Modulation of Reaction Times and Sense of Agency via Subliminal Priming in Functional Movement Disorders.

Background: In functional movement disorders, explicit movements are impaired, while implicit movements are preserved. Furthermore, there is evidence that the sense of agency is abnormal.Aim: We aimed to investigate how motor responses and sense of agency were affected by subliminal or supraliminal cues in people with functional movement disorders.Methods: Twenty-three people with a functional movement disorder and 26 healthy controls took part in a subliminal and supraliminal priming experiment which investigated reaction times, choice and sense of agency. Participants pressed a left or right arrow key in response to an imperative left or right pointing arrow. Either key could be pressed in response to bidirectional arrows. The imperative arrow was preceded by a small left or right pointing prime arrow, that was non-predictive (50% correct) and was presented in either subliminal or supraliminal conditions. The participant's response caused the appearance of a colored circle and they rated the degree of control they felt over its appearance (sense of agency). The circle's color depended on whether their response was congruent or incongruent with the prime arrow direction. After exclusion, 19 participants remained in each group.Results: Prime-compatible responses led to faster reaction times in both the subliminal and supraliminal condition. Subliminal prime-compatible responses were chosen more frequently in the free choice condition. The sense of agency did not depend on prime-response congruency. There were no significant differences in any of these measures between the two groups.Conclusion: With non-predictive cues, reaction times, choices, and the sense of agency remain normal in people with functional movement disorders, for both subliminal and supraliminal primes. The findings suggest that it is not so much conscious awareness of the movement, but rather conscious motor preparation that is detrimental to motor function in functional movement disorders.

Internal focus instruction increases psychological stress with conscious motor processing and deteriorates motor performance in dart throwing.

Internal focus attention strategies have been found to diminish motor performance. This study attempted to elucidate this finding using the constrained action hypothesis and the theory of reinvestment through exploring their underlying mechanisms. Sixty-one young participants completed a self-paced "dart throwing" motor task to examine the effects of internal focus instruction, compared with no focus instruction, on conscious motor processing (reinvestment), psychological stress, and motor performance. Participants threw darts with standardized internal focus and no focus instructions given before each trial block of dart throwing. Motor performance was indicated by the throw accuracy and throw time. Stress was measured using a galvanic skin response probe. An insight into real-time conscious motor processing (reinvestment) was provided by the electroencephalography coherence between T3 and Fz locations on the scalp. Results indicated that internal focus instruction could cause participants to have lower throw accuracy (p = 0.008), longer throw time (p = 0.001), higher stress (p = 0.001) and higher real-time conscious motor processing (reinvestment) (p = 0.001) than no focus instruction. The significant results imply that internal focus instruction should be avoided in the self-paced motor task learning due to its detrimental effects.

All talk? Challenging the use of left-temporal EEG alpha oscillations as valid measures of verbal processing and conscious motor control

This study tested the validity of EEG left-temporal alpha power and upper-alpha T7-Fz connectivity as indices of verbal activity and conscious motor control. Participants (n = 20) reached for, and transported, a jar under three conditions: a control condition and two self-talk conditions aimed at eliciting either task-unrelated verbal processing or task-related conscious control, while EEG and hand kinematics were recorded. Compared to the control condition, both self-talk conditions increased self-reported verbal processing, but only the task-related self-talk condition increased left-temporal activity (i.e., alpha power decreased). However, as cortical activity increased across the entire scalp topography, conscious control likely elicits a multitude of processes that may not be explained by left-temporal activity or verbal processing alone, but by a widespread decrease in neural efficiency. No significant effects for T7-Fz connectivity were detected. Results suggest that left-temporal EEG alpha oscillations are unlikely to uniquely reflect verbal processing during conscious motor control.

Rekreasyonel Amaçlı Motor Kullanıcılarının Profilleri: Türkiye Örneği

Araştırmanın amacı; Türkiye’deki Rekreasyonel Amaçlı Motor Kullanıcılarının Profillerini belirlemektir. Araştırma tanımlayıcı bir araştırmadır ve örneklem tüm Türkiye genelinden 947 kişiden oluşmaktadır. Veri toplama aracı olarak araştırmaya özel olarak geliştirilen anket formu kullanılmış ve veriler sosyal medya üzerinden 1 Şubat 2017 – 30 Haziran 2017 tarihleri arasında elektronik anket aracılığıyla toplanmıştır ve çalışmada tanımlayıcı istatistikler kullanılmıştır. Motor kullanıcılarının iyi eğitim düzeyinde, erkek, orta yaş düzeyinde, orta düzeyde gelire sahip, kamu ve özel sektörde çalışan, Enduro, Scooter, Turing/Sport Touring tarzı motor kullanan bireylerden oluştuğu, gelirlerinin önemli kısmını motor için harcadıkları, motor kullanmaya kendilerinin karar verdikleri, motor etkinliklerine motor kullanan arkadaşlarıyla veya yalnız gittikleri, serbest zamanlarında internette gezinmek, evde dinlenmek gibi daha çok pasif etkinliklere katıldıkları, ağırlıklı olarak doğa sporları ve fitness merkezlerinde yapılan sporları yaptıkları, TV’de Belgesel ve Haber programları izledikleri, aile bireylerinden kardeşlerinin motor kullanıyor olduğu, serbest zamanlarında çok fazla kitap okumadıkları, sinemaya gitmedikleri, TV izlemedikleri, ama bunun tersine ağırlıklı olarak motor hakkında konuştukları, motor kullanmak konusunda iyi olsalar da bunun yeterli olmadığını, kendilerini geliştirmek istedikleri, güvenliğe önem verdikleri, Özgürlük Hissi Verdiği, Yenilenmiş Tazelenmiş Hissettirdiği, Günlük Rutinden Uzaklaştırdığı için motor kullandıkları bulgulanmıştır. Sonuç olarak; motor kullanmanın önemli bir ekonomik değer yarattığı, motor kullanıcıları bilinçli olmakla birlikte trafikte hala çok sayıda bilinçsiz motor ve araba kullanıcısının olduğu, bunun için mutlaka motor kullanıcılarına ileri sürüş, diğer araç sürücülerine trafikte saygılı olma eğitimlerinin verilmesi gerektiği, motor kullanmanın da bir yaşam biçimi olduğu söylenebilir.

The role of reinvestment in conservative gait in older adults.

Previous research suggests that reinvestment (i.e. conscious control of movements) is associated with inefficient information processing and compromised movement strategies in older adults during walking. We examined whether reinvestment propensity is associated with conservative gait behaviour in older adults. Trait Reinvestment propensity was measured using the Movement Specific Reinvestment Scale (Chinese version) (MSRS-C). Thirty-eight older adults were categorized into 'Low Reinvestor Group' (LRG) (MSRS-C<27) and another 38 were categorized into 'High Reinvestor Group' (HRG) (MSRS-C>38). There were no significant differences in physical and cognitive abilities between groups. Participants were asked to walk along a 6-m straight level-ground walkway at a self-selected pace under conditions of no instruction (Baseline), instruction related to self-focus on body movements (BI), and instruction related to the external environment (EI). No significant difference was found in gait behaviour between LRG and HRG at Baseline. However, significant changes, indicative of conservative gait patterns, were found in LRG when given instructions that prompted them to consciously control their body movements. No changes were observed in HRG under external-related instructions that are assumed to reduce conscious motor processing and improve motor performance. Our findings contradict previous views on the association between trait reinvestment propensity and compromised motor performance in older adults, which potentially reduces justification for reducing trait reinvestment propensity in older adults. We also suggest that MSRS is insensitive to reflect the degree of conscious control during gait tasks. Our findings also implicate the potential detrimental effect of applying inward-focus-related instructions in healthcare rehabilitation settings.

Examining conscious motor processing and the effect of single-task, dual-task and analogy training on walking during rehabilitation by older adults at risk of falling in Hong Kong: Design and methodology of a randomized controlled trial

Walking is a common activity among older adults. Fallers were discovered to have a higher propensity to conscious motor processing (reinvestment) than age-matched non-fallers, leading to movement disruption, possibly by constraining or interfering with automatic motor control mechanisms. However, gait rehabilitation programs by implicit motor learning methodologies may ameliorate reinvestment propensity while improving gait ability in older adults. One hundred and five older adults, with moderate to high risk of falling, will be recruited from different community centres in Hong Kong to investigate the effect of single-task, dual-task and analogy training (implicit motor learning methodologies) on walking during rehabilitation in the context of reinvestment propensity, balance, walking ability and fear of falling. Participants will be randomly allocated and received 12 training sessions in either a Single-task Walking Group (STWG), a Dual-task Walking Group (DTWG) or an Analogy Walking Group (AGWG). Reinvestment propensity, walking ability, balance and fear of falling will be assessed by the Chinese version Movement Specific Reinvestment Scale (MSRS-C), 10-meter Walk Test, Tinetti Balance Assessment Tool, Timed ‘Up & Go’ Test (TU&G), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and 13-item Falls Efficacy Scale (FES-13), respectively at baseline before training (T0), just after completion of all training sessions (T1), and 6 months after completion of all training sessions (T2). Participants' number of falls between T1 and T2 will also be recorded. The results could establish a solid foundation for further development and implementation of a novel and effective gait rehabilitation program in fall prevention for older adults at risk of falling.

A study on the educational values of conscious motor learning in university physical education

A study on the educational values of conscious motor learning in university physical education

Relations Among Reinvestment, Self-Regulation, and Perception of Choking Under Pressure.

The purpose of this study was to examine relations among reinvestment, self-regulation, and perception of choking under pressure in skilled tennis players. Participants were 160 collegiate players from the NCAA Division I in the U.S. and the 1st League in Japan. Participants completed questionnaires assessing reinvestment (conscious motor processing and movement self-consciousness), self-regulation, and perception of choking under pressure. Results of correlation analysis indicated self-regulatory factors were positively related to reinvestment conscious motor processing, but not with reinvestment movement self-consciousness. Self-efficacy and movement self-consciousness of reinvestment were found to predict one’s perception of choking under pressure. Results of simultaneous entry multiple regression revealed that tennis players who had low self-efficacy and were concerned about making a good impression with their movements were more likely to perceive that they choked during tennis matches. Additionally, Japanese players reported less self-regulation skills and a higher perception of choking under pressure than American players, suggesting the need for additional research on cross-cultural differences. Overall, these results suggest that self-efficacy may protect athletes from choking, but movement self-consciousness may lead athletes to choke during tennis games.

Prospective organization of neonatal arm movements: A motor foundation of embodied agency, disrupted in premature birth.

Prospective motor control moves the body into the future, from where one is to where one wants to be. It is a hallmark of intentionality. But its origin in development is uncertain. In this study, we tested whether or not the arm movements of newborn infants were prospectively controlled. We measured the spatiotemporal organization of 480 full‐term neonatal arm movements and 384 arm movements of prematurely born infants at‐risk for neurodevelopmental disorder. We found 75% of healthy term‐birth neonatal movements and 68% of prematurely born infant movements conformed to the τ G‐coupling model of prospective sensorimotor control. Prospective coupling values were significantly reduced in the latter (p = .010, r = .087). In both cases prospectively controlled movements were tightly organized by fixed‐duration units with a base duration of 218 ms and additional temporal units of 145 ms. Yet distances remained constant. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time a precise prospective spatiotemporal organization of neonatal arm movements and demonstrate that at‐risk infants exhibit reduced sensorimotor control. Prospective motor control is a hallmark of primary sensorimotor intentionality and gives a strong embodied foundation to conscious motor agency.

Conscious motor control impairs attentional processing efficiency during precision stepping

BackgroundCurrent evidence suggests that fall-related anxiety can impair attentional processing efficiency during gait in both young and older adults, reducing the cognitive resources available for carrying out concurrent tasks (i.e., holding a conversation whilst walking or planning the safest route for navigation). Research questionIt has been suggested that fall-related anxiety may impair processing efficiency by directing attention ‘internally’, towards consciously controlling and monitoring movement. The present study aimed to evaluate this interpretation. MethodsFifteen healthy young adults performed a precision stepping task during both single- and dual-task (completing the stepping task while simultaneously performing an arithmetic task), under three conditions: (1) Baseline; (2) Threat (walking on a platform raised 1.1 m above ground), and; (3) Internal focus of attention (cues/instructions to direct attention towards movement processing). ResultsWe observed significantly greater cognitive dual-task costs (i.e., poorer performance on the arithmetic task) during Threat compared to Baseline, with the greatest costs observed in individuals reporting the highest levels of Threat-induced conscious motor processing. Significantly greater cognitive dual-task costs were also observed during the Internal condition, confirming the assumption that consciously attending to movement reduces cognitive resources available for carrying out a secondary task during gait. These results were accompanied with significantly poorer stepping accuracy in dual-task trials during both Threat and Internal. SignificanceThese findings support previous attempts to rationalise attentional processing inefficiencies observed in anxious walkers as being a consequence of an anxiety-induced internal focus of attention.