Movement Responses Research Articles

A neuromuscular human body model for lumbar injury risk analysis in a vibration loading environment

Background and objectiveLong-term intensive exposure to whole-body vibration substantially increases the risk of low back pain and degenerative diseases in special occupational groups, like motor vehicle drivers, military vehicle occupants, aircraft pilots, etc. This study aims to establish and validate a neuromuscular human body model focusing on improvement of the detailed description of anatomic structures and neural reflex control, for lumbar injury analysis in vibration loading environments. MethodsA whole-body musculoskeletal in Opensim codes was first improved by including a detailed anatomic description of spinal ligaments, non-linear intervertebral disc, and lumbar facet joints, and coupling a proprioceptive feedback closed-loop control strategy with GTOs and muscle spindles modeling in Python codes. Then, the established neuromuscular model was multi-levelly validated from sub-segments to the whole model, from regular movements to dynamic responses to vibration loadings. Finally, the neuromuscular model was combined with a dynamic model of an armored vehicle to analyze occupant lumbar injury risk in vibration loadings due to different road conditions and traveling velocities. ResultBased on a series of biomechanical indexes, including lumbar joint rotation angles, the lumbar intervertebral pressures, the displacement of the lumbar segments, and the lumbar muscle activities, the validation results show that the present neuromuscular model is available and feasible in predicting lumbar biomechanical responses in normal daily movement and vibration loading environments. Furthermore, the combined analysis with the armored vehicle model predicted similar lumbar injury risk to the experimental or epidemiologic studies. The preliminary analysis results also showed that road types and travelling velocities have substantial combined effects on lumbar muscle activities, and indicated that intervertebral joint pressure and muscle activity indexes can need to be jointly considered for lumbar injury risk evaluation. ConclusionIn conclusion, the established neuromuscular model is an effective tool to evaluate vibration loading effects on injury risk of the human body and assist vehicle design vibration comfort by directly concerning the human body injury itself.

Shellfish as Biosensors in Online Monitoring of Aquatic Ecosystems: A Review of Russian Studies

The use of biological objects in monitoring the state of the environment and the changes caused by the impact of environmental pollution on marine and fresh waters is a promising tool due to a lower cost in comparison to traditional monitoring and the ability to receive immediate information about the ecosystem status. In this review, we summarize the biological information about shellfish biomonitors and the results of studies focused on the development and use of the bioindicator species in early warning systems in Russia. Since the mid-1980s, Russian specialists have developed online biomonitoring systems; as in the rest of world, there are two main approaches that are currently applied to study the physiological status of potential biosensor shellfish species and to monitor freshwater and marine systems: valvometry (registration of gaping activity in bivalve mollusks) and photoplethysmography (registration of cardiac activity in mollusks and crustaceans). Valve movement responses to stressors such as abnormal conditions and pollutants include the closure of shell valves for a long period, decrease in the average distance between valves, rapid shell opening, and higher closing frequency. Cardiac activity reactions of shellfish to stress factors include rapid increases in heart rate and stress index, higher variability in heart rate than under normal conditions, and longer periods required for heart rate recovery after stress. The most common bioindicators used to monitor environmental disturbances in marine ecosystems are blue mussels, Iceland scallops, and red king crabs in cold-water habitats and Black Sea mussels in warmer waters as well as freshwater mussels and crayfish in fresh waters.

The Neural Basis for Biased Behavioral Responses Evoked by Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation in Primates.

Noninvasive electrical stimulation of the vestibular system in humans has become an increasingly popular tool with a broad range of research and clinical applications. However, common assumptions regarding the neural mechanisms that underlie the activation of central vestibular pathways through such stimulation, known as galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS), have not been directly tested. Here, we show that GVS is encoded by VIIIth nerve vestibular afferents with nonlinear dynamics that differ markedly from those predicted by current models. GVS produced asymmetric activation of both semicircular canal and otolith afferents to the onset versus offset and cathode versus anode of applied current, that in turn produced asymmetric eye movement responses in three awake-behaving male monkeys. Additionally, using computational methods, we demonstrate that the experimentally observed nonlinear neural response dynamics lead to an unexpected directional bias in the net population response when the information from both vestibular nerves is centrally integrated. Together our findings reveal the neural basis by which GVS activates the vestibular system, establish that neural response dynamics differ markedly from current predictions, and advance our mechanistic understanding of how asymmetric activation of the peripheral vestibular system alters vestibular function. We suggest that such nonlinear encoding is a general feature of neural processing that will be common across different noninvasive electrical stimulation approaches.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Here, we show that the application of noninvasive electrical currents to the vestibular system (GVS) induces more complex responses than commonly assumed. We recorded vestibular afferent activity in macaque monkeys exposed to GVS using a setup analogous to human studies. GVS evoked notable asymmetries in irregular afferent responses to cathodal versus anodal currents. We developed a nonlinear model explaining these GVS-evoked afferent responses. Our model predicts that GVS induces directional biases in centrally integrated head motion signals and establishes electrical stimuli that recreate physiologically plausible sensations of motion. Altogether, our findings provide new insights into how GVS activates the vestibular system, which will be vital to advancing new clinical and biomedical applications.

Bentuk Pertunjukan Dan Fungsi Kesenian Obrog-Obrog Di Desa Darmawangi Kecamatan Tomo Kabupaten Sumedang

This paper discusses the form and function of obrog-obrog art in Darmawangi Village, Tomo District, Sumedang Regency which is a typical art of the month of Ramadan. In practice, this art is highly anticipated by the community, because it plays an important role in the local community in deepening sahur and also other functions of entertainment, communication, movement response and cultural sustainability. The method used in this paper is a descriptive method with a paradigm approach based on the theory of performing arts by Hermin Kusmayanti, namely there are three phases of performing arts, namely form, meaning and function. In addition to the theory of performing arts, the theory of the function of music by Alan P. Merriam from his book entitled The Anthropology of Music is also used as a theoretical approach. The results of this study analyze the form of performance in the form of the structure and pattern of percussion of musical instruments and the function of obrog-obrog arts as a medium of entertainment, as communication, as a response to movement, and as cultural sustainability.

Fighting for Legitimacy

This article examines the links between alternative spirituality and Israeli militarism in the context of the confrontations between new religious and spiritual movements and Israeli society and state, and the efforts of such movements to gain legitimation through participation in republican citizenship practices and adaptations of Israeli cultural values. The article discusses the representation of alternative religious and spiritual movements as a danger to the Israeli Army by anticult movements, and the response of new religious movements to such accusations. Through the study of two case studies, Emin and Anthroposophy, the article examines the adjustments of religious and spiritual doctrines and practices of new religious movements to Israeli military ethos, the role of militarism in the endeavors of such movements to legitimize themselves through participation in Israeli republican citizenship practices, and the appropriations and interpretations of the Israeli military ethos by Israeli alternative spiritual movements.

Searching for Oxygen: Dynamic Movement Responses of Juvenile Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) in an Intermittently Hypoxic Estuary

Searching for Oxygen: Dynamic Movement Responses of Juvenile Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) in an Intermittently Hypoxic Estuary

Paced breathing and respiratory movement responses evoked by bidirectional constant current stimulation in anesthetized rabbits.

Objective: Diaphragm pacing (DP) is a long-term and effective respiratory assist therapy for patients with central alveolar hypoventilation and high cervical spinal cord injury. The existing DP system has some limitations, especially high price, inconvenience preoperative evaluation methods and diaphragm fatigue easily. Our objective was to develop a DP system and evaluated reliability through hardware testing and animal experiments. Methods: A DP system with bidirectional constant current was designed, manufactured and tested. Effects of a wide range of stimulus amplitudes (range: .5-2.5mA) and frequencies (range: 10-250Hz) on airflow and corresponding inspired volume were investigated during DP. Differences in airflow characteristics under various stimulation parameters were evaluated using power function. ECG interference in diaphragm electromyography (EMGdi) was filtered out using stationary wavelet transform to obtain pure EMGdi (EMGdip). 80-min period with a tendency for diaphragm fatigue by root mean square (RMS) and centroid frequency (f c ) of EMGdip was studied. Results: The increase of stimulus frequency and amplitude in animals resulted in different degrees of increase in envoked volume. Significant difference in Airflow Index (b) between anesthesia and DP provided a simple, non-invasive and feasible solution for phrenic nerve conduction function test. Increased stimulation duration with the developed DP system caused less diaphragm fatigue. Conclusion: A modular, inexpensive and reliable DP was successfully developed. Its effectiveness was confirmed in animal experiments. Significance: This study is useful for design of future implantable diaphragmatic pacemakers for improving diaphragm fatigue and convenient assessment of respiratory activity in experiments.

Fencing amplifies individual differences in movement with implications on survival for two migratory ungulates.

Fences have recently been recognized as one of the most prominent linear infrastructures on earth. As animals traverse fenced landscapes, they adjust movement behaviours to optimize resource access while minimizing energetic costs of coping with fences. Examining individual responses is key for connecting localized fence effects with population dynamics. We investigated the multi-scale effects of fencing on animal movements, space use and survival of 61 pronghorn and 96 mule deer on a gradient of fence density in Wyoming, USA. Taking advantage of the recently developed Barrier Behaviour Analysis, we classified individual movement responses upon encountering fences (i.e. barrier behaviours). We adopted the reaction norm framework to jointly quantify individual plasticity and behavioural types of barrier behaviours, as well as behaviour syndromes between barrier behaviours and animal space use. We also assessed whether barrier behaviours affect individual survival. Our results highlighted a high-level individual plasticity encompassing differences in the degree and direction of barrier behaviours for both pronghorn and mule deer. Additionally, these individual differences were greater at higher fence densities. For mule deer, fence density determined the correlation between barrier behaviours and space use and was negatively associated with individual survival. However, these relationships were not statistically significant for pronghorn. By integrating approaches from movement ecology and behavioural ecology with the emerging field of fence ecology, this study provides new evidence that an extraordinarily widespread linear infrastructure uniquely impacts animals at the individual level. Managing landscape for lower fence densities may help prevent irreversible behavioural shifts for wide-ranging animals in fenced landscapes.

Visual-spatial and visuomotor functioning in adults with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder associated with visual-spatial and visuomotor deficits, which have not been studied well in adults with NF1. In 22 adults with NF1 and 31 controls, visuomotor functioning was assessed by measuring eye latency, hand latency and hand accuracy during visuomotor tasks. Visual-spatial functioning was assessed by measuring eye movement responses during the Visual Threshold Task. The NF1 group had a significantly shorter eye latency than the control group and was less accurate in their hand movements during specific visuomotor tasks. The groups showed no differences in eye movement responses during the Visual Threshold Task and in hand latency during the visuomotor tasks. In contrast to studies in children with NF1, we found no alterations in visual-spatial information processing in adults. Impairments in eye latency and hand accuracy during specific visuomotor tasks may indicate deficits in visuomotor functioning in adults with NF1.

Response of soil water movement to rainfall under different land uses in karst regions

Soil water is a critical factor closely related to hydrological and ecological processes. Owing to the complex surface conditions with heterogeneous soil thickness and abundant underlying fissures, soil water in the karst region has been a complicated issue. In this study, the dynamic changes of soil water in the vertical profile of selected grassland, farmland and bare land on a karst yellow soil hillslope in southwest China were monitored at five depths including 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 cm with an interval of 15 min. Results showed that (1) there were spatial differences in the response to rainfall of the soil water content at different depths. When the rainfall amount was similar, the soil water replenishment amount and migration depth under the three land uses decreased with the rainfall intensity. In the case of light rainfall, the soil water content at 20 cm was the most sensitive to rainfall, and the response of soil water to rainfall mainly occurred at 0–40 cm. In the case of moderate and heavy rainfall, soil water could migrate down to 100 cm on grassland but less than 100 cm on farmland and bare land under heavy intensity rainfall. (2) The variation in the soil water content had interlayer differences over time. The response of soil water to rainfall in different soil layers showed multipeak fluctuations. In general, when the rainfall intensity was the same, the soil water fluctuation on grassland and farmland at the same depth was larger than that on bare land; however, the peak value of soil water decreased with soil depth. (3) Land use and the antecedent soil water content had important effects on soil water loss during the dry period. Soil water loss was faster at the beginning and before slowing down. The soil water loss rate on grassland and farmland increased with the length of the dry period, but decreased gradually on bare land. These results can support the utilization and protection of soil and water resources on karst yellow soil slopes and help to understand the temporal and spatial dynamics of soil water under natural rainfall.

"Just to Be , and Dance ": Jerome Robbins, J. S. Bach, and Late Style

Abstract: Jerome Robbins (1918–1998), known as the first important American-born ballet choreographer, set over sixty ballets and numerous pieces for Broadway during his lifetime. His success can be attributed not only to his assimilation of different choreographic styles, but also to his attentiveness to the music. He was equally adept at setting a wide variety of musical styles, ranging from Frédéric Chopin (viz., The Concert 1956), Leonard Bernstein (viz., West Side Story 1957), and J. S. Bach (viz., The Goldberg Variations 1971) to Alban Berg (viz., In Memory Of … 1985). If he excelled at realistic character portrayals in some settings, in others he created abstract visual realizations of the music. Although Robbins choreographed many musical styles throughout his career, he developed a special affinity for the music of Bach at the end of his life. It is notable that his final three new choreographies were all based on the music of Bach: A Suite of Dances (1994); Two& Three-Part Inventions (1994); and Brandenburg (1997). Moreover, Bach's music was the last that he heard before he died; the soft strains of a recording of Bach's French Suites reportedly filled the air as Robbins lay dying at his house on 81st Street in New York in 1998. Based on recordings, letters, essays, and other choreographic sketches, some unpublished, this essay examines Robbins's littlediscussed late Bach settings in relation to concepts of Late Style. While Robbins's settings of three final pieces by Bach might not be summative—that is, they might not be as epic, lengthy, and encyclopedic as his The Goldberg Variations from 1971—they can be seen as synthesizing a lifetime of choreographic styles, including ballet, modern dance, theater, and folk. Since they were all abstract realizations of Bach's music through movement, as opposed to narrative settings, Bach's music seems directly to have inspired Robbins's contrapuntal choreography. In turning to Bach for his final creative projects, Robbins was thus participating in certain ways of thinking about art that Edward Said has claimed can be associated with artistic Late Style, including counterpoint and fragmentation. In addition, aspects of the rhythmic energy and stylistic pluralism so central to Bach's music became muses for Robbins's multi-stylistic choreographies late in life, even as he displayed both nostalgia for the past and a newfound interest in youth and youthfulness. In drawing connections among the last works of Robbins, the music of Bach, and theories of Late Style, this essay provides one of the first explorations of concepts of Late Style in relation to choreography, an art form in which the aging body and the artistic work are closely linked. In addition, it contributes new knowledge not only about the late choreographies of Robbins, but also about movement responses to Bach's music, and ways in which Bach reception has intersected with characteristics of Late Style.

EFEITOS DO TREINO DE CROSSFIT SOBRE A FUNÇÃO CORPORAL E NO DESEMPENHO DO MOVIMENTO DOS ATLETAS DE AERÓBICA

ABSTRACT Introduction: Physical fitness is the athletic ability to perform physical activities safely, avoiding the risk of injuries or performance-related complications on the field. CrossFit has been an effective training method for its natural movements and integration of aerobic and anaerobic exercises. It is believed that these characteristics may benefit the physical fitness of aerobic gym athletes. Objective: Evaluate the effects of CrossFit training on the physical fitness of aerobic gymnastics athletes. Methods: A controlled experimental study involving 24 aerobic gymnastics athletes was run for 9 weeks. The athletes were divided into an experimental group with CrossFit-based training, the control group received no additional training intervention. The indices of physical fitness, motor function, and movement performance were analyzed before and after the intervention. The results of the statistical analyses were discussed. Results: Considerable variation was obtained in fitness indices in distinct groups of muscle activities: in abdominal crunches from 37.66±6.12 to 50.11±3.01; medical ball lateral throw from 8.04±1.00 to 10.80±2.21; lateral bridge from 72.60±11.40 to 113.69±14.47; the flexion in sitting position from 22.52±2.51 to 26.46±1.33; and rope climbing from 32.32±7.28 to 25.97±7.08. In functional terms, the movement response time to music was optimized from 15.38±0.36 to 13.08±0.21; and the movement performance score was increased from 72.56±2.25 to 80.91±1.02. There were no significant changes in the control group. Conclusion: CrossFit training was shown to improve the physical conditioning of aerobic gym athletes and the functional movement performance of its practitioners. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

Attenuated facial movement in depressed women is associated with symptom severity, and nucleus accumbens functional connectivity

It is assumed that mood can be inferred from one’s facial expression. While this association may prove to be an objective marker for mood disorders, few studies have explicitly evaluated this linkage.The facial movement responses of women with major depressive disorder (n = 66) and healthy controls (n = 46) under emotional stimuli were recorded using webcam. To boost facial movements, the naturalistic audio-visual stimuli were presented. To assess consistent global patterns across facial movements, scores for facial action units were extracted and projected onto principal component using principal component analysis. The associations of component for facial movements with functional brain circuitry was also investigated.Clusters of mouth movements, such as lip press and stretch, identified by principal component analysis, were attenuated in depressive patients compared to those in healthy controls. This component of facial movements was associated with depressive symptoms, and the strengths of resting brain functional connectivity between nucleus accumbens and both posterior insular cortex and thalamus.The evaluation of facial movements may prove to be a promising quantitative marker for assessing depressive symptoms and their underlying brain circuitry.

Imaging of Chloroplast Movement Responses to Light Stimulation in Different Intensities in Rice.

Chloroplast movement has been observed and analyzed since the 19th century. Subsequently, the phenomenon is widely observed in various plant species such as fern, moss, Marchantia polymorpha, and Arabidopsis. However, chloroplast movement in rice is less investigated, presumably due to the thick wax layer on its leaf surface, which reduces light sensitivity to the point that it was previously believed that there was no light-induced movement in rice. In this study, we present a convenient protocol suitable for observing chloroplast movement in rice only by optical microscopy without using special equipment. It will allow researchers to explore other signaling components involved in chloroplast movement in rice.

Ribosomal Stress Couples with the Hypoxia Response in Dec1-Dependent Orthodontic Tooth Movement.

This study characterized the effects of a deficiency of the hypoxia-responsive gene, differentiated embryonic chondrocyte gene 1 (Dec1), in attenuating the biological function of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) and examined the roles of ribosomal proteins in the hypoxic environment during OTM. HIF-1α transgenic mice and control mice were used for hypoxic regulation of periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts. Dec1 knockout (Dec1KO) and wild-type (WT) littermate C57BL/6 mice were used as in vivo models of OTM. The unstimulated contralateral side served as a control. In vitro, human PDL fibroblasts were exposed to compression forces for 2, 4, 6, 24, and 48 h. HIF-1α transgenic mice had high expression levels of Dec1, HSP105, and ribosomal proteins compared to control mice. The WT OTM mice displayed increased Dec1 expression in the PDL fibroblasts. Micro-CT analysis showed slower OTM in Dec1KO mice compared to WT mice. Increased immunostaining of ribosomal proteins was observed in WT OTM mice compared to Dec1KO OTM mice. Under hypoxia, Dec1 knockdown caused a significant suppression of ribosomal protein expression in PDL fibroblasts. These results reveal that the hypoxic environment in OTM could have implications for the functions of Dec1 and ribosomal proteins to rejuvenate periodontal tissue homeostasis.

“For Your Freedom and Ours”


 
 
 Across Western Europe the emergence of Poland’s Solidarność, the first independent trade union in a communist state, elicited varied responses. While the assistance pro- vided to Polish workers from continental European has been addressed, the solidar- ity effort in Britain is scarcely understood. Building on Stefan Berger and Norman LaPorte’s previous work, this article investigates the response of the British labour movement across the UK. While the British Left’s response is typically considered lukewarm, this article exposes the discrepancy between the efforts of rank-and-file labour activists and the leadership of key institutions. Drawing upon oral histories with contemporaneous activists, trade union archives, and prominent left-wing publi- cations, it is apparent that this distinction was present in the Trades Union Congress, large trade unions, and the Labour Party. Understanding British solidarity with So- lidarność ultimately elucidates the permeability of the Iron Curtain and contributes to an understanding of the role East-West socio-political interactions played in the demise of the Soviet Union.
 
 

Excursions in Rorschachlandia: Surveying the scientific and philosophical landscape of Hermann Rorschach's Psychodiagnostics.

This article examines the milieu of Hermann Rorschach's Psychodiagnostics (1921/2021) under development between 1911 and his death in 1922 and explores new evidence about the direction Rorschach's test might have taken after publication of Psychodiagnostics. This includes direct and indirect influences from turn of the century continental philosophy and science and innovative colleagues in the Swiss psychiatric and psychoanalytic societies. The availability of newly translated scholarship, including the correspondence between Ludwig Binswanger and Hermann Rorschach following the 1921 publication of Psychodiagnostics, Binswanger's posthumous 1923 commentary in the International Journal of Psychoanalysis, and recent new translation of Psychodiagnostics, permits a fresh appraisal of the milieu and foundations of Rorschach's development. Understanding these sources and influences opens new vistas in reappraising the nature of Rorschach's "test theory" which Rorschach considered undeveloped at the time of his death. This paper presents new evidence that, under the influence of Rorschach's close colleague, Ludwig Binswanger, the Geisteswissenschaften and phenomenology might have figured prominently in future developments. The paper concludes that Rorschach, preoccupied with considerations of kinesthetic subjectivity in his innovative conceptualization of human movement responses, was a nascent phenomenologist whose untimely death cut short further developments in his theory of the test.

Glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) causes damage in embryo-larval stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Glyphosate-Based Herbicides (GBH) show risks to the environment and also to aquatic organisms, such as fish. The present work aimed to evaluate the effects of GBH and Pure Glyphosate (PG) exposure on Danio rerio embryos at drinking water concentrations. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 250, 500, and 1000 μg L−1 of Roundup Original DI® and pure glyphosate for 96 h. Glyphosate concentration in water, parameters physicochemical water, survival, hatching rate, heart rate, malformations, behavior, and biomarkers were evaluated. We verified that at 6 h post-fertilization (hpf), animals exposed to GBH 500 showed decreased survival as compared to the control. The hatching rate increased in all groups exposed to GBH at 48 hpf as compared to the control group. The embryos exposed did not present changes in the spontaneous movement and touch response. Exposed groups to GBH demonstrated a higher number of malformations in fish embryos as compared to the control. Most malformations were: pericardial edema, yolk sac edema, body malformations, and curvature of the spine. In heart rate, bradycardia occurred in groups exposed, as predicted due to cardiac abnormalities. As biochemical endpoints, we observed a decrease in Glutathione S-transferase (GBH 250, GBH 500 and PG 250) and Acetylcholinesterase (GBH 250 and PG 250) activity. No differences were found between the groups in the concentration of protein, Total Antioxidant Capacity Against Peroxyl Radicals, Lipid peroxidation, Reactive Oxygen Species, Non-protein thiols, and Catalase. In conclusion, the damage in all evaluated stages of development was aggravated by survival and malformations. Therefore, the large-scale use of GBHs, coupled with the permissiveness of its presence could be the cause damage to the aquatic environment affecting the embryonic development of non-target organisms.

Blots and brains. A note on the centenary of Hermann Rorschach's death.

This historical note is a commemorial of Rorschach, the person, and Rorschach the test. Hermann Rorschach died 100 years ago, not quite a year after the publication of his book containing the 10 inkblots. These have reached an iconic status, but the "Rorschach Test" as used in psychiatry, legal organizations and aptitude assessments is not quite what Hermann Rorschach designed it for in the first line. A first section of this article introduces Hermann Rorschach as a man with very broad interests and an inclination to ask cognitive science questions that are still challenging today. A second section provides a critical summary of the fate of the ten inkblots after Rorschach's death - how they conquered the whole world in a time with a pronouced "psychometric attitude", and also how they failed in some attempts to measure personality traits in special populations. A final section focuses on recent research on one particular aspect of a testee's associations to the inkblots: "movement responses", i.e. the perception of implied motion. Here, neural and behavioral correlates have been demonstrated by modern neuroimaging techniques. One study, which set out to validate both the Rorschach as a personality test and the view that the two cerebral hemispheres correspond to divergent "personalities" is also summarized. The viewpoint concludes by suggesting that future work with inkblots should consider Rorschach's original intention to use inkblots to uncover basic laws of perception. Modern applications of computer-generated pseudorandom stimuli (random dot arrays or stochastic noise) would have been embraced by Hermann Rorschach as he appreciated the impact of visual noise for the study of vision and visual cognition.

Observations of a child’s movement response to music and their interaction with a musical toy robot

This article describes the author’s informal observations of the development of movement response to music with the added interaction with a musical toy robot. The subject under observation was one child, from the age of 8 to 24 months. Overall, the child’s readiness to move seemed to be motivated by the presence of the interactive toy robot. Observation revealed a variety of movement responses at a very young age, also in attempts to interact with the toy. The child appeared to form an emotional relationship with the toy robot that can be described by different phases from partnership with the toy, to the reduction of the toy’s role, to a passive music box. The toy robot was also used in a mediator role between siblings of different ages. Thus, interactive musical toy robots may have a beneficial effect on a child’s musical development as they provide a repetitive, safe and critique-free space. The human-like features of the toy robot (i.e. happy face, moving arms and legs) seemed to catch this child’s attention, allowing him to interact with the toy similarly to a human dance partner. The robot’s clumsy moves fit the concept of motionese, supporting the development of the child’s motor skills.