Weeks Of Daily Training Research Articles

Effects of chronic inspiratory muscle strength training on metabolic and cardiovascular measures during a glucose tolerance test

Previous work has shown that both a single session of aerobic exercise and chronic exercise training improve glucose homeostasis. Similarly, a single bout of inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) has been shown to facilitate a greater degree of glycemic control. However, less is known about the chronic effects of IMST, particularly with respect to metabolic and cardiovascular responses to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). We hypothesized that 6 weeks of IMST would promote a greater degree of glycemic control, via a reduction in fasting and peak glucose during an OGTT. To test this hypothesis, participants (n=14, 57% female, average age=21.9) completed 6 weeks of daily training at either 15% (n=7) or 75% (n=7) of their maximal inspiratory pressure. Each subject underwent a pre-IMST glucose tolerance test in which their blood glucose level, blood pressure, and heart rate were measured at baseline, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes following glucose ingestion. A post-IMST glucose tolerance test was completed after 6 weeks of training. The results indicate no training effect on baseline glucose, peak glucose, 90-minutes post-glucose, or glucose area under the curve responses, for both training intensities (P>0.05). There was no significant effect of IMST on heart rate, nor was heart rate altered during the OGTT (P>0.5). While mean arterial pressure was not affected during the OGTT (P>0.05), baseline mean arterial pressure decreased in the 75% intensity group only (P=0.012). In summary, 6 weeks of high-intensity IMST decreases baseline blood pressure, and glucose tolerance was unaffected in both training groups. Future studies should investigate the effects of chronic IMST on other metabolic measures (e.g. lipids, triglycerides, and/or cholesterol levels) and the impact that this training has on glucose homeostasis in clinical populations. This work was supported by the Alma College CORE Summer Research Program. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

A randomized trial on differential changes in thought and affect after mindfulness versus dyadic practice indicates phenomenological fingerprints of app-based interventions

Contemplative practice has demonstrated benefits for mental health and well-being. Most previous studies, however, implemented in-person trainings containing a mix of different, mostly solitary, practices and focused on pre- to post-training outcomes. In this randomized trial, we explore the immediate differential efficacy of two daily app-delivered practices in shifting emotional (valence, arousal) and thinking patterns (thought content on future-past, self-other, positive–negative dimensions). For 10 weeks of daily training, 212 participants (18–65 years) performed either a novel 12-min partner-based socio-emotional practice (Affect Dyad) or a 12-min attention-focused solitary mindfulness-based practice. Using ordinal Bayesian multilevel modeling, we found that both practice types led to more positive affect and higher arousal. However, whereas mindfulness-based practice partly led to a decrease in active thoughts, particularly in future-, other-related and negative thoughts, the Dyad in contrast led to increases in other-related, and positive thoughts. This shift towards more social and positive thoughts may specifically support overcoming ruminative thinking patterns associated with self-related and negative thought content. Overall, these differential findings may help inform the adaptation of scalable app-based mental trainings in different segments of the population with the goal to improve mental health and well-being.

Does virtual reality enhance the effects of inhibitory control training for loss-of-control eating? A pilot factorial experiment

Inhibitory control, one's ability to inhibit automatic responses to desirable stimuli, may be inadequately targeted in interventions for loss-of-control eating (LOC). Promising evidence has identified inhibitory control trainings (ICTs) as an avenue to target inhibitory control directly; however, effects of ICTs on real-world behavior are limited. Compared to typical computerized trainings, virtual reality (VR) presents several potential advantages that may address key shortcomings of traditional ICTs, i.e. poor approximation to everyday life. The present study utilized a 2 × 2 factorial design of treatment type (ICT vs sham) by treatment modality (VR vs standard computer), which allows for increased statistical power by collapsing across conditions. Our primary aim was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of six weeks of daily training among groups. A secondary aim was to preliminarily assess main and interactive effects of treatment type and modality on target engagement and efficacy (i.e., training compliance, change in LOC episodes, inhibitory control, and implicit liking of foods). Participants (N = 35) with ≥1×/weekly LOC were assigned to one of four conditions and completed ICTs daily for six weeks. The trainings were feasible and acceptable, evinced by high retention and compliance across time and condition. Although completing daily trainings across treatment types and modalities was associated with large decreases in LOC, there were no meaningful effects of either treatment type or modality, nor a significant interaction effect, on LOC or mechanistic variables. Future research should aim to increase the efficacy of ICT (both standard and VR-based) and test in fully-powered clinical trials.

Adaptation of the transcriptional response to resistance exercise over 4 weeks of daily training.

We present the time course of change in the muscle transcriptome 1 h after the last exercise bout of a daily resistance training program lasting 2, 10, 20, or 30 days. Daily exercise in rat tibialis anterior muscles (5 sets of 10 repetitions over 20min) induced progressive muscle growth that approached a new stable state after 30 days. The acute transcriptional response changed along with progressive adaptation of the muscle phenotype. For example, expression of type 2B myosin was silenced. Time courses recently synthesized from human exercise studies do not demonstrate so clearly the interplay between the acute exercise response and the longer-term consequences of repeated exercise. We highlight classes of transcripts and transcription factors whose expression increases during the growth phase and declines again as the muscle adapts to a new daily pattern of activity and reduces its rate of growth. Myc appears to play a central role.

Abstract 15318: Global Deletion of P90 Ribosomal S6 Kinase Provides Cardiovascular Protection Against Age-Related Hypertension

Background: Hypertension (HT) is highly prevalent and associated with significant mortality and morbidity among older individuals. Aging is associated with structural and functional remodeling of the vasculature, similar to blood vessel alterations observed in HT. We previously demonstrated that young adult global Rsk2 KO mice had more dilated mesenteric arteries (MAs), with reduced vessel tone, stiffness and RLC 20 phosphorylation, and significantly lower basal blood pressure compared to WT. However, it is unknown whether RSK2 plays a role in age-related HT. Hypothesis: Loss of RSK2 signaling in aged mice inhibits age-related- and L-NAME-induced HT, arterial stiffness, and vascular remodeling. Methods: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements of >24-month-old global Rsk2 KO and WT males were performed daily for 2 weeks after 2 weeks of daily training using tail cuff manometry. Baseline echocardiographic (echo) parameters were measured. N(G)-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) was administered (20 mg/kg/day) via drinking water to induce HT. Pressure myography studies assessed vascular reactivity and arterial stiffness in MAs isolated from Rsk2 KO and WT mice. Aorta and MAs were sectioned and stained to examine structural changes. Results: WT mice had a significantly higher mortality rate (63.6%) compared to Rsk2 KO (12.5%). Baseline SBP was also significantly higher in WT compared to KOs (123±10 vs. 99±12 mmHg, p < 0.001, n = 9/7). L-NAME elevated SBP in WT but not in KO mice (137±2 vs. 97±8 mmHg, p < 0.00001, n = 4/7). Although there were no differences in echo parameters, we observed a negative correlation between ejection fraction (EF) and SBP in WT (-0.94 %/mmHg, p = 0.046, R 2 = 0.59, n = 6), but not in Rsk2 KO mice (p = 0.15, n = 7). Functional and histological studies in aged KO mice are ongoing to examine age-related changes in vascular reactivity and remodeling. Conclusion: Loss of RSK2 reduces BP levels in aged mice akin to young adult mice. Additionally, the hypertensive effects of L-NAME are absent in aged Rsk2 KO mice. Aged Rsk2 KO mice appear to be protected from cardiovascular effects associated with age-related HT. Therapeutic targeting of RSK2 could prove beneficial for reducing risk of cardiovascular diseases associated with HT in the elderly.

Age-Related Differential Effects of School-Based Sitting and Movement Meditation on Creativity and Spatial Cognition: A Pilot Study.

Psychophysical well-being can be supported during development by the integration of extra-curricular activities in scholastic settings. These activities can be implemented in different forms, ranging from physical activities to sitting meditation practices. Considering that both such activities are thought to affect children’s psychophysical development, a movement-based meditation that combines the two approaches−in the form of a short daily activity−could represent a powerful tool to promote healthy physical and mental development. Consequently, the current pilot study aimed to examine the effect of short daily school-based sitting and movement meditation trainings on creativity and spatial cognition. Utilizing a crossover design, we evaluated their feasibility and efficacy at different ages among children (n = 50) in 5th to 8th grade. We observed that 5 weeks of daily training in sitting and movement meditation techniques improved children’s cognition differently. Specifically, younger children showed greater creativity and better spatial cognition following the movement-based meditation, while older children showed greater enhancement in these areas following sitting meditation training. This suggests that training can affect children’s cognition differently depending on their developmental stage. We discuss these results within the framework of embodied and grounded cognition theories. Information on feasibility and age-related effect sizes derived from the current study paves the way for future well-powered larger-scale efficacy studies on different forms of school-based interventions to cognitive development promotion.

Personalized balance games for children with cerebral palsy: A pilot study.

To assess the changes in balance function in children with cerebral palsy (CP) after two weeks of daily training with personalized balance games. Twenty-five children with CP, aged 5 to 18 years were randomly selected for experimental or control groups. Over a period of two weeks, all participants received 8-9 game sessions for 15-20 minutes, totaling 150-160 minutes. The experimental group used personalized balance games available from the GAmification for Better LifE (GABLE) online serious gaming platform. Children from the control group played Nintendo Wii games using a handheld Wii Remote. Both groups received the same background treatment. Recorded outcome measures were from a Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS), Timed Up & Go Test (TUG), Center of Pressure Path Length (COP-PL), and Dynamic Balance Test (DBT). After two weeks of training in the experimental group TCMS scores increased by 4.5 points (SD = 3.5, p< 0.05) and DBT results increased by 0.88 points (IQR = 1.03, p< 0.05) while these scores did not change significantly in the control group. Overall, TUG and COP-PL scores were not affected in either group. This study demonstrates improvement of balancing function in children with CP after a two-week course of training with personalized rehabilitation computer games.

A Qualitative Examination of the Developmental Trajectory of Learning Mindfulness Across an 8-Week Program

While many mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are delivered in an 8-week program, little has been reported regarding the developmental trajectory of acquiring mindfulness proficiency. With the widespread adoption of mindfulness-based practices in both popular and therapeutic settings, greater knowledge regarding the trajectory of learning mindfulness is essential. The present study sought to investigate the developmental trajectory of mindfulness acquisition across an 8-week MBI through examination of home training diary reports. Daily home practice diaries of 20 healthy MBI-naive older adults randomly assigned to an 8-week mindfulness intervention as part of a larger RCT assessing the effects of mindfulness on cognition were analysed using qualitative content/thematic techniques. Rather than adopting an a priori coding scheme, an iterative process of coding was used to develop emergent themes from the data along with a standardized codebook manual. The frequency of codes was analysed by week of the intervention in order to permit an investigation of the temporal development of each theme. Diary entries were exhaustively incorporated into four main themes: Difficulties with practice, Understanding the practice, Developing proficiency, and Benefits of mindfulness. Temporal analysis revealed that only after 4 weeks did the frequency of Developing proficiency outweigh Difficulties with practice. Participants continued to develop their mindfulness skills throughout, while Benefits of mindfulness appeared toward the conclusion of the program. Diary data suggest that sufficient proficiency to overcome difficulties associated with mindfulness practice is achieved only after 4 weeks of daily training, and that participants continue to develop their understanding of the practice throughout an 8-week MBI.

Evaluating the outcome of an individual functional therapy program focused on children with cerebral palsy and cerebral visual impairment: a multiple case study

Background: To date, there is no evidence-based functional therapy programme available for children with both cerebral palsy (CP) and cerebral visual impairment (CVI). This study evaluates an individually targeted functional therapy programme adapted for these children experiencing difficulties with gross motor functioning and functional skills.Methods:Participants: Five children with CP and CVI, mean (SD) age 114 (52) months, participated in this study.Intervention: Participants were assigned to an 18-week functional therapy programme including nine weeks of individual functional therapy aimed at improving gross motor function followed by nine weeks of daily training of functional skills from the parents/caregivers.Analyses: The Related Samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test with a significance level of p < .05 was utilised to detect possible significant differences between the pre- and post-test.Results: According to the Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), each child improved gross motor functioning. All the children also scored significantly higher in the section Functional Skills in the domains self-care and mobility as well as in the section Caregiver Assistance in the domain of self-care.Conclusion: This adapted individually functional therapy programme suggests improved gross motor functioning and functional skills in children with CP and CVI.

Attentional Effort, Mindfulness, and Altered States of Consciousness Experiences Following Quadrato Motor Training

The scientific study of movement-related contemplative practices has proceeded without much attention to the range of psychological and phenomenological changes thought to occur during the practice. Quadrato Motor Training (QMT) is a specifically structured walking meditation, recently found to improve creativity and reflectivity, as well as neuroplasticity. This paper presents first-person reports related to QMT-induced experiences, derived from both practitioners of breathing meditation (BM) who practiced the QMT for 1 week (n = 15) compared to 4 weeks of daily training (n = 14) and control non-BM practitioners who practiced the QMT for 4 weeks of daily training (n = 14). Following factor analysis, the reported experiences were classified into three categories: Attentional Effort, Mindfulness, and Altered States of Consciousness (ASC). Our analysis revealed significant group differences, with increased ASC and attentional effort experiences reported by the groups that practiced the QMT for 4 weeks, but not in the group that practiced it for only 1 day. We further build on the previous QMT-induced electrophysiological and cognitive changes and the meditation literature to posit the possible underlying mechanisms of QMT-induced ASC experiences, in order to suggest a novel interpretation of QMT that calls attention to its structural similarities with meditation. By providing and contextualizing these reports of QMT-induced experiences, scientists, clinicians, and meditators can gain a more informed view of the range of experiences that can be elicited by whole-body contemplative practices.

EdgeBraille: Braille-based text input for touch devices

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the issue of tailored text input methods for visually impaired and blind users that are needed on touchscreen devices to support their accessibility. Previous approaches still have issues related to the necessity of searching for characters, slow entry speeds or cumbersome handling. Design/methodology/approach – The authors developed a new Braille-based text input method named EdgeBraille, which allows entering six-point Braille characters by swiping one finger along the edges of the touchscreen in an arbitrary sequence. The approach was compared with the current standard method of a talking keyboard, first in a short-term lab study (14 participants) and then during two weeks of daily training (seven participants). Findings – Overall EdgeBraille was perceived well by the users and possesses favourable handling characteristics. In terms of user performance (words per minute and error rate) the authors found no significant differences between the two methods. However, based on the evaluation results and the feedback of the participants the authors identified possibilities for improvement in terms of a smaller EdgeBraille version allowing the entry of eight-point Braille characters, and conducted a proof-of-concept study (seven participants). Originality/value – In the paper the authors comprehensively reflect on advantages and disadvantages of Braille-based methods in general and EdgeBraille in particular. The authors argue why and how Braille-based methods should serve as complement to current text input paradigms based on talking keyboard and indicate future directions of research.

Sensorized toys for measuring manipulation capabilities of infants at home.

Preterm infants, i.e. babies born after a gestation period shorter than 37 weeks, spend less time exploring objects. The quantitative measurement of grasping actions and forces in infants can give insights on their typical or atypical motor development. The aim of this work was to test a new tool, a kit of sensorized toys, to longitudinally measure, monitor and promote preterm infants manipulation capabilities with a purposive training in an ecological environment. This study presents preliminary analysis of grasping activity. Three preterm infants performed 4 weeks of daily training at home. Sensorized toys with embedded pressure sensors were used as part of the training to allow quantitative analysis of grasping (pressure and acceleration applied to toys while playing). Each toy was placed on the midline, while the infant was in supine position. Preliminary data show differences in the grasping parameters in relation to infants age and the performed daily training. Ongoing clinical trial will allow a full validation of this new tool for promoting object exploration in preterm infants.

Oxidative Stress of an Endurance Overtraining Animal Model

Recently we developed an overtraining animal model to study the mechanisms related to performance decrement. PURPOSE: Seek for overtraining (OT) biomarkers studying the oxidative stress of heart, red gastrocnemius and plasma. METHODS: 27 Wistar rats were submitted to 11 weeks of running: 8 weeks of daily training followed by 3 weeks of incrementally increased training frequency from two to four times daily. Six performance tests were realized. Two groups were detected by the slope (a) of least square fit using tests 4, 5 and 6: Functional Overreaching (FOR, a > -15.05) (N=11) and Nonfunctional Overreaching (NFOR, a < -15.05) (N=7). A control group (CO, N=9) was also analyzed. Catalase (CAT), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Lipid Peroxides (TBARS) were analyzed in heart and muscle and Glutathione Reductase (GR) in heart. Antioxidant Capacity (FRAP) and Lipid Peroxides (MDA) were measured in plasma. RESULTS: Mean±SD, p<0.05. NFOR showed performance (Kg.m) decrement in test 6 compared with test 4 (369.6±93.0 × 528.8±58.6). FOR increased the performance in test 6 compared with test 4 (700.8±73.69 × 550.8±29.2). FRAP (umol eq Trolox/L) was higher in CO (278.44±20.85) than FOR (230.36±21.33) and NFOR (242.17±20.20). Plasma MDA (uM) was higher in NFOR (1.77±0.57) than CO (0.93±0.19) and FOR (1.02±0.25). Heart and Muscle analyzes are shown in Table 1.TABLE 1: Oxidative Stress in Heart and MuscleCONCLUSION: The oxidative stress in NFOR is higher than FOR and CO. However, heart seems to be more protected. The muscle oxidative stress is possibly one of the mechanisms related to performance decrement in OT. Plasma MDA could be a biomarker of the NFOR state. Supported by Fapesp and CNPq

Is forced use of the paretic upper limb beneficial? A randomized pilot study during subacute post-stroke recovery

Objective: To evaluate the effect of two weeks of forced use of the paretic upper limb, as a supplement to the rehabilitation programme in the subacute phase after stroke, on self-rated use of that limb. Design: A randomized, non-blind, parallel group, clinical, before-and-after trial. A forced use group and a conventional group were followed up one and three months after intervention. Setting: In- and outpatient units of rehabilitation at a University Hospital. Subjects: Thirty patients were allocated to two groups, 15 in each, 1—6 months (mean 2.4) after stroke onset. Twenty-six patients completed the study. Interventions: The patients of both groups participated in two weeks of daily training on weekdays. In addition, the forced use group wore a restraining sling on the non-paretic arm for up to 6 hours per weekday. Main measure: The Motor Activity Log; patients scored 0—5 for 30 daily tasks concerning both amount of use and quality of movement. Results: The forced use group tended to achieve larger improvements immediately post-intervention, but this was not clearly demonstrated. The small differences also levelled out up to the three-month follow-up, with both groups earning an approximately 1.0 score point on both scales of the Motor Activity Log. Conclusions: This pilot study did not reveal any additional benefit of forced use on self-rated performance in daily use of the paretic upper limb. Both groups performed fairly extensive, active training with a similar duration, amount and content.

Plasticity of Cortical Activation Related to Working Memory During Training

Although it is well established that cerebral activation increases with higher task load, the potential effects of training have been investigated over brief periods only. Training is of potential clinical relevance since training programs are an essential part of psychiatric therapy. Cerebral activation during a visual spatial working memory task was examined before, during, and after 4 weeks of daily training in nine healthy subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging. All subjects showed a pronounced activation mainly involving the right inferior frontal gyrus and the right intraparietal sulcus. While the respective regions showed activation increases with improved performance after 2 weeks of training, the activation values decreased at the time of consolidation of performance gains after 4 weeks. Our results suggest that training-related cerebral activation changes follow an inverse U-shaped quadratic function and raise the prospect of investigating cerebral mechanisms underlying training effects.

Rewiring the dyslexic brain

Overcoming learning disorders is now becoming a realistic goal for neuroscientists and therapists. Seven years after their twin papers in Science suggesting the efficacy of intensive auditory training in children with language learning impairment, the Tallal–Merzenich team now report convincing evidence of just what such training programs can change in these children's brain. With the help of functional imaging, they demonstrate significant reorganization in both hemispheres after only eight weeks of daily training.

Effects of training on contractile properties of paralyzed quadriceps muscle.

Effects of two different training regimens on the contractile properties of the quadriceps muscle were studied in six individuals with spinal cord injury. Each subject had both limbs trained with the two regimens, consisting of stimulation with low frequencies (LF) at 10 HZ or high frequencies (HF) at 50 HZ; one limb of each subject was stimulated with the LF protocol and the other with the HF regimen. Twelve weeks of daily training increased tetanic tension by approximately 20%, which was not significantly different between training regimens. Interestingly, after HF but not LF training, the unusual high forces at the low frequency range of the force-frequency relationship decreased, possibly due to a reduced activation per impulse. After LF but not HF training, force oscillation amplitudes declined (by 33%) as relaxation tended to slow, which may have opposed possible effects of reduced activation as seen after HF training. Finally, fatigue resistance also increased rapidly after LF training (by 43%) but not after HF training. These results indicate that different types of training may selectively change different aspects of function in disused muscles.

Neurotoxicological outcomes of perinatal heptachlor exposure in the rat.

The developing nervous system has been identified as a potential target of pesticide exposure. Heptachlor is a cyclodiene pesticide that was widely used for many years, and for which inadvertent exposure to children and fetuses took place in the early 1980s; yet little is known regarding the developmental neurotoxicity of it and other cyclodienes. The aim of this study was to determine whether perinatal heptachlor exposure results in persistent alterations in nervous system function. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley dams were dosed from gestational day (GD) 12 to postnatal day (PND) 7, whereupon the rat pups were dosed directly until PND 21 (group A) or PND 42 (group B). Dose levels were 0, 0.03, 0.3, or 3 mg/kg/day, po. There were no dose-related effects on maternal weight, litter size, or pup growth. GABA(A) receptor binding (using [(35)S] tert-butylbicyclophosphorothionate; TBPS) and GABA-stimulated Cl- flux were evaluated in control and high-dose brain tissues taken on PND 7, 21, and 43. The B(max) values for [(35)S]-TBPS binding in brainstem, but not cortex, were decreased in female rats across all ages tested. There were no such changes in male rats, nor were K(D) values altered in either tissue or gender. GABA-stimulated Cl- flux was decreased in female cortex synaptoneurosomes only on PND 21. The ontogeny of the righting response (PND 2-5) was delayed in the high-dose females. All subsequent testing took place a week to months after dosing ceased. The functional observational battery (FOB) showed treatment-related, but not necessarily dose-related, changes in different aspects of the rat's reactivity and activity levels. Group-A rats also showed altered within-session habituation of motor activity. There were no heptachlor-related differences in motor activity following challenge with a range of chlordiazepoxide doses. Cognitive assessments were conducted in both groups of rats. There were no statistically significant differences among treatment groups in a one-trial passive avoidance test, although there was a trend toward less learning. In group B, rats (both sexes), heptachlor altered spatial learning in the Morris water maze during two weeks of daily training (2 trials/day). On probe trials, heptachlor-treated rats did not show significant preference for the correct quadrant (all dose groups in males, high dose in females). These rats did not show alterations on subsequent working-memory training (where the platform position was relearned each day). Thus, perinatal exposure to heptachlor produced neurochemical and persistent neurobehavioral changes, including alterations in spatial learning and memory.

A mechanized gait trainer for restoring gait in nonambulatory subjects

Hesse S, Uhlenbrock D, Werner C, Bardeleben A. A mechanized gait trainer for restoring gait in nonambulatory subjects. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000;81:1158-61. Objective: To construct an advanced mechanized gait trainer to enable patients the repetitive practice of a gaitlike movement without overstraining therapists. Device: Prototype gait trainer that simulates the phases of gait (by generating a ratio of 40% to 60% between swing and stance phases), supports the subjects according to their ability (lifts the foot during swing phase), and controls the center of mass in the vertical and horizontal directions. Patients: Two nonambulatory, hemiparetic patients who regained their walking ability after 4 weeks of daily training on the gait trainer, a 55-year-old woman and a 62-year-old man, both of whom had a first-time ischemic stroke. Intervention: Four weeks of training, five times a week, each session 20 minutes long. Main Outcome Measures: Functional ambulation category (FAC, levels 0–5) to assess gait ability and ground level walking velocity. Rivermead motor assessment score (RMAS, 0–13) to assess gross motor function. Results: Patient 1: At the end of treatment, she was able to walk independently on level ground with use of a walking stick. Her walking velocity had improved from.29m/sec to.59m/sec. Her RMAS score increased from 4 to 10, meaning she could walk at least 40 meters outside, pick up objects from floor, and climb stairs independently. Patient 2: At end of 4-week training, he could walk independently on even surfaces (FAC level 4), using an ankle-foot orthosis and a walking stick. His walking velocity improved from.14m/sec to.63m/sec. His RMAS increased from 3 to 10. Conclusion: The gait trainer enabled severely affected patients the repetitive practice of a gaitlike movement. Future studies may elucidate its value in gait rehabilitation of nonambulatory subjects. © 2000 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Saccadic reaction times and activation of the prelunate cortex: parallel observations in trained rhesus monkeys.

Rhesus monkeys were trained to fixate a small spot and saccade to a second stimulus in the near periphery if the fixation spot went off. In different tests the target stimulus could occur at various delay times before or after the offset of the fixation spot. During periods of single unit recording from the prelunate cortex neural events were measured together with saccadic reaction times (SRT): If the stimulus was visible for a period of time (1 or 0.5 s) before the fixation spot disappeared (positive "delayed saccade" task) the SRT reached values of more than 300 ms. The SRTs were shorter when the target stimulus occurred simultaneously with the offset of the fixation spot ("saccade" task). SRT were shortest (approximately 150 ms) if the target stimulus appeared 100-250 ms after the offset of the fixation spot (negative "delayed saccade" task). Moreover, they decreased with the time of daily training. The different behavioural conditions resulted in different types of cortical activity with different latencies: In "saccade" and negative "delayed saccade" tasks the neurons on-responses could be enhanced in comparison to the passive visual on-responses during stationary fixation. The latencies of the on-response and the enhanced on-response were equal with approximately 80 ms. In striking contrast the latencies of the presaccadic activation (PSA) in the positive "delayed saccade" tasks were more than twice as long with about 200 ms. Daily training influences both the SRTs and the PSA: The SRTs become shorter by more than 150 ms in positive "delayed saccade" tasks (delay: 300-500 ms) and the percentage of PSA-neurons decrease from more than 70% to less than approximately 20% after 3 weeks of daily training and recording. The temporal aspects of events preceding visually guided eye movements are important to understand the serial and parallel processing in cortical and subcortical structures that are involved in the learning, initiation, and execution of goal directed movements.