The role of nocturnal sleep on the retention, adaptability, and relearning rate of a motor skill

Abstract Aim: The influence of sleep on the adaptability and relearning rate during learning of complex motor skills is still unknown, limiting the comprehension of the sleep role in motor memory consolidation. Thus, we aimed to investigate the nocturnal sleep influence on retention, adaptability, and relearning rate of the dart-throwing task. Methods: Sixty healthy adults were divided into two groups: SLEEP and WAKE. Both groups practiced an under-arm dart-throwing task. However, WAKE practiced in the morning and performed a retention phase in the evening, and SLEEP practiced in the evening and performed a retention phase in the morning of the next day. The practice and retention phases were separated by 12 h in both groups. There were analyses regarding retention (retention test), adaptability (delayed transfer test), and relearning rate (savings). Results: Both groups improved their performance across the acquisition phase and maintained it in the retention test. The groups did not demonstrate adaptability and did not demonstrate a significant difference in relearning rate. Conclusion: We conclude that nocturnal sleep did not modulate the consolidation of motor memories related to ballistic discrete motor skills.

The anticipatory and reaction time behaviors of the futsal goalkeeper / Os comportamentos antecipatório e de tempo de reação do goleiro do futsal

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the goalkeeper's anticipatory and reaction time behaviors. For this purpose, 50 kicks performed by male futsal players were analyzed. The time of goalkeeper's response to a kick was analyzed in relation to the kick outcome, court zone and distance between the goalkeeper and player who performed the kick. The goalkeeper's anticipation and reaction time behaviors were those below and above 200 ms as the time criterion, respectively, by considering the moment the player began the preparation for kicking to the moment the goalkeeper began to respond to it. Results showed that the goalkeeper performed anticipatory behaviors predominantly when (i) goals were attained and (ii) kicks were performed in the center and attack court's zones (iii) at a distance ranging from 5.97 to 7.84 meters. In these conditions, the goalkeepers' anticipatory behaviors implied ineffective performances.

RESUMO Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar os comportamentos antecipatório e de tempo de reação do goleiro. Para este fim foram analisados 50 chutes executados por jogaores de futsal. O tempo de resposta do goleiro a um chute foi analisado em relação ao resultado do chute, à zona da quadra e à distância entre o goleiro e o jogador que executou o chute. Os comportamentos de antecipação e tempo de reação do goleiro foram considerados, respectivamente, como aqueles executados abaixo e acima de 200 ms considerando o início do movimento do chutador e o início do movimento do goleiro. Os resultados mostraram que o goleiro executou comportamentos antecipatórios predominantemente quando (i) ocorreram gols, (ii) os chutes foram executados das zonas central e de ataque, (iii) de distâncias entre 5,97 a 7,84 metros. Nestas condições, os comportamentos antecipatórios do goleiro implicaram em performances ineficazes.

Motor learning in post stroke subjects: the effects of practice conditions on the temporal synchronization

Abstract AIMS The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of practice schedule on the motor learning of a synchronization timing task in post-stroke subjects. Subjects and METHODS Seventeen post-stroke individuals were assigned to the experimental group and for the control group were selected seventeen healthy individuals. At the acquisition phase, all participants performed 30 trials of a coincident timing task. Nine individuals from each group practiced constantly and eight from each group practiced randomly, with speed changes in the task. Subsequent phases included: 1) immediate transfer test and 2) long term transfer test after 3 days. Data were analyzed in relation to absolute, variable, and constant errors to assess the performance concerning accuracy, consistence, and direction of responses, respectively. RESULTS All groups increased their accuracy through the practice and were able to adapt it in different speeds. The stroke subjects were more variable in their motor responses. There was no effect of the practice schedule on motor learning, regardless the presence or absence of the neurologic damage. CONCLUSION Post stroke individuals were able to learn a synchronizing task and the capacity of adapt their performance after speed perturbation was preserved. There was no effect of the practice schedule on motor learning.

Aprendizagem motora em crianças com paralisia cerebral / Motor learning in children with cerebral palsy

INTRODUÇÃO: A paralisia cerebral (PC) tem como característica causar alterações na postura e movimento que dificultam a realização de atividades funcionais. Diante das dificuldades motoras, a reabilitação torna-se essencial e tem como uma opção basear-se na aprendizagem motora. Porém, é importante a investigação do processo de aprendizagem motora em indivíduos com PC para viabilizar a organização de programas de tratamento mais efetivos. OBJETIVO: analisar o processo de aprendizagem motora em crianças com PC. MÉTODO: Para a realização deste trabalho utilizou-se um grupo experimental (GE) e um grupo controle (GC) ambos formados por 4 crianças pareadas em relação ao gênero (um do gênero feminino e três do gênero masculino) e idade (entre sete e doze anos). A tarefa consistia em realizar um caminho em um labirinto, no menor tempo possível. O trabalho consistiu de duas fases, sendo inicialmente a fase de aquisição (AQ) e depois as transferências (Imediata-TI; Curto Prazo-TC e Longo Prazo-TL). RESULTADO: Verificou-se que não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre a AQ e as transferências avaliadas com os valores a seguir: TI (z = -1,83 e p = 0,07), TC (z = -1,83 e p = 0,07) e a TL [GE (z = -1,83 e p = 0,07) e GC (z = -1,46 e p = 0,14)]. CONCLUSÃO: No processo de aprendizagem da tarefa de labirinto, analisando-se os resultados entre as fases de AQ e Transferência não se observou diferença, ou seja, os indivíduos com PC mostraram capacidade de aprendizagem preservada por meio da adaptação da tarefa, fato este que ocorreu de forma equivalente aos indivíduos sem paralisia cerebral.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy (CP) has the characteristic of causing changes in posture and movement that hamper the achievement of functional activities. In the face of motor disabilities, rehabilitation becomes essential and is an option based on motor learning. However, it is important to research the motor learning process in individuals with CP to make the organization of treatment programs more effective. OBJECTIVE: Analyse the motor learning in children with CP. METHOD: For the realization of this work, an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG) was used, comprised of four children matched in relation to gender (one female and three masculine) and age (between seven and twelve years). The task was to conduct a path into a maze in the shortest time possible. The work consisted of two phases, being initially an acquisition phase (AQ) and then transfers (immediate-IM; short-term-ST and long-term-LT). RESULT: It was found that there was no statistical significance difference between AQ and transfers evaluated with the following values: IM (z= -1.83, p=0.07), ST (z= -1.83, p=0.07) and LT [EG (z= -1.83, p=0.07) and CG (z= -1.46, p=0.14)]. CONCLUSION: In the process of maze task learning, when analyzing the results between phases AQ and transfer, significant difference was not observed, which means that individuals with CP showed learning capacity through task adaptation equivalent to individuals without cerevral palsy.