Repeated stroboscopic vision training improves anticipation skill without changing perceptual-cognitive skills in soccer players.

In this study we aimed to analyze the repeated effect of stroboscopic vision training on perceptual-cognitive skills in soccer players. A total of 28 male soccer players participated in this experimental and randomized study with parallel groups. The soccer players were pair-matched according to perceptual-cognitive skills and randomized into two groups: Stroboscopic vision training and Control. Multiple object tracking, anticipation, and decision-making skills were measured before and after the 8-week intervention. An increase in multiple object tracking (p < 0.05) and decision-making skills (p < 0.05) from baseline to post-experiment was found in both groups without main group effect (p > 0.05). The findings showed an increase in anticipation skill from baseline to post-experiment in both groups (p < 0.05), with higher anticipation skill for the stroboscopic group than in the control group post-experiment (p < 0.05). Thus, we conclude that repeated stroboscopic vision training could improve anticipation skill in soccer athletes.

Brain Stimulation Over the Motion-Sensitive Midtemporal Area Reduces Deleterious Effects of Mental Fatigue on Perceptual-Cognitive Skills in Basketball Players.

The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) over the motion-sensitive midtemporal area on perceptual-cognitive skills (visuomotor and basketball decision-making skills) in mentally fatigued basketball players. A total of 20 male basketball players were recruited. This was a randomized, double-blinded, and counterbalanced crossover study with two experimental conditions: a-tDCS and Sham. The participants completed the basketball decision-making task and visuomotor skill after performing a 60-min sport-based videogame task with anodal (i.e., a-tDCS) or placebo (Sham) stimulation over the motion-sensitive middle temporal area. Worse response time was observed in visuomotor skill for Sham than a-tDCS postexperiment (p < .05). There was no main condition effect for accuracy of visuomotor skill (p > .05). There was more impairment in accuracy and response time in basketball decision-making skills for the Sham condition than a-tDCS (p < .05). Notably, a-tDCS over the motion-sensitive middle temporal area removed the negative effects of mental fatigue on perceptual-cognitive skills.

Virtual reality promotes greater improvements than video-stimulation screen on perceptual-cognitive skills in young soccer athletes.

Background The literature has shown the positive effect of virtual reality (VR) in percepto-cognitive skills. However, the literature lacks findings about at what extent VR would be better than video. Purpose This study aimed to analyze the chronic effect of VR and video-stimulation screen training on passing decision-making, visual search behavior, and inhibitory control performance in young soccer athletes. Method A total of 26 young soccer players underwent an 8-week training protocol after being randomly assigned to the VR (n = 13) or video-screen (VID, n = 13) group. Passing decision-making, visual search behavior, and inhibitory control performance were measured before and after both interventions. Results A group x time interaction was found for decision-making performance (p < 0.01) and visual search behavior (p < 0.01). Both groups improved both decision-making performance (p < 0.01) and visual search behavior (p < 0.01); however, greater improvements were verified in VR (p < 0.01). Both VR and VID improved inhibitory control (p < 0.01), but no group interaction effect was observed (p > 0.05). Conclusion Our results suggest that VR leads to greater improvements in decision-making and visual search behavior in young soccer athletes than VID.

Brazilian version of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scales (MBSRQ-AS): translation and psychometric properties in adults.

OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the psychometric properties of the Brazilian adaptation of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scales, a widely used instrument in body image research. METHODS: We translated the MBSRQ-AS and determined its psychometric properties among 2 community samples, totaling 387 men and 381 women, and 1 college sample of 104 men and 133 women, aged from 16 to 67 years old (totaling 1005 participants). Near half of the sample (n = 606) was recruited online (SurveyMonkey Database) and the other half was personally recruited from universities, technical schools and libraries. RESULTS: The translated version was similar to the original, and the items were easily understood. After the exclusion of the negatively worded questions, the Brazilian version had the same factor structure as the original MBSRQ-AS. Internal consistency ranged from .73 to .90 and test-retest reliability indices ranged from .76 to .92. The measure captured sex and weight status differences. Women reported significantly higher levels of investment in appearance, lower levels of satisfaction with specific parts of the body, higher concerns with being overweight, and classified themselves as heavier than men. Overweight and obese men and women reported lower satisfaction with specific parts of their bodies, higher concerns with being overweight, and classified themselves as heavier than their normal weight counterparts. Convergent validity was demonstrated by the significant correlations between the MBSRQ-AS subscales and investment in appearance, internalization of beauty ideals, disordered eating and self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the Brazilian MBSRQ-AS appears to be a good option for researchers in the country. Furthermore, the study provides substantial parameters for comparison with other adaptations of the instrument around the world. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, descriptive study.

How I am, how am I: nutritional status and body image in women submitted to aesthetic plastic surgery / Como Sou, como Estou: estado nutricional e imagem corporal em mulheres submetidas à cirurgia plástica estética / Como Soy, como Estoy: estado nutricional e imagen corporal en mujeres sometidas a cirurgia plastica estetica

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (APS) has grown dramatically around the world, especially in Brazil. Women were more dissatisfied with their appearance compared to men, and this is the main predictor for the search of APS. We investigated the body image (BI) and nutritional status (NS) of 40 adult women requesting APS - Clinical Group (G1, n = 20) - and 20 not requesting APS - Comparative Group (G2) - with similar age and socio-educational characteristics. We evaluated the biochemistry of blood, the BMI, and the percentage of body fat, with a statistically significant difference between G1 and G2 (p < 0.01). G1 showed a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity, dissatisfaction with the overall appearance (p = 0.04) in the Body-Self-Relationships Questionnaire, concern with BMI (p = 0.04), and major investment in appearance (p = 0.04). Due to these potential indicators of mental health problems, psychological and nutritional monitoring is essential to prevent poor progression in APS.

Cirurgia Plástica Estética (CPE) cresceu drasticamente no mundo, especialmente no Brasil. Mulheres mostraram-se mais insatisfeitas com a aparência em relação aos homens, e esse é o principal preditor para a busca da CPE. Investigou-se a Imagem Corporal (IC) e o Estado Nutricional (EN) de 40 mulheres adultas solicitantes de CPE - Grupo Clínico (G1, n = 20) - e 20 não solicitantes de CPE - Grupo de Comparação (G2) - de características etárias e socioeducacionais semelhantes. Avaliaram-se a bioquímica do sangue, o IMC e a porcentagem de gordura corporal com diferenças estatísticas significativas entre G1 e G2 (p < 0, 01). O G1 apresentou maior prevalência de sobrepeso/obesidade, insatisfação com a aparência geral (p = 0,04) no Body-Self-Relationships Questionnaire, grande preocupação com o IMC (p = 0,04) e grande investimento na aparência (p = 0,04). Em função desses potenciais indicadores de problemas de saúde mental, o monitoramento psicológico e nutricional é essencial para prevenir uma evolução negativa em CPE.

Cirugía Plástica Estética (CPE) creció drásticamente en Brasil y en el mundo. Mujeres se mostraron más insatisfechas con la apariencia que los hombres, siendo éste el principal predictor de búsqueda por CPE. Se ha investigado la imagen corporal (IC) y el estado nutricional (EN) de 40 mujeres adultas solicitantes de CPE - Grupo Clínico (G1, n = 20) - y 20 que no solicitó CPE - Grupo de Comparación (G2) - de características de edad e socioeducativa similares. Se evaluó la bioquímica de la sangre, el IMC y el % de grasa con diferencias significativas entre G1 y G2 (p < 0, 01). G1 mostró mayor prevalencia de sobrepeso/obesidad, insatisfacción con la apariencia (p = 0.04) en el Body-Self-Relationships Questionnaire, preocupación por el IMC (p = 0.04) y mayor investidura en apariencia (p = 0.04). Debido a estos indicadores potenciales de problemas de salud mental, el monitoreo psicológico y nutricional es esencial para prevenir la mala progresión en CPE.

Environmental enrichment protects spatial learning and hippocampal neurons from the long-lasting effects of protein malnutrition early in life.

As early protein malnutrition has a critically long-lasting impact on the hippocampal formation and its role in learning and memory, and environmental enrichment has demonstrated great success in ameliorating functional deficits, here we ask whether exposure to an enriched environment could be employed to prevent spatial memory impairment and neuroanatomical changes in the hippocampus of adult rats maintained on a protein deficient diet during brain development (P0-P35). To elucidate the protective effects of environmental enrichment, we used the Morris water task and neuroanatomical analysis to determine whether changes in spatial memory and number and size of CA1 neurons differed significantly among groups. Protein malnutrition and environmental enrichment during brain development had significant effects on the spatial memory and hippocampal anatomy of adult rats. Malnourished but non-enriched rats (MN) required more time to find the hidden platform than well-nourished but non-enriched rats (WN). Malnourished but enriched rats (ME) performed better than the MN and similarly to the WN rats. There was no difference between well-nourished but non-enriched and enriched rats (WE). Anatomically, fewer CA1 neurons were found in the hippocampus of MN rats than in those of WN rats. However, it was also observed that ME and WN rats retained a similar number of neurons. These results suggest that environmental enrichment during brain development alters cognitive task performance and hippocampal neuroanatomy in a manner that is neuroprotective against malnutrition-induced brain injury. These results could have significant implications for malnourished infants expected to be at risk of disturbed brain development.

Environmental enrichment reverses reduction in glucocorticoid receptor expression in the hippocampus of and improves behavioral responses of anxiety in early malnourished rats.

We compared glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene expression in the hippocampus of rats subjected to a low protein, "malnourished" diet (M; 6% protein) or a control, "well-nourished" diet (W; 16% protein), exposed to different environmental stimulation (environmental enrichment, E; no enrichment, N) between postnatal day 8 (P8) and P35. Rats were tested on the elevated plus maze (EPM) on P36. Male Wistar rats were split into two groups at birth according to diet (M or W) and subdivided according to environmental stimulation (E or N). GR expression was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction and GR immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus. Our results showed that MN rats spent more time and made more entries into the open arms of the EPM compared to W rats. On the other hand, ME rats spent a similar percentage of time, and made a similar number of entries, in the open arms as WN rats. Following the EPM test, GR mRNA expression in the hippocampus was different in MN rats compared to W rats; expression was also different between M and ME rats; mRNA and expression of GR receptors in WN rats was similar to that observed in WE rats. These data also show that the effects of malnutrition on risk assessment in the EPM were reversed by E. Early malnutrition may alter GR expression in the hippocampus and environmental enrichment may exert a neuroprotective effect on malnutrition-induced brain injury.

Degree of psychological commitment to exercise in young athletes / Grado de compromiso psicológico para ejercer en los atletas jóvenes / Grau de compromisso psicológico para trabalhar com atletas joven

The objective was to analyze the effects of affective, personal and demographic variables in the degree of psychological commitment to exercise (DPCE). 286 athletes aged between 10 and 19 years of both sexes participated in the study. We used the Commitment Exercise Scale, the Body Shape Questionnaire and the “Criterion of Economic Classification Brazil” to assess the DPCE, body dissatisfaction and socioeconomic status, respectively. The results showed significant effects for females (p = .001). These same analyzes for males showed no significant effects. It was concluded that affective, personal and demographic factors promoted effects in DPCE only in females

El objetivo fue analizar los efectos de los variables afectivos, personales y demográficos en el grado de compromiso psicológico para ejercer (GCPE). 286 atletas de edades comprendidas entre 10 y 19 años de ambos sexos participaron en el estudio. Se utilizó la Commitment Exercise Scale, la Body Shape Questionnaire y el “Criterio de Clasificación Económica Brasil” para evaluar el GCPE, la insatisfacción corporal y nivel socioeconómico, respectivamente. Los resultados mostraron efectos significativos para las mujeres (p = .001). Estos mismos análisis para los machos no mostraron efectos significativos. Se concluyó que la afectiva, factores personales y demográficos promovió efectos en GPCE sólo en las mujeres

objectivo foi analisar os efeitos das variáveis afectivas, pessoais e demográficas no grau de compromisso psicológico para exercer(GCPE). Participaram no estudo 286 atletas de idades compreendidas entre os 10 e os 19 anos de ambos os géneros. Foi utilizado o Commitment ExerciseScale, o Body Shape Questionnairee o “Critério de Classificação Económica Brasil” para avaliar o GCPE, a insatisfação corporal e o nível socioeconó-mico, respetivamente. Os resultados revelaram efeitos significativos para as mulheres (p= .001). Estas mesmas análises não revelaram efeitos signifi-cativos nos homens. Conclui-se que a variável afectiva, os factores pessoais e demográficos promoveram efeitos no GCPE apenas nas mulheres

Effects of early protein malnutrition and environmental stimulation on behavioral and biochemical parameters in rats submitted to the elevated plus-maze test.

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of the tactile/handling stimulation (H) and environmental enrichment (EE) in well-nourished (C - 16% of protein) and malnourished (M - 6% of protein) rats tested in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) at 36 and 37 days of age. The results showed higher exploration of the open arms in the EPM in M as compared with C animals, as well as lower index of risk assessment behaviors, and EE, but not H, reversed the alterations produced by malnutrition in the EPM. Biochemical analysis showed higher levels of corticosterone in M when compared with C rats. The non-stimulated animals presented higher levels of polyamines in the hippocampus when compared with the stimulated ones in both diet conditions. It is suggested that both the lower anxiety levels and the lower risk-assessment behaviors in the EPM, as well as the higher levels of corticosterone, can be due to alterations in the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as the result of early protein malnutrition.

Body image dissatisfaction and its relationship with physical activity and body mass index in Brazilian adolescents / Insatisfação com a imagem corporal e sua relação com atividade física e índice de massa corporal em adolescentes brasileiros

Objective: To evaluate body image dissatisfaction and its relationship with physical activity and body mass index in a Brazilian sample of adolescents. Methods: A total of 275 adolescents (139 boys and 136 girls) between the ages of 14 and 18 years completed measures of body image dissatisfaction through the Contour Drawing Scale and current physical activity by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Weight and height were also measured for subsequent calculation of body mass index. Results: Boys and girls differed significantly regarding body image dissatisfaction, with girls reporting higher levels of dissatisfaction. Underweight and eutrophic boys preferred to be heavier, while those overweight preferred be thinner and, in contrast, girls desired to be thinner even when they are of normal weight. Conclusion: Body image dissatisfaction was strictly related to body mass index, but not to physical activity.

Objetivo: Investigar a insatisfação com a imagem corporal e sua relação com atividade física e índice de massa corporal em adolescentes brasileiros. Métodos: Participaram do estudo 275 adolescentes (139 meninos e 136 meninas) com idade entre 14 e 18 anos. A coleta de dados consistiu na tomada de medidas de peso e altura, seguida pela aplicação da Escala de Figuras de Silhuetas e do Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física. Resultados: As meninas apresentaram índices significativamente maiores de insatisfação com a imagem corporal. Meninos eutróficos e com baixo peso relataram o desejo de pesar mais, enquanto meninos acima do peso gostariam de pesar menos. Em contrapartida, as meninas desejam ser mais magras, mesmo quando estão com peso normal. Conclusão: A insatisfação com a imagem corporal foi estritamente relacionada ao índice de massa corporal, mas não manteve relação com a prática de atividade física.