ABSTRACT
This study reports the results of a content analysis of interviews with 28 Norwegian world-class athletes and 28 controls, matched for gender, age, and type of sport. Semi-structured interviews explored their perceptions of their best performance. The interviews were analyzed using the ATLAS.ti and yielded 20 higher-order codes. Nine higher-order codes were categorized as inner-oriented, five were categorized as outer-oriented, and six were a combination of inner- and outer-oriented. Statistical analysis, using the Mann-Whitney test, showed significant group differences for seven higher-order codes: (a) two outer-oriented codes relating to "mastery--achievements" and "training--outer"; and (b) five inner-oriented codes relating to "mental preparation," "self-reliance," "training--inner," "wholeness," "performance--inner," and "growth orientation." These findings highlight the importance of both inner- and outer-oriented development for high-level achievement in sports--the "mental game" is as important as the physical game, both during training and competitions. Previously published quantitative data reported higher levels of brain integration, faster habitation to a loud tone, and higher ego and moral development in these world-class athletes. These findings are interpreted in light of a Unified Theory of Performance, which proposes that higher mind-brain development provides a basis for higher performance in any activity.
Subject(s)
Athletes/psychology , Athletic Performance/psychology , Mental Processes , Physical Conditioning, Human/psychology , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Competitive Behavior , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Goals , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Middle Aged , Norway , Physical Conditioning, Human/methods , Physical Conditioning, Human/physiology , Qualitative Research , Self EfficacyABSTRACT
This study tested the hypothesis that the degree of psycho-physiological development is related to performance level in world-class athletes. We compared physiological and psychological patterns of 33 Norwegian world-class athletes to patterns in 33 average performing athletes. The subjects were matched for gender, age, and type of sport. Electroencephalography activity was recorded to measure brain integration; skin conductance was recorded to measure habituation to a loud stimulus; and paper-and-pencil tests were given to assess self-development, moral development, and frequency of peak experiences. A factor analysis (varimax rotation) reduced the eight variables to three factors that together accounted for 65.3% of the total variance: (1) physiological integration--brain integration and habituation rates, (2) self- and moral development, and (3) peak experiences. A MANOVA conducted on the factor scores showed a significant main effect for the experimental group collapsing across the three factors (P<0.0001). Individual ANOVAs showed significantly higher values for development (P=0.021) and physiological integration (P<0.0001) factor scores for the world-class athletes. The above measures can be seen as different expressions of an underlying dimension--human development. These data support the concept that higher psycho-physiological growth underlies higher performance.
Subject(s)
Athletic Performance/physiology , Athletic Performance/psychology , Adult , Analysis of Variance , Electroencephalography , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Galvanic Skin Response , Habituation, Psychophysiologic , Humans , Male , Morals , Norway , Physical Education and Training , Psychological TestsABSTRACT
The restriction endonucleases AluI and EcoRI induce chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells when applied via scrape-loading. The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations induced by AluI are similar to the ones induced when the enzyme is applied by other methods to introduce it into cells (electroporation, glycerol, sorbitol). EcoRI produces lower frequencies of aberrations when applied via scrape-loading, as compared to the application in the presence of high concentrations of glycerol, which may reflect relaxed activities under the latter conditions.
Subject(s)
Chromosome Aberrations , Chromosomes/drug effects , DNA Restriction Enzymes/pharmacology , Animals , CHO Cells , Cricetinae , DNA Restriction Enzymes/administration & dosage , Deoxyribonuclease EcoRI/pharmacology , Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Chinese hamster ovary cells were exposed to the restriction endonuclease AluI in the presence of 2.2 M glycerol or 0.9 M sorbitol using different treatment regimens. Induced chromosomal aberrations were taken as indication for cellular uptake of AluI. The results indicate that cellular uptake of AluI is mediated by vesicles formed during transition of hypertonic to isotonic conditions. Addition of medium leads to breakdown of these vesicles and to liberation of AluI molecules which eventually may reach the chromatin.
Subject(s)
Chromosome Aberrations , Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific/metabolism , Glycerol/pharmacology , Sorbitol/pharmacology , Animals , CHO Cells , Cricetinae , Hypertonic Solutions/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Fast electrical responses elicited from the transient intermediates in the bleaching of rhodopsin have been investigated in the retina of the albino rat. In the experiments we used two-flash stimuli triggered sequentially with a continuously variable time delay between them. At room temperature the potential is biphasic in wave-form. The dominant, corneal-positive component is preceded by a small, corneal-negative component. Cooling the retina to about 0 degrees C suppresses the positive component and isolates the faster, negative component. Experiments with color filters show that these two components display different spectral sensitivities and, hence, suggest that each of them is produced by a different photoproduct of bleaching.
