Effects of Quiet Mind Training on Alpha Power Suppression and Fine Motor Skill Acquisition.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Quiet Mind Training (QMT) on Alpha power suppression and fine motor skill acquisition among novice dart players. 30 novice dart players were randomly assigned either to a QMT or a control condition. Playing skills and Alpha power suppression were assessed at four time-points: at baseline, retention test 1, under pressure conditions, at retention test 2. Over time, Alpha power suppression increased and radial errors decreased but more so in the QMT condition than in the control condition. In contrast to the control condition, darts performance and Alpha power suppression in the QMT condition were also stable under pressure conditions. Results indicated that QMT successfully suppressed Alpha power and improved implicit learning skills.

Effects of Quiet Mind Training on Alpha Power Suppression and Fine Motor Skill Acquisition.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Quiet Mind Training (QMT) on Alpha power suppression and fine motor skill acquisition among novice dart players. 30 novice dart players were randomly assigned either to a QMT or a control condition. Playing skills and Alpha power suppression were assessed at four time-points: at baseline, retention test 1, under pressure conditions, at retention test 2. Over time, Alpha power suppression increased and radial errors decreased but more so in the QMT condition than in the control condition. In contrast to the control condition, darts performance and Alpha power suppression in the QMT condition were also stable under pressure conditions. Results indicated that QMT successfully suppressed Alpha power and improved implicit learning skills.

Combined virtual reality and physical training improved the bimanual coordination of women with multiple sclerosis.

As their illness progresses, patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) may suffer from motor impairments. In the present study, we examined the effectiveness of three interventions for learning a bimanual coordination task: Virtual reality training (VRT), conventional physical training (CPT), and the combination of VRT and CPT (COMB). A total of 45 women with MS were randomly assigned to one of the following study conditions: VRT, CPT or COMB. Bimanual coordination was assessed at baseline, eight weeks later at study completion, and 4 weeks after that at follow-up. Bimanual coordination improved over time from baseline to study completion and to follow-up. Compared to the VRT and CPT conditions, the COMB condition led to higher coordination accuracy and consistency. The combination thus appears to have the potential to speed up the recovery of motor control and rehabilitation of women with MS.

Zumba dancing and aerobic exercise can improve working memory, motor function, and depressive symptoms in female patients with Fibromyalgia.

BACKGROUND: Patients suffering from the Fibromyalgia (FM) have impaired cognitive function, reduced physical activity and more marked depressive symptoms. While physical activity and exercise therapy are not typically part of the standard treatment for this syndrome, there is mounting evidence that regular participation in activities involving physical exertion has a positive impact on psychological functioning in people with FM. This study compares the impact of two different interventions, aerobic exercise training and Zumba dancing, on working memory, motor function and depressive symptoms among female patients with FM. The design also included a control condition. METHOD: A total of sixty middle-aged female patients with FM (mean age: 35.76 years) and undergoing standard care took part in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the following three conditions: aerobic exercise training, Zumba dancing, or control. At baseline and 12 weeks later after the end of the intervention, participants' working memory, motor function and depressive symptom severity were assessed. RESULTS: Working memory, motor function and depressive symptoms improved over time, but only in the aerobic exercise training and Zumba dancing conditions than in the control condition. Post-hoc analyses showed that improvements were greatest among participants assigned to Zumba dancing, followed by participants who engaged in aerobic exercise training; the scores of the control group remained virtually unchanged. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise training and Zumba dancing can be recommended as add-ons to standard care to improve working memory and to reduce severity of depressive symptoms among female patients with FM. Although motor function improved in both intervention groups, the effects did not reach clinical relevance.

Effect of Quiet Eye and Quiet Mind Training on Motor Learning Among Novice Dart Players.

In sport such as darts, athletes are particularly challenged by demands for concentration, skills underpinned by implicit learning, and fine motor skill control. Several techniques have been proposed to improve the implicit learning of such skills, including quiet eye training (QET) and quiet mind training (QMT). Here, the authors tested whether and to what extent QET or QMT, compared with a control condition, might improve skills among novice dart players. In total, 30 novice dart players were randomly assigned either to the QET, QMT, or a control condition. Dart playing skills were assessed four times: at the baseline, 7 days later, under stress conditions, and at the study's end. Over time, errors reduced, but more so in the QET and QMT conditions than in the control condition. The pattern of the results indicates that, among novice dart players and compared with a control condition, both QET and QMT provide significant improvements in implicit learning.

Dual-task training on cognition and resistance training improved both balance and working memory in older people.

Objectives: With increasing age, declines in executive functions and basic motor skills such as posture control, muscle strength, and balance performance have been observed. However, no intervention has focused on enhancing both executive functions and balance performance concomitantly. Accordingly, the aim of the present study is to investigate whether and to what extent two different dual-task interventions improved both working memory and balancing. Specifically, we examined whether either a motor-cognitive dual task training (mCdtt) or a motor-motor dual-task training (mMdtt) impacted more favorably on working memory and on balance performance among a sample of older adults.Methods: A total of 60 older males (mean age: 68.31 years; SD = 3.83) were randomly assigned either to the mCdtt, the mMdtt or to control condition. Balance performance and working memory performance were tested at baseline, four weeks later at study completion, and again 12 weeks later at follow-up.Results: Balance and working memory improved from baseline to post-intervention and to follow-up (significant Time effect), but more so in the mCdtt compared to the mMdtt condition (significant Time × Group interaction). Further, compared to the mMdtt condition, higher scores were observed in the mCdtt condition (significant Group effect).Conclusion: Dual-task interventions improved both balance performance and working memory, but more so if cognitive performance was specifically trained along with resistance training.