Effects of unilateral dynamic handgrip on reaction time and error rate.

Quick and accurate reactions to environmental stimuli are often required. Researchers have investigated ways to improve these reactions, which are critical components of perceptual-motor abilities. To optimize individual performance, different techniques, such as embodied interventions and brain stimulation, have been examined. The evidence from EEG studies shows that upper limb muscle contractions lead to changes in brain oscillations associated with changes in mental states and behavioral outcomes. Much research has been conducted on whether muscle contractions of a particular hand have a greater effect on a perceptual-motor ability, as a trigger to facilitate cortical processes (a mediator) for skilled motor performance. While previous studies have shown that left- (vs. right-) hand contractions can lead to greater alpha activation, we hypothesized that left dynamic handgrips have different impacts on motor performance, reflected by simple RT (SRT) and choice RT (CRT). We recruited 64 right-handers, for a within/between-subjects experiment consisting of performance measurements in SRT and CRT tasks after the intervention (either right or left dynamic handgrip approximately twice a second for 30 s for each hand) or assignment to paired passive control groups. We did not find left-hand contractions improve response accuracy in neither SRT nor CRT tasks. Further, left-hand contractions did not affect RTs. The findings indicate that the effects of dynamic handgrips are smaller on behavioral outcomes such as RTs than what can be inferred from published studies. More research is needed to establish the effect of dynamic handgrips on optimizing performance.

Perceptual-motor ability assessment in people with atypical development / Avaliação da maturidade perceptomotora em pessoas com desenvolvimento atípico / Evaluación de la madurez percepto-motriz en personas con desarrollo atípico

The assessment of perceptual-motor maturity has been investigated, and evidence indicates its relevance in the prediction of academic performance, which justifies the relevance of its investigation. This study investigated the psychometric qualities of a screening version of the Bender-Gradual Scoring System (B-SPG in Portuguese) in 273 individuals aged between six and 24 (M = 13.27, SD = 3.63), 166 (60, 8%) males, who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities. The results of the exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis were satisfactory and demonstrated that it is possible to use only three figures to carry out the evaluation, which facilitates the psychologist's work. The accuracy of the instrument was also estimated, and the results showed adequate indexes. It is concluded that the screening version of the B-SPG proves to be an adequate measure for children with atypical development. However, other studies should be performed.

A avaliação da maturidade perceptomotora tem sido investigada, e evidências indicam sua relevância na predição do desempenho acadêmico, o que justifica a pertinência de sua investigação. O presente estudo investigou as qualidades psicométricas de uma versão de rastreio do Bender-Sistema de Pontuação Gradual (B-SPG) em 273 indivíduos com idades variando de 6 a 24 anos (M = 13,27, DP = 3,63), sendo 166 (60,8%) do sexo masculino, que tinham o diagnóstico de deficiência intelectual. Os resultados da análise fatorial exploratória e da análise de regressão foram satisfatórios e revelaram que é possível utilizar apenas três figuras para realizar a avaliação, o que facilita o trabalho do psicólogo. A precisão também foi estimada, e os resultados mostraram índices adequados. Conclui-se que a versão de rastreio do B-SPG se mostra uma medida adequada para crianças com desenvolvimento atípico, no entanto outros estudos devem ser realizados.

La evaluación del desarrollo percepto-motriz ha sido investigada y existen evidencias de su relevancia para predecir el desempeño académico, lo cual justifica la realización del trabajo. Este estudio investigó las cualidades psicométricas de una versión de sondeo del Bender-Sistema de Pontuação Gradual (B-SPG) en 273 individuos con edades entre 6 y 24 años (M = 13,27, DT = 3,63), siendo 166 (60,8%) del sexo masculino, que poseían diagnóstico de deficiencia intelectual. Los resultados del análisis factorial exploratorio y del análisis de regresión fueron satisfactorios, revelando que es posible utilizar apenas tres figuras para realizar la evaluación, lo cual facilitaría el trabajo del psicólogo. La confiabilidad también fue verificada y los resultados mostraron índices adecuados. Se concluye que la versión de sondeo del B-SPG parece ser una medida adecuada para niños con deficiencia intelectual, pero pese a eso, otros estudios deben ser realizados.