Search Results (301)

Background/Objectives: To investigate the effects of a 12-week multimodal intervention (MMI [resistance + motor-cognitive dual-task training]) versus a unimodal intervention (UMI [resistance training]) on gait and cognitive performance in people with glaucoma during single-task (ST) and dual-task (DT) walking. Methods: In this randomized controlled pilot study, fifteen glaucoma patients (MMI: n = 8, UMI: n = 7) completed 24 supervised intervention sessions over 12 weeks. Spatio-temporal gait parameters (stride length, gait velocity, minimum toe clearance [MTC], and their respective coefficient of variance [CoV]) were assessed using inertial measurement units (sampling frequency 100 Hz) during ST and DT walking. During DT walking, the participants performed three cognitive tasks: reaction time task, N-Back task, and letter fluency task. Each cognitive task was performed with two levels of difficulty. Repeated measures analysis of covariance (TIME × INTERVENTION × CONDITION) was conducted to analyze the data. Results: No significant group or time effects were observed for ST walking or cognitive performance. Independent of intervention, dual-task costs (DTC) improved for MTC (p = 0.188, ${\mathsf{\eta }}_{\mathrm{p}}^2$ = 0.205) and MTC_CoV (p = 0.021, ${\mathsf{\eta }}_{\mathrm{p}}^2$ = 0.713) over time. UMI showed greater improvements over time than MMI for DTC MTC (p = 0.168, ${\mathsf{\eta }}_{\mathrm{p}}^2$ = 0.223) and DTC MTC_CoV (p = 0.047, ${\mathsf{\eta }}_{\mathrm{p}}^2$ = 0.407). Conclusions: This pilot study indicated that both MMI and UMI decreased DTC MTC and DTC MTCCoV in glaucoma patients, with probably higher effects after UMI. These preliminary findings must be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size, but the provided effect size measures and sample size calculations can be used for future randomized controlled trials to verify and extend these results. Full article

Reward learning is fundamental to adaptive behavior and exhibits substantial individual variability linked to addiction and other psychiatric conditions. Traditional value-driven attentional capture (VDAC) paradigms rely mainly on reaction time (RT) and accuracy, but it remains unknown whether engaging motor control processes could enhance sensitivity for detecting individual differences in reward-induced attentional biases. We developed a novel mouse-tracking VDAC paradigm that engages motor control processes. Two independent samples (n1 = 45, n2 = 59) completed the task and a battery of reward-related psychological scales (reward sensitivity, impulsivity, self-control, digital addiction tendency). A new index, maximum deviation (MD) of mouse trajectories, quantified how reward history biases attention and motor response. The paradigm replicated the classic RT-based VDAC effect. Trajectory-based measures revealed bidirectional effects: high-value distractors increased attraction and reduced active avoidance. The relative angle modulated VDAC strength, with the largest effect at 120°. ΔMD (high-value vs. absent) showed significant positive correlations with reward sensitivity, impulsivity, and addiction tendency, and negative correlations with self-control in both samples, whereas ΔRT showed no significant correlations. The consistent pattern across two independent samples suggests that mouse-tracking provides a complementary, process-sensitive index for detecting individual differences in reward-driven attention. This paradigm may serve as a useful tool for investigating cognitive markers of vulnerability to reward-related disorders, including addiction. Full article

Post-error slowing (PES) is commonly considered a behavioral marker of post-error adaptation. However, adaptive processes may also emerge through subtle modifications of motor preparation, particularly in combat sports such as taekwondo (TKD), where maintaining rapid motor execution is essential. This study examined post-error neuromuscular adjustments during a TKD-specific kicking task by comparing standard Go and post-error Go trials for changes in muscle onset latency, peak electromyographic amplitude, and co-contraction indices. Twenty-eight TKD athletes (14 novice and 14 advanced) performed a sport-specific Go/No-Go task while wearable wireless surface electromyography sensors recorded lower-limb neuromuscular activity from eight lower-limb muscles. Muscle onset latency, peak electromyographic amplitude, co-contraction indices, and reaction time were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Post-error Go trials showed significant alterations in muscle onset latency in posterior lower-limb muscles involved in propulsion and movement preparation (semitendinosus, biceps femoris, lateral gastrocnemius, and soleus), with muscle activation occurring closer to the foot take-off. No significant differences were observed in reaction time, peak electromyographic amplitude, or co-contraction indices, and expertise and age did not modulate these effects. These findings suggest that error-related motor adjustments may be expressed through changes in muscle activation timing rather than overt behavioral slowing. Full article

Current pitchside concussion assessments are limited by low sensitivity, reliance on player self-report, and the need for on-site healthcare professionals. Impairments in cognitive function and motor control are a key predictor of concussive injury. The Circle Sequencing Task (CST) is a newly developed concussion assessment tool to assess both cognitive function and motor control in one test. Here, we seek to assess the CST’s ability to differentiate between healthy and recently concussed individuals relative to existing cognitive tests. Concussed (n = 13; mean age 26 ± 7 yrs) and healthy (n = 13; mean age 28 ± 9 yrs) participants completed the CST, the Trail Making Test, a Go/No-Go task, the Digit Span Test and a simple reaction time task online via a link. Concussed individuals showed significant deficits in inhibitory control (p = 0.01) and memory (p = 0.04) components of the CST compared to healthy controls, with these components showing a larger effect size (d = 1.05 and d = 0.78, respectively) than metrics derived from the existing cognitive tests of Go/No-Go (d = 0.37) and the Digit Span Test (d = 0.52). The findings provide preliminary evidence that CST-derived inhibitory control and memory metrics may differ between recently concussed individuals and healthy controls and warrant further validation in larger clinically controlled studies. Full article

This case study investigates the ageing behaviour of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)-based solid propellants, containing 0.5% iron oxide and a bimodal ammonium perchlorate (AP) distribution (300 µm coarse AP and 40 µm fine AP). To achieve higher burning rates in large solid rocket motors, burning-rate catalysts were preferred over ultra-fine oxidiser compositions due to processing advantages. Characterisation of the iron oxide burning rate catalyst, specific to its surface area, was attempted. The role of surface characteristics in burning rate augmentation and ageing reactions was studied. Particle size and surface area estimates were obtained, and propellant burning rates, pressure exponents, and propellant ageing behaviour were evaluated to support the study. Accelerated thermal ageing of composite solid propellant samples at three different temperatures is carried out. The Arrhenius equation was used to model the dependence of the initial modulus on ageing time and temperature. An activation energy of 68.18 kJ/mole was obtained, which is approximately 4–8% lower than previously reported values for conventional propellants. The study concludes that iron oxide with a specific surface area of 10 m²/g and proportions up to 0.5% by weight can be safely used in propellant formulations without a significant reduction in the propellant’s shelf life. Full article

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia (XLA) are rare but life-threatening genetic disorders in infants that can lead to severe infections, progressive neuromuscular degeneration, or severe immune dysfunction associated with significant morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed early. Advances in newborn screening (NBS) technologies have enabled pre-symptomatic detection of these conditions, allowing early initiation of life-saving interventions such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, gene therapy, and immunoglobulin replacement therapy. However, the absence of a standardized national clinical pathway linking screening, confirmatory testing, and specialist referral in Malaysia continues to contribute to delayed diagnosis and suboptimal patient outcomes. This review examines and synthesizes current evidence on the clinical pathways for early diagnosis and management of SCID, SMA, and XLA, with particular emphasis on diagnostic workflows, screening technologies, and healthcare system challenges within the Malaysian context. The review examines disease epidemiology, consequences of delayed diagnosis, and the role of expanded NBS under the Screening for Health, Intervention, Nurturing of Every Child (SHINE) program in improving early diagnosis and management. In addition, the paper outlines the current NBS landscape, the use of multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for simultaneous detection of T-cell receptor excision circles (TREC), kappa-deleting recombination excision circles (KREC), and survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene deletion of exon 7 from dried blood spot (DBS) samples. A structured diagnostic framework incorporating screening interpretation, confirmatory testing, and urgency-based referral pathways is also proposed. By addressing current operational barriers and coordinating laboratory referral systems, expanding NBS programs could significantly improve early diagnosis and long-term outcomes for infants affected by SCID, SMA, and XLA in Malaysia. Full article

Reaction time (RT) is widely used as a fundamental indicator of central nervous system processing speed. Numerous studies have shown that RT increases with age, generally interpreted as a decline in information processing efficiency. However, most previous studies have focused on absolute RT values, and it remains unclear whether aging also alters the relative relationships between responses under different task conditions. The present study investigated whether aging affects the relative difference between inside and outside pedal reaction times in a Foot Psychomotor Vigilance Test (Foot PVT). A total of 44 participants were analyzed, including 20 younger adults (24 ± 3 years) and 24 older adults (73 ± 5 years). Participants responded to visual stimuli by pressing either the left or right pedal with the right foot. The difference between inside and outside RT (dRT) was calculated for each participant as an index of relative response structure. Group comparisons and correlation analyses were conducted to examine associations with age, height, physical activity level (PAL), and sleep-related factors. As expected, RTs were consistently longer in older adults across conditions. In contrast, dRT did not differ significantly between younger and older groups, with negligible effect sizes (|d| < 0.1). Furthermore, dRT showed no significant correlations with height, PAL, or sleep-related indices. These findings indicate that while aging affects the overall speed of motor responses, the relative temporal structure between response conditions is preserved. This dissociation between global slowing and stable response structure may represent a fundamental characteristic of neuromotor aging. Full article

Background: High-level badminton performance requires rapid perceptual processing, visuomotor coordination, and precise movement responses under continuously changing spatial conditions. Although wearable sports vision interventions have shown potential for enhancing perceptual–motor performance, evidence regarding their longitudinal effects and transfer to sport-specific outcomes remains limited. Trial design: A single-center, exploratory randomized controlled trial using a parallel-group structure. Simple randomization without blocking or stratification resulted in a final allocation ratio of 16:10 (approximately 1.6:1) between the training and control groups. Methods: Twenty-six collegiate badminton athletes aged 18–25 were randomized into a wearable sports vision training group (n = 16) or a control group (n = 10). The intervention group completed wearable sports vision training using Automatic Dual Rotational Risley Prisms (ADRRPs) for 15 min twice weekly over 4 weeks. Results: Baseline-adjusted ANCOVA demonstrated significant between-group effects for reaction time (p = 0.003) and target-zone accurate hits (p = 0.004), whereas binocular visual function outcomes did not show statistically significant between-group differences. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Four weeks of wearable sports vision training may be associated with improvements in selected visuomotor outcomes, particularly reaction performance and target-zone hitting accuracy, in collegiate badminton players. Larger trials are needed to evaluate long-term retention and broader sport-specific applicability. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT07105462, registered 29 July 2025. Full article

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neuromuscular disorder in which presymptomatic treatment substantially improves survival and motor outcomes, yet newborn screening for SMA remains unevenly implemented across Europe, and evidence from lower-resource health systems is needed to guide scale-up. In this study, we assessed the feasibility, diagnostic performance, and public health implications of implementing neonatal SMA screening in the Republic of Moldova within an established national newborn screening framework. A pilot genetic screening program was conducted using dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected through routine newborn screening workflows; SMN1 exon 7 deletion testing was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and positive findings were confirmed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), alongside the evaluation of operational integration and system-level requirements. Screening was operationally feasible within existing DBS processes and demonstrated high analytical performance, consistent with published international experience, although performance results should be interpreted cautiously due to the limited sample size. Two SMA cases were confirmed in a small cohort, enabling early diagnosis and timely referral for disease-modifying therapy, and integration into the existing program was practical and resource-efficient. These findings support the incorporation of SMA into national newborn screening panels using DBS-based molecular methods, highlighting an implementable model for introducing advanced genetic testing within routine public health services. Full article

Background: Reaction time (RT) is a fundamental measure of information processing speed in cognitive neuroscience and is influenced by both structural and functional brain properties. While prior studies have independently linked white matter microstructure and EEG alpha oscillations to cognitive performance, their joint contribution to distinct aspects of RT remains unclear. This study aims to investigate whether multimodal data can dissociate neural systems underlying cognitive and motor components of processing speed. Methods: We analyzed diffusion tensor imaging, resting-state individual EEG alpha peak frequency (IAF), demographic variables, and behavioral RT measures from a GO/NO-GO paradigm in 24 healthy adults from the Cuban Human Brain Mapping Project. Behavioral metrics included the mean, standard deviation and skewness of reaction times for simple and complex tasks. Sparse multiple canonical correlation analysis was applied to identify multivariate associations across modalities. Results: Two significant latent dimensions were identified. The first dimension linked bilateral fronto-temporal association tracts (SLF, IFOF, UNC) with complex RT performance, reflecting higher-order cognitive processing. The second dimension associated motor and interhemispheric tracts (CGC, CST, ILF, forceps major and minor) with intra-individual asymmetric variability (skewness) across tasks, indicating a motor-execution consistency system. IAF did not significantly contribute to either dimension. Sex showed strong associations with both components. Conclusions: Distinct white matter networks were associated with separable cognitive and motor aspects of processing speed, while resting-state alpha frequency did not show stable contributions with behavioral variability in this sample. IAF showed minimal contribution within the identified sparse multivariate dimensions. These findings highlight the importance of multimodal and multivariate approaches for understanding and potentially disentangling complex brain–behavior relationships. Full article

The integration of artificial intelligence into video-based human behavior analysis enables contactless and continuous monitoring of both motor dynamics and facial reactions. This paper proposes a dual-stream multimodal framework for synchronized modeling of facial expression dynamics and skeletal motion during physical movement from monocular RGB video. The framework consists of two coordinated streams: the motor stream, based on 2D skeletal keypoints, and the facial stream, which extracts features associated with discomfort and affective responses. Person and face detection are performed using YOLO11, while specialized deep learning models handle pose estimation and facial expression recognition. Temporal dependencies and cross-modal relationships are modeled via a bidirectional LSTM, enabling unified temporal modeling of skeletal and facial dynamics. This novel approach allows investigation of how physical movement patterns relate to facial reactions during dynamic activities. By integrating heterogeneous facial and skeletal features in a synchronized temporal model, the framework enables consistent cross-modal analysis of dynamic human behavior. The framework was trained and validated using FER2013 and AffectNet for facial expression recognition, and UI-PRMD and FineRehab for skeletal motion modeling. It achieves 91.2% accuracy in facial expression classification, 94.8% mean Intersection over Union for human detection, and an F1 score of 0.89 for multimodal state assessment. Operating in real-time at 18–28 FPS on standard GPU hardware without requiring wearable sensors, the framework supports applications in behavioral monitoring and safety analysis. Full article

Perceptual–cognitive abilities are essential components of performance in volleyball, where players must quickly interpret visual information and respond effectively to rapidly changing game situations. The present study aimed to examine perceptual–cognitive abilities and reaction performance in competitive female volleyball players and to explore how these abilities may contribute to athlete development and training design. Thirty-nine young female volleyball athletes participated in the study and underwent an evaluation of perceptual–cognitive abilities considered critical for volleyball performance. These abilities were assessed through specially designed computer-based tasks delivered via dedicated experimental software, enabling the measurement of reaction time and response accuracy during perceptual–motor processing. Group comparisons did not reveal significant differences between playing positions or competitive levels in the measured perceptual–cognitive abilities. Multivariate and clustering analyses suggested the presence of potential performance patterns characterized by different combinations of reaction speed, response accuracy, and perceptual–cognitive processing. However, these patterns should be interpreted with caution, as the clustering solution showed limited separation (silhouette score = 0.02), indicating an exploratory and non-definitive structure. Overall, the findings highlight the multidimensional nature of perceptual–cognitive performance in volleyball and suggest that athletes may rely on different perceptual–motor strategies when responding to game-related stimuli. From an applied perspective, integrating perceptual–cognitive challenges into training environments may support athlete development and improve decision-making efficiency in dynamic game situations. Full article

Background: Rhythmic knowledge enables the precise timing of actions in dynamic environments. Although rhythm learning has been extensively studied, it remains debated whether such learning arises primarily from the perceptual encoding of rhythmic inputs or from the repetitive execution of periodic actions. Methods: To address this question, we developed a temporal-rhythm serial reaction time (TR-SRT) paradigm that dissociates rhythmic structures in perceptual inputs from the timing of motor responses. Across three experiments, participants learned rhythms under visuomotor (Experiment 1, N = 27), visual-only (Experiment 2, N = 26), or motor-only (Experiment 3, N = 26) conditions while electroencephalography was recorded. Results: Behavioral learning slopes revealed robust rhythm learning in both the visuomotor and visual-only conditions, whereas no learning emerged when rhythmic structure was confined to motor timing alone. Post-learning awareness tests further indicated that the acquired rhythmic knowledge was predominantly implicit. Consistently, global (whole-brain) theta-band magnitude (4.8–5.2 Hz) was enhanced only in the conditions that supported rhythm learning. Conclusions: These findings indicate that rhythm learning depends primarily on perceptual temporal structure rather than the repetition of rhythmic actions and identify increased global theta oscillations as a neural signature of this perceptually driven and largely implicit learning process. Full article

Background/Objectives: Reaction time, hand–eye coordination, spatial orientation, and attention play a key role in handball, which is characterized by high intensity as well as high cognitive and motor demands. The level of these abilities may change during the season, potentially reflecting training adaptations and increasing physical fatigue. The aim of the study was to compare the level of psychomotor abilities in professional handball players before the start of the competition round and after the end of the league season. The study included 77 handball players playing in the Polish Handball Super League (average age: 25.6 ± 5.2 years). The players were divided according to position: pivot, center, and wing. Methods: Psychomotor abilities were assessed using the Test2Drive computer system, employing tests of simple and choice reaction time, eye–hand coordination, spatial orientation, perception and attention, and movement anticipation. Results: At the end of the season, a statistically significant reduction in reaction time was observed in the choice reaction (p = 0.001), eye–hand coordination (p = 0.002), and spatial orientation tests (p = 0.003). In terms of motor skills, an increase in time was observed in the SIRT test (p = 0.003), CHORT (p = 0.005) and HECOR (p = 0.011) tests, while the time in the PUT test was shortened for both neutral (p = 0.002) and critical (p = 0.025) stimuli. Positional analysis showed that after the season, the pivot player achieved higher effectiveness in the CHORT test than the wing player (p = 0.020). Additionally, statistically significant differences were observed for correct responses in the SPANT test (p = 0.032). In terms of correct answers in the PAMT test, the pivot player had the lowest effectiveness. Conclusions: Participation in the full season of competition coincided with significant changes in the psychomotor profile of handball players, with a simultaneous improvement in reaction speed and deterioration in movement time parameters. Full article

Background: Against the backdrop of global population aging, understanding the mechanisms of age-related cognitive decline has become crucial for improving the health and quality of life in older adults. Methods: This study employed a multimodal approach to investigate the neural modulations induced by a motor cognitive dual task and their relationship with age-related decline. By integrating behavioral assessments, electroencephalography (EEG), and body composition analysis, we comprehensively evaluated performance and neural correlates in 19 younger and 18 older adults. Specifically, EEG analyses focused on comparing pre-task and post-task resting-state recordings to investigate the immediate impact of a single acute cognitive-motor dual-task session on neural oscillations and brain network organization. Results: Key findings include: (1) older adults exhibited significantly inferior performance in task accuracy, reaction time, and composite performance score compared to younger adults (p < 0.001); (2) neural oscillatory analysis of resting-state data revealed a localized increase in gamma-band power at posterior-temporal sites (PO4/T6) in older adults following the dual-task, while younger adults exhibited widespread multi-band (delta to beta) power modulation across frontal, central, and temporal regions in younger adults; (3) brain network analysis demonstrated synergistic enhancement of multi-band (Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma) connectivity and optimized topological organization in younger adults post-task, contrasting with network rigidity and localized compensatory patterns in older adults; (4) correlation analyses indicated significant associations between dual-task performance and MoCA-B scores in older adults (r = 0.861, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study innovatively elucidates the neurophysiological characteristics of brain aging. The motor-cognitive dual-task paradigm proves to be a sensitive tool for capturing early cognitive changes, holding significant promise for clinical screening. Full article