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Abstract Lateral flow assay (LFA) is a handful diagnostic technology that can identify severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other common respiratory viruses in one strip, which can be tested at the point-of-care without the need for equipment or skilled personnel outside the laboratory. Although its simplicity and practicality make it an appealing solution, it remains a grand challenge to substantially enhance the colorimetric LFA sensitivity. In this work, we present a straightforward approach to enhance the sensitivity of LFA by imposing the flow constraints in nitrocellulose (NC) membranes via a number of vertical femtosecond laser micromachined microchannels which is important for prolonged specific binding interactions. Porous NC membrane surfaces were structured with different widths and densities µ-channels employing a second harmonic of the Yb:KGW femtosecond laser and sample XYZ translation over a microscope objective-focused laser beam. The influence of the microchannel parameters on the vertical wicking speed was evaluated from the video recordings. The obtained results indicated that µ-channel length, width, and density in NC membranes controllably increased the immunological reaction time between the analyte and the labeled antibody by 950%. Image analysis of the colorimetric indicators confirmed that the flow rate delaying strategy enhanced the signal sensitives by 40% compared with pristine NC LFA.

We describe a hands-on project in which students collect data on the impact of distracted driving on driver reaction time. Initially they do this in class via a virtual driving applet, using themselves and fellow students as test subjects. Different applet versions simulate driving with and without distraction and measure the time it takes to apply brakes after the red brake lights of the car ahead appear. Students use the collected data to practice a range of statistical techniques, such as assessing data for outliers, creating a hypothesis to be tested, performing an appropriate test, and then translating their results to determine a safe driving distance. In the second part of the project, students work in groups outside of class. Each group recruits a category of test subjects (e.g., athletes, video gamers, STEM majors) of their choosing, collects data, and performs statistical analysis. Finally, students develop hypotheses as to whether different categories of drivers have better or worse reaction times, collect additional relevant data, and perform the appropriate statistical test. The applets, the project guide, the dataset, and supporting videos can be downloaded from https://osf.io/h8yxw/files/osfstorage. For users of the Canvas LMS, we also provide an export cartridge that contains the various project components. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.

Semi-autonomous vehicles (AVs) enable drivers to engage in non-driving tasks but require them to be ready to take control during critical situations. This “out-of-the-loop” problem demands a quick transition to active information processing, raising safety concerns and anxiety. Multimodal signals in AVs aim to deliver take-over requests and facilitate driver–vehicle cooperation. However, the effectiveness of auditory, visual, or combined signals in improving situational awareness and reaction time for safe maneuvering remains unclear. This study investigates how signal modalities affect drivers’ behavior using virtual reality (VR). We measured drivers’ reaction times from signal onset to take-over response and gaze dwell time for situational awareness across twelve critical events. Furthermore, we assessed self-reported anxiety and trust levels using the Autonomous Vehicle Acceptance Model questionnaire. The results showed that visual signals significantly reduced reaction times, whereas auditory signals did not. Additionally, any warning signal, together with seeing driving hazards, increased successful maneuvering. The analysis of gaze dwell time on driving hazards revealed that audio and visual signals improved situational awareness. Lastly, warning signals reduced anxiety and increased trust. These results highlight the distinct effectiveness of signal modalities in improving driver reaction times, situational awareness, and perceived safety, mitigating the “out-of-the-loop” problem and fostering human–vehicle cooperation.

This study investigates the cognitive mechanisms underlying vigilance and pattern recognition using a novel adaptation of Mackworth’s Clock Test. We aimed to quantify the time it takes for temporal patterns detected unconsciously through implicit learning to surface in the conscious mind within a dynamic vigilance task environment. Forty-eight participants detected random and non-disclosed rhythmic anomalous clock hand movements in this setting. Our results indicate significant variability in detection accuracy, reaction times, and the ability to recognize the hidden pattern among participants. Notably, 23% of all participants and 56% of those who consciously reported the pattern exhibited statistically lower reaction times indicative of knowledge of the pattern 40 s before conscious identification. These findings provide valuable insights into the transition from unconscious to conscious detection, highlighting the complexity of sustained attention and pattern recognition. The study’s implications extend to designing training programs and tasks for high-stakes professions requiring prolonged vigilance. Future research should further explore the cognitive and neural correlates of these processes and the impact of task complexity on performance.

Abstract Background Badminton, a dynamic sport, demands players to display exceptional physical attributes such as agility, core stability, and reaction time. Backward walking training on a treadmill has garnered attention for its potential to enhance physical attributes and optimize performance in athletes while minimizing the risk of injuries. Objective By investigating the efficacy of this novel approach, we aim to provide valuable insights to optimize training regimens and contribute to the advancement of sports science in badminton. Methodology Sixty-four participants were randomized into a control group (n = 32) and an experimental group (n = 32). The control group received routine exercise training, while the experimental group received routine exercise training along with additional backward walking training on the treadmill. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were taken for core stability using the Plank test, balance using the Star Excursion Balance test, reaction time using the 6-point footwork test, and agility using the Illinois Agility test. Results The results showed that the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in core stability (p

Oil Palm Fruit Mesocarp (OPFM) is a solid by-product containing cellulose, potentially serving as a raw material for biofuel. The cellulose content of this solid by-product can be extracted through delignification. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the application of ozone for OPFM delignification to break down lignin bonds in the material. During the analysis, ozonolysis delignification was influenced by particle size, oxygen flow rate, and reaction time. Ozone flowrate analyzed using the Iodometric method. Cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content of raw material and treated samples were analyzed using the α-cellulose, γ-cellulose, and the Kappa method. The results showed that by using a particle size of 100 mesh, and a flow rate of 2 Lmin-1 for 15 min, ozone degraded 42.03% lignin, 15.89% hemicellulose, and concentrated 62.85% cellulose. SEM and FTIR results showed the removal of hemicellulose and lignin from OPFM with ozonolysis delignification. Furthermore, XRD analysis showed the crystallinity degree of the high cellulose yield.

Background: Reaction time is a measure of how fast an organism can react to a certain stimulus. As such, it is a measure of an individual’s performance and the function of sensory-motor connection. While there are studies evaluating the differences in reaction time with gender and psychiatric illness as independent variables, data are lacking when considering them together. Aims: The aim of the study is to study the gender differences in reaction time in patients suffering from psychiatric illness. Settings and Design: The study involves an observational, longitudinal comparative study in the psychiatric outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care facility. Materials and Methods: After institutional ethics approval, 100 patients on psychotropic medications attending psychiatry OPD were included in the study along with at least 100 relatives who were not on psychotropic medications, serving as control. Required data were collected using semi-structured pro forma. The reaction time of patients and the control group was assessed using an application on the mobile phone available online as – the “Human Benchmark test.” Data obtained were entered in the MS Excel sheet and analyzed using the computerized software and a P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In the group of patients, the males showed delayed reaction time as compared to females, while in the control group, males performed better than the female population in reaction time tests. The highest reaction time was found to be in the substance use disorder group of patients at all points of testing, followed by that of patients with schizophrenia. Conclusions: Gender did not significantly affect the reaction time in both patient and control groups.

Background: Physical inactivity leads to stress-related unconstructive repetitive thought, negatively affecting student’s cognitive health. The present study tried to find a way to enhance students’ cognition through yoga. The study assessed the effect of “Om” Chanting, Bhramari Pranayama, and Nadi Shodhana Pranayama on cognition of medical students. Methods: One hundred and fifty participants (75 in each group aged 18­27 years) were selected from SGRR Medical College, Dehradun, in the northern region of India. They were randomized into the yoga group (n = 75) and control group (n = 75). Cognitive functions were assessed using psychological tools. Attention was assessed for six letter cancelation tasks. Reaction time was assessed with reaction time apparatus. Metacognition was evaluated with the metacognitive inventory. Working memory was assessed with the digit span (forward and backward) test. Results: A total of 73 (49%) male and 77 (51%) female participants were included in the study. Participants’ mean age was 20.10 (standard deviation ­ 0.89102). There was a statistically significant mean difference between both the groups at postintervention concerning digit span forward (0.000), digit span backward (0.000), letter cancellation test (total attempted ­ 0.000, wrongly attempted ­ 0.009, and net attempted ­ 0.000), and metacognition test (0.002) variables were

Previous research has revealed that daily variations in human neurobehavioral functions are driven in part by the endogenous circadian system. The objective of this study was to explore whether there exists a circadian influence on performance regarding a risky decision-making task and to determine whether the performance changes with sleep deprivation (SD). Thirteen participants underwent a 39 h constant routine (CR) protocol, during which they remained awake in constant conditions and performed the BART (balloon analogue risk task) every two hours. The mean pumps (gains) (p < 0.001) and balloons popped (losses) (p = 0.003) exhibited variation during the CR. The reaction time (RT) also showed significant variation across the CR (p < 0.001), with slower mean RTs in the morning hours following SD. A greater risk propensity was observed around midday before SD and a lower risk propensity after 29.5 h of being awake. The sensitivity to punishment varied during the CR, but did not follow a predictable trend. Further research using real monetary incentives and neurophysiological measures is warranted to elucidate these findings.

Understanding another person’s visual perceptions is known as visuospatial perspective taking, with evidence to date demonstrating it is delineated across two levels, depending on how different that perspective is. Some strategies for visuospatial perspective taking have also been found to involve embodied cognition. However, the current generalisation of these findings is limited due to experimental setup and the use of computer monitors as the interface for experimental tasks. Augmented reality interfaces could possibly extend on the generalisation of these findings by situating virtual stimuli in the real environment, thus providing a higher degree of ecological validity and experimental standardisation. This study aimed to observe visuospatial perspective taking in augmented reality. This was achieved in participant experiments (N=24) using the Left-Right behavioural speeded decision task, which requires participants to discriminate between target objects relative to the perspective of an avatar. Angular disparity and posture congruence between the avatar and participant were manipulated between each trial to delineate between the two levels of visuospatial perspective taking and understand its potentially embodied nature. Although generalised linear mixed modeling indicated that angular disparity increased task difficulty, unexpectedly findings on posture congruence were less clear. Together, this suggests that visuospatial perspective taking in this study can be delineated across two levels. Further implications for embodied cognition and empathy research are discussed.

IntroductionVision serves as a critical channel for athletes to acquire information during competitions and constitutes a vital component of their competitive ability. Through scientifically designed sports visual training, specific visual skills can be enhanced, thereby assisting athletes in achieving optimal performance in competitive settings. This study aim to explore the visuomotor abilities and shooting performance of skeet shooters through Sports Vision Training (SVT).MethodsTwenty elite skeet shooters were recruited and randomly assigned to an experimental group (EXP, n = 10) and a control group (CON, n = 10). The EXP underwent 6-week of SVT on Senaptec Seneory Station, twice a week, while the CON completed an equivalent workload of target-tracking training.ResultVisuomotor skills testing showed significant improvements in Near- Far Quickness, Perception Span, and Eye-hand Coordination in the EXP (p < 0.05), with no changes in the CON. Comparative post-test results between the two groups showed significant differences in N/F Q, Target Capture, Perception Span, Eye-hand Coordination, and Go/ No Go (p < 0.05). In shooting performance indicators, EXP shooters showed a highly significant improvement in hit accuracy (p < 0.01), with a similar difference compared to the CON. Additionally, they exhibited a highly significant improvement in shotgun-mounting reaction time (p < 0.01). Kinematic indicators of shotgun movement during the firing process for shot 2 showed significant differences in peak velocity (p < 0.01), X-axis (p = 0.033) and Y-axis (p = 0.001) displacement.ConclusionSVT can enhance visuomotor abilities in skeet shooters and has a positive impact on their shooting technique. This is primarily manifested in shorter shotgun-mounting reaction time and improved efficiency in action at shot 2, effectively improving their shooting accuracy.

BackgroundCoffee is widely consumed by office workers, primarily for its caffeine content, which plays an important role in improving alertness. For white-collar workers, alertness is crucial to maintaining productivity, and one measurable parameter of alertness is reaction time. Changes in reaction time can be classified as either shorter or longer compared to the initial measurement taken before coffee consumption, with a longer reaction indicating a decrease in alertness. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between coffee consumption and improvements in alertness.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study compared coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers, assessing their alertness using the Lakassidaya tool and collecting data on coffee consumption and caffeine intake through a 7-day fluid diary. Alertness was measured in the morning (baseline) and 30 min after coffee consumption (end line). Study participants were office workers from a company in Jakarta, Indonesia.ResultsA total of 121 participants completed the study, with 47.1% (n = 57) of them being coffee drinkers. No significant differences were found in the characteristics of the respondents. The average daily coffee consumption among these workers was 247 (157–391) mL/day, with a caffeine intake of 72 (36–121) mg/day, which was below the minimum amount typically required to trigger a positive alertness reaction. There was no significant association between coffee consumption and alertness (OR = 1.538, 95% CI: 0.288–1.467, p = 0.403), nor was there a significant difference in the change in reaction time between coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers (17.3 [1.4–32.2] ms vs. 13.0 [−3.9–26.0] ms, p-value = 0.111). However, there was a trend toward improved alertness in coffee drinkers, as indicated by shorter reaction times at baseline (180 [160–195.2] ms) compared to post-consumption (155 [146.6–170.2] ms).ConclusionThere was no significant association between coffee consumption and alertness improvement between coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers among office workers in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Marmosets are expected to serve as a valuable model for studying the primate visuomotor system due to their similar oculomotor behaviors to humans and macaques. Despite these similarities, differences exist; challenges in training marmosets on tasks requiring suppression of unwanted saccades, having consistently shorter, yet more variable saccade reaction times (SRT) compared to humans and macaques. This study investigates whether the short and variable SRT in marmosets is related to differences in visual signal transduction and variability in inhibitory control. We refined a computational SRT model, adjusting parameters to better capture the marmoset SRT distribution in a gap saccade task. Our findings indicate that visual information processing is faster in marmosets, and that saccadic inhibition is more variable compared to other species.

Mental fatigue is a psychophysiological state that adversely impacts performance in cognitive tasks, increasing risk of occupational hazards. Given its manifestation as a conscious sensation, it is often measured through subjective self-report. However, subjective measures are not always true measurements of objective fatigue. In this study, we investigated the relationship between objective and subjective fatigue measurements with the preventive AccessPoint fatigue assay in Chilean mine workers. Subjective fatigue was measured through the Samn-Perelli scale, objective fatigue through a neurocognitive reaction time task. We found that objective and subjective fatigue do not correlate (−0.03 correlation coefficient, p < 0.001). Moreover, severe fatigue cases often displayed absence of subjective fatigue coupled with worse cognitive performance, a phenomenon we denominated Perceptual Blindness to fatigue. These findings highlight the need for objective fatigue measurements, particularly in high-risk occupational settings such as mining. Our results open new avenues for researching mechanisms underlying fatigue perception and its implications for occupational health and safety.

Measuring the activity of hundreds of neurons in macaque brains simultaneously provides further evidence that drift-diffusion dynamics underlie how decisions are made in the brain.

Neurobiological investigations of perceptual decision-making have furnished the first glimpse of a flexible cognitive process at the level of single neurons. Neurons in the parietal and prefrontal cortex are thought to represent the accumulation of noisy evidence, acquired over time, leading to a decision. Neural recordings averaged over many decisions have provided support for the deterministic rise in activity to a termination bound. Critically, it is the unobserved stochastic component that is thought to confer variability in both choice and decision time. Here, we elucidate this drift-diffusion signal on individual decisions. We recorded simultaneously from hundreds of neurons in the lateral intraparietal cortex of monkeys while they made decisions about the direction of random dot motion. We show that a single scalar quantity, derived from the weighted sum of the population activity, represents a combination of deterministic drift and stochastic diffusion. Moreover, we provide direct support for the hypothesis that this drift-diffusion signal approximates the quantity responsible for the variability in choice and reaction times. The population-derived signals rely on a small subset of neurons with response fields that overlap the choice targets. These neurons represent the integral of noisy evidence. Another subset of direction-selective neurons with response fields that overlap the motion stimulus appear to represent the integrand. This parsimonious architecture would escape detection by state-space analyses, absent a clear hypothesis.

Administrative workers have the potential to experience work fatigue. Fatigue conditions among workers can affect work productivity and can even cause health problems. Work fatigue can be characterized by decreased reaction time. The longer the reaction time indicates that a worker is getting higher fatigue level. Dhikr is a religious activity that can create peace of mind and encourage the muscles in the body to relax. A relaxed body condition will help workers not experience excessive fatigue. This research is a descriptive analytical study with a cross-sectional approach. The sample was taken using simple random sampling as many as 70 administrative workers in higher educational institution. The aim of this research is to analyze the effect of the dhikr behaviour intensity on the level of work fatigue. The results of the research show that the intensity of the dhikr behaviour does not affect the level of work fatigue among administrative workers in higher education.

BackgroundAge-related changes in attentional abilities can lead to a decline in body segment awareness in space. However, studies have reported that physical activity can improve proprioception among older adults, although proven activities with this potential are limited. Juggling is a promising activity for enhancing proprioception, as it requires high levels of attention and sensory precision. The first hypothesis posited that a juggling intervention would positively impact ipsilateral and contralateral elbow joint position matching without visual input. The second hypothesis suggested a correlation between cognitive abilities and joint position sense efficiency.MethodsA total of 20 older women (mean age: 69.95 ± 4.58) participated in a repeated-measures study using a Latin square design. Measurements were taken at three time points (baseline, post-juggling, and control). Ipsilateral and contralateral elbow joint position matchings without visual or verbal feedback of accuracy were used to assess proprioception. Attention and reaction time variables were measured using the Vienna Test System protocols.ResultsAlthough significant changes were observed between baseline and subsequent time points in joint position sense accuracy, no specific effect of juggling was detected. Low and medium correlations were found between decision time and the variability of choice reaction time with contralateral accuracy. For ipsilateral accuracy, a relationship was observed only with handedness. No correlations were found between attention test scores and joint position sense accuracy.ConclusionThe study did not demonstrate a significant effect of juggling on position-matching ability. However, cognitive abilities such as decision speed and the stability of choice reaction time may play a role in enhancing position-matching in older women.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT06108713.

Metal nanoparticles have drawn great interest due to their unique properties for applications in the fields of catalysis, biomedicine and environmental science depending on the architecture of the metal nanoparticle composites. Amongst different designing routes, the chemical template deposition offers great flexibility in terms of the template selection and interfacial interactions, giving rise to controllable designs. In order to control over nanoparticle size distribution and deposition efficiency, a sonochemical approach has been systematically followed in this study. Key parameters of the ultrasound-assisted deposition procedures during the seeding step to synthesise gold nanoparticle-coated poly(styrene) beads were investigated. The impact of the solution pH and the ultrasonic frequency on the template deposition was examined at 139, 300, 500 and 1000 kHz. The results, monitored by transmission electron spectroscopic imaging, show that the highest gold deposition was achieved at 300 kHz, revealing the mechanistic details of the nucleation-crystal growth behaviour as a function of ultrasonic frequency and reaction time. In addition, the concentration ratio between gold ions and poly(styrene) beads was varied. The highest deposition coverage and smallest particle size were reached at 0.05 mM and 2.5 mg, respectively. The proposed mechanism of the MNPs formation and deposition behaviour were then discussed based on the tested parameters.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Biofeedback Training in normoxic and normobaric hypoxic conditions on reaction times in judo athletes. Material and methods: The participants in the experimental group underwent thetha/beta1 training under simulated hypoxic conditions in a laboratory equipped with a normobaric hypoxia generation system (LOS-HYP1/3NU, Lowoxygen Systems, Germany), at a simulated altitude of 2500m above sea level (FiO2 = 15.5%). Each cycle of the study consisted of 15 training sessions. The training sessions lasted for 20 minutes, with 4 sets of 4 minutes each and a 1-minute break in between. In the initial phase, participants underwent EEG biofeedback training every other day. The control group followed the same frequency and duration of EEG biofeedback training sessions as the experimental group and demonstrated an identical pattern, but under normoxia conditions. Results: The results indicated significant differences in Theta/Beta ratio values after the 5th, 11th, and 15th training sessions between the hypoxia and normoxia groups. Moreover, theta/beta1 protocol in normobaric hypoxic conditions statistically significantly improved their complex reaction times after each training cycle compared to the control group in normoxia conditions. Conclusions: The findings indicate that neurofeedback training in normobaric hypoxia conditions may considerably enhance reaction skills, particularly complex reactions, in a sports context.

Studies examining whether stimulus valence affects cognitive processing and motor responses yield mixed results, possibly due to treating negative words as a homogeneous category. Words related to pain may hold distinct status because of their relevance to survival. Thus, they offer a unique opportunity to investigate semantic influences on cognitive processing. This study aims to determine if words related to physical and social pain elicit stronger aversion than general negative words by assessing the Affective Compatibility Effect in implicit and explicit tasks. In Experiment 1, 35 participants performed a lexical decision task on 60 positive words and 60 negative words, of which 20 not related to pain, 20 related to physical pain, and 20 related to social pain. Participants held down the central key of a keyboard and released it to press a key far from the screen (avoidance condition) or close to the screen (approach condition) for words. In Experiment 2, 43 participants performed a valence evaluation task on the same words. They held down the central key and released it to press a key close to the screen for positive words and a key far from the screen for negative words (congruent condition), or the opposite (incongruent condition). In Experiment 1, we found faster RTs for social pain-related words compared to other categories. We also found faster RTs in the approach condition than in the avoidance condition, regardless of whether valence or semantics were considered as independent variables. In Experiment 2, we found faster RTs in the congruent condition than in the incongruent condition when semantics was considered as independent variable. We also found an interaction valence*condition, with faster RTs for negative words in the congruent condition than in the incongruent condition when valence was considered as independent variable. Our findings suggest that, notwithstanding pain-related words do not affect aversive behaviors compared to negative, pain-unrelated words, they are processed faster when conveying social pain. This supports the hypothesis that the cognitive system differentiates and responds congruently not only based on general semantic categories, like pain, but also possibly based on nuances within it.

Background: The circulation of vehicles, motorized or not, is a risky activity that can lead to a traffic accident in which all road users can be affected. Road accidents generate high personal, labor, health and economic costs, as well as civil, administrative and even criminal responsibilities. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a correct investigation of these road accidents. This paper reviews one of the models used for this investigation, the sequential events model for road crashes called MOSES. This model simplifies into a single sequential analysis the actions and conditions that have generated the occurrence and correlation of events that have led to a collision between two bodies, at least one of which is a vehicle, with harmful consequences for the environment, people and things. Methods: Analyzing the road accidents that occurred in the city of Badajoz between 2018 and 2022, this work proposes a new position of the sequential events in road accidents. This new position is present in more than fifty percent of the analyzed road accidents. How this new position can improve the description of traffic accidents is tested by analyzing an actual traffic accident recorded in the city of Badajoz between a motorcycle and a car. Results: The new position has been called Trust Position (TP) and is located between the Real Perception Position (RPP) and the Decision Enforcement Position (DEP) in the sequential events model for road crashes (i-MOSES). Furthermore, in this improvement of the MOSES model (i-MOSES), the reaction time (RT) is analyzed in more depth with the PIEV (Perception, Intellection, Emotion and Volition) theory, establishing that between RPP and TP are present the phases of perception and intellection, and between TP and DEP are present the phases of emotion and volition. Conclusions: This analysis shows how the proposed i-MOSES model allows for a deeper and more effective analysis of the causes that generated the traffic accident and all its circumstances. Moreover, it provides conclusions closer to the reality of how the accident actually happened and why it could have happened, ultimately leading to preventive measures to avoid future accidents.

Objective: Previous research has explored the pheromone release patterns of female moths, revealing species-specific release frequencies and the transmission of temporal information through odourant plumes in turbulent flows. Varying the release frequency during the orientation process results in distinct orientation behaviours. Studies on moth movement patterns have determined that encounters and deviations from odour plumes elicit distinct reactions; the time interval between each movement pattern is measured as the “reaction time,” and the interval between each detection and loss of odourant plume is measured as the “gap length.” Methods: We simulated turbulent flow at various release frequencies. Our efforts focused on establishing a model that could simulate the joint orientation movement under turbulent flow and intermittent plumes. We built an agent moving mechanism, including wind velocity information, with particular reference to the temporal parameter and orientation success efficiency. Results: We calculated the time threshold of each burst in different simulations under different wind velocities and release frequencies. The time structure characteristics of the plume along the turbulent flow vary depending on the distance from the source. We simulated walking agents in a turbulent environment and recorded their behaviour processes. The reaction time, release interval, and time threshold were related to the orientation results. Conclusion: On the basis of previous experimental results and our simulations, we conclude that the designated interval time likely enhances search efficiency. The complex and dynamic natural environment presents various opportunities for using this unique odour-source searching capability in different scenarios, potentially improving the control systems of odour-searching robots.

Introduction: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is characterized by cyclical physical and mood disturbances during the luteal phase. Symptoms gradually intensify during this phase and typically subside a few days after menstruation begins. PMS encompasses neuromuscular and psychological symptoms that can significantly affect the quality of life of affected females. This study aims to compare proprioception, reaction time, and coordination between females with PMS and those with non-PMS. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study, conducted in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines, recruited 998 females with PMS and without PMS, aged 18–40 years based on premenstrual dysphoric disorder criteria. Participants underwent assessments of proprioception and reaction time using the Sensbalance Miniboard. Coordination was assessed using Lower Extremity Motor Coordination Test. Data analysis utilized the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to determine the normality of the data while Mann Whitney-U test was used to compare the between group differences of the variables. Results: Significant differences were observed with p-value

Background: Both overweight and cognitive deficits are common among people with schizophrenia (SZ) and schizoaffective disorder. The results in earlier studies have been inconsistent on whether overweight is associated with cognitive deficits in psychotic disorders. Aims: Our aim in this study was to detect possible associations between obesity and cognitive deficits among study participants with SZ and schizoaffective disorder. Methods: The study sample included 5382 participants with a clinical diagnosis of SZ or schizoaffective disorder selected from the Finnish SUPER study. Obesity was measured both with body-mass index and waist circumference. The cognitive performance was evaluated with two tests from the Cambridge automated neuropsychological test battery: Reaction time was evaluated with the 5-choice serial reaction time task. Visual memory was evaluated with the paired associative learning test. The final analysis included a total sample of 4498 participants applicable for the analysis of the reaction time and 3967 participants for the analysis of the visual memory. Results: Obesity measured with body-mass index was associated with better performance in reaction time task among both female and male participants. Among male participants, overweight was associated with better performance in the visual memory test. The waist circumference was not associated with cognitive measures. Conclusions: The results suggest that obesity in people with SZ or schizoaffective disorder might not be associated with cognitive deficits but instead with better cognitive performance. The results were opposite from earlier literature on the general population. More research is required to better understand whether the results might be partly caused by the differences in the etiology of obesity between the general population and people with SZ.

Abstract Exercise slows or helps reverse the shrinkage of key cognitive brain regions such as the hippocampus, which is important for information processing, learning, reasoning and planning. For this reason, it is thought that regular exercise of individuals, especially during adolescence, which is considered one of the most important processes of development, can increase their performance in areas where cognitive activities are at the forefront. Cross-country skiing, one of the leading branches of winter sports, has a much more complex structure, unlike the branches that are widely preferred today (football, basketball, volleyball, etc.) and is a branch where many motor skills are exhibited at the same time For this reason, the effect of cross-country skiing, which is defined as more complex and difficult in terms of biomotor than other branches, on cognitive activities is a matter of curiosity. Therefore, the aim of the research is; to examine the cognitive effects of cross-country skiing exercise. The study involved 54 (26 male, 28 female) adolescents who had no prior experience in any licensed sports. The average age of the participants was determined as 12.61 ± 1.32. The participants were divided in experimental and control groups. Reaction performances were determined using the ÇAĞIN Hand and Foot Reaction Tests, selective attention performances were evaluated using the Flanker Test and academic achievement was determined using the e-Okul system. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant group × time interactions for hand and foot simple, selective, discriminative reaction time, selective attention and academic achievement (p 0.05). The study concludes that the cross-country skiing exercise, which was applied to adolescents for eight weeks, had a positive impact on the parameters of reaction, selective attention and academic achievement. Therefore, parents are suggested to encourage their children to exercise and engage in sports practices like cross-country skiing to improve cognitive and academic performance during adolescence.

Abstract Background children with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) are less proficient in motor skills compared to normally developing children, which means they need more time for learning skills. In this context, the purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of the Brailletonik physical activity program (BPAM) on the balance and reaction time of children with ID. Methods The statistical sample is consisted of 30 children aged 8 to 12 (21 boys, 9 girls) with ID with an average age of 9.8 ± 1.39, who were selected through convenience sampling. Participants were divided into two groups of individual BPAM, and pair BPAM. Training sessions were held for 21 sessions (seven weeks) and each session included 30 min of training. To measure static balance and reaction time, Stork Stand test and Simple Reaction Time Software were used respectively. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and Bonferroni’s post hoc test were used to analyze the data. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 26 at a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Results The results showed that individual and paired exercise groups had significant progress from pre-test to post-test in both variables of balance and reaction time (p = 0.001). Also, the comparison of the performance of the groups in the post-test showed that the average performance of the paired exercise group was significantly better than the individual exercise group in the balance variable (p = 0.03) and in the reaction time variable (p = 0.01). Conclusion Accordingly, it can be concluded that BPAM in paired groups has a greater effect on the balance and reaction time of children with ID.

This study was conducted to analyse reaction time, psychomotor speed and concentration parameters in individuals who had previously been infected with COVID-19 and to compare these parameters with those of the control group. The study recruited 56 individuals previously diagnosed with COVID-19 with PCR and 56 healthy individuals. COVID-19-related information and sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were recorded. Light Trainer Exercises System (Model LTV2, Turkiye, 2017) was used for the evaluation of reaction time, while the d2 attention test was used for the evaluation of concentration performance. Psychomotor speed percentage (p [Med-Science 2024; 13(3.000): 751-7]

This research investigates the influence of synthesis kinetics on the structural and photocatalytic properties of chitosan–clay nanocomposites (Cs/MMT) and chitosan–hectorite nanocomposites (Cs/HET), employing an optimized initial stoichiometry of 1:3. Utilizing a variety of analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the study explores the structural evolution of the nanocomposites and their photocatalytic performance using semiconductor catalysts TiO2 and ZnO. The findings emphasize the significant impact of reaction kinetics, particularly after 3 h of reaction time, on the structural features of the nanocomposites. Notably, Cs/MMT demonstrates greater crystalline stability compared to Cs/HET due to variations in octahedral cavity occupancy in the initial clays. FTIR and TEM analyses depict the progressive evolution of the nanocomposites during the reaction, shedding light on how reaction kinetics drive the formation of specific bonds within the nanocomposites. In terms of photocatalytic activity, this study provides insights into the complex dynamics of photocatalytic degradation, with a specific focus on the performance of TiO2 and ZnO under diverse experimental conditions. The superior efficacy of TiO2 as a catalyst, particularly when integrated with Cs/MMT nanocomposites, is unequivocally demonstrated, with degradation rates exceeding 80%. This preference stems from TiO2 consistently exhibiting higher degradation rates compared to ZnO, attributed to structural disparities between montmorillonite and hectorite, influencing catalyst–support interactions. The findings underscore the critical importance of selecting suitable catalyst and support matrix combinations for optimizing performance in specific applications.

Background and Study Aim. Attention and concentration, fundamental psychological skills, are crucial in situations where the opponent moves rapidly and incessantly. Reaction time is also of paramount importance in winning a game in fencing, which requires both offensive and defensive actions. Understanding the factors that affect reaction time is essential for improving performance. This study aimed to investigate the impact of disruptions in attention and concentration on reaction time in fencing. Material and Methods. Thirty-four healthy male and female fencers participated in two testing sessions. In the initial session, participants filled out a personal information form and took the d2 Attention Test to determine their attention levels. They also completed items representing the concentration disruption subscale of the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2) to measure concentration levels. In the second session, participants underwent the Favero Electronic Fencing Target (EFT-1) test to measure their reaction times. To analyze the obtained data, SPSS 20 was used. The Pearson correlation coefficient between attention, concentration disruption, and participants' reaction times was calculated. Then, linear regression analysis was employed to test whether attention and concentration scores could predict the reaction times. Results. The findings indicated that there is a significant positive relationship between E (r = .603, p < .01), E% (r = .628, p < .01), E1 (r = .584, p < .01), E2 (r = .533, p < .01), and reaction time. Additionally, a significant negative relationship was revealed between concentration performance and reaction times (r = -.456, p < .01). A significant positive correlation was observed between fencers' concentration disruption and reaction times (r = .416, p < .05). Conclusions. Our study results emphasize the importance of attention and concentration in disciplines that require quick reactions. These cognitive factors need to be considered in the development of sports performance.

Abstract Background The mechanical tactile stimulation, such as plastic pins and airflow-driven membrane, induces cortical activity. The cortical activity depends on the mechanical tactile stimulation pattern. Therefore, the stimulation pattern of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention may influence its effect on the somatosensory function. However, the effect of the mechanical tactile stimulation input pattern on the somatosensory function has not yet been investigated at the behavioral level. The present study aimed to clarify the effects of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention with different stimulation patterns on the ability to discriminate moving directions. Results Twenty healthy adults participated in the experiment. Three conditions were used for mechanical tactile stimuli intervention: (1) the whole stimulus surface was stimulated, (2) the stimulus moved within the stimulus surface, and (3) a no-stimulus condition. The effects of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention on tactile discrimination were evaluated using a simple reaction task and a choice reaction task to discriminate the movement direction. Reaction time, correct rate, and rate correct score were calculated to measure task performance. We examined the effects of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention on the ability to discriminate the moving direction for a certain period under three intervention conditions. The results showed that the mean reaction time during the simple reaction task did not differ significantly before and after the intervention under all intervention conditions. Similarly, we compared the data obtained before and after the intervention during the choice reaction task. Our results revealed that the mean reaction time and correct rate did not differ significantly under vertical and horizontal conditions. However, the rate correct score showed a significant improvement after the horizontal moving tactile stimulation intervention under both vertical and horizontal conditions. Conclusions Our results showed that the effect of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention on mechanical tactile stimulation moving direction discrimination function depended on the input pattern of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention. Our results suggest the potential therapeutic benefits of sustained tactile stimulation intervention. This study revealed that it is possible to change behavioral levels via mechanical tactile stimuli intervention as well as the potential of mechanical tactile stimuli intervention in the field of rehabilitation.

ABSTRACTFasting during Ramadan involves abstaining from food and drink from dawn to sunset, potentially influencing cognitive functions essential for the intellectual development of the youth. Therefore, understanding the effects of fasting on these functions in children/adolescents provides valuable perspectives to enhance education and promote mental well-being. However, studies on children/adolescents in this context are still limited. To evaluate the impact of Ramadan fasting on cognitive functions, including information processing speed, inhibition, decision-making, and auditory attention processes among children and adolescents aged 11 to 15 years. This study was conducted with 24 healthy children/adolescents (aged 12.84 ± 0.69 years). The experimental protocol consisted of two sessions: Before-Ramadan (BR) and at the beginning of the second week of Ramadan (R2). At each session, the boys were randomly tested on simple reaction time (SRT), choice reaction time (CRT), negative priming reaction time (NPRT), and auditory discrimination (P300). The tests were administered and scored by the same person in the different sessions. The study found that Ramadan fasting did not have an effect on various reaction times or on electro-physiological data, including P300 amplitude and latency. The current study, conducted with healthy children/adolescents, indicates that Ramadan fasting had no impact on various reaction times (SRT, CRT, NPRT), suggesting the preservation of information processing speed and decision-making, even in the face of increased task complexity. This is evident, on the one hand, through the maintenance of the ability to react to unexpected events, and, on the other hand, through the mastery of resistance to automatism, thus reflecting the preservation of inhibitory function (NPRT). Regarding P300 data, the absence of changes in latencies and amplitudes suggests that Ramadan fasting did not alter either the evaluation time of auditory stimuli or auditory attention processes.

BackgroundThe fronto-cerebellar functional network has been proposed to subserve cognitive processing speed. This study aims to elucidate how the long-range frontal-to-cerebellar effective connectivity contributes to faster speed.MethodsIn total, 60 healthy participants were randomly allocated to three five-daily sessions of transcranial magnetic stimulation conditions, namely intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS, excitatory), continuous theta-burst stimulation (CTBS, inhibitory), or a sham condition. The sites of the stimulations were the right pre-supplementary motor area (RpSMA), medial cerebellar vermis VI (MCV6), and vertex, respectively. Performances in two reaction time tasks were recorded at different time points.ResultsPost-stimulation speeds revealed marginal decreases in the simple but not complex task. Nevertheless, participants in the excitatory RpSMA and inhibitory MCV6 conditions showed direct and negative path effects on faster speeds compared to the sham condition in the simple reaction time (SRT) task (β = −0.320, p = 0.045 and β = −0.414, p = 0.007, respectively). These path effects were not observed in the SDMT task.DiscussionRpSMA and MCV6 were involved in promoting the path effects of faster reaction times on simple cognitive task. This study offers further evidence to support their roles within the long-range frontal-to-cerebellar connectivity subserving cognitive processing speed. The enhancement effects, however, are likely limited to simple rather than complex mental operations.

Caffeine is recognized as one of the most effective dietary ergogenic aids in sports, yet its evidence-based effectiveness in esports is unclear. This study investigated the effects of two different doses of caffeine on the shooting performance and reaction time of 24 first-person shooter (FPS) esports players (22 men, 2 women; age = 22.29 ± 2.91 years). Participants completed three experimental trials in which they consumed either a water control (CON), a 1 mg·kg−1 BM (CAF1) or a 3 mg·kg−1 BM (CAF3) dose of caffeine. Performance measures (e.g., score, accuracy (%), hit rate (hits/sec), and shots fired) were assessed in a static clicking and reactive tracking style task on the KovaaK's FPS aim trainer. Reaction time was used to assess vigilance on the psychomotor vigilance test (PVT). Performance was measured at four time points in each trial: pre-treatment (PRE), 60 min (POST1), 80 min (POST2), and 100 min (POST3) post-treatment. Significant differences were identified using repeated-measures analysis of variances. Caffeine, irrespective of dose, significantly improved performance compared to CON for static clicking score and hit rate, reactive tracking accuracy, and reaction time on the PVT. Significant interactions between treatment and time were identified and post hoc analyses showed that compared to CON, CAF1 significantly improved static clicking score at POST1 and POST3, static clicking hit rate at POST1, reactive tracking accuracy at POST1, POST2, and POST3, and reaction time on the PVT at POST1 and POST2. Post hoc analysis also showed that compared to CON, CAF3 significantly improved static clicking score, reactive tracking accuracy, and reaction time on the PVT at all time points, in addition to static clicking hit rate at POST1 and POST3. In summary, caffeine supplementation enhances the shooting performance and reaction time of FPS esports players.

IntroductionThis study aimed to examine perceptual-cognitive skills across age, gender and elite levels of badminton adolescent athletes.MethodsA total of 57 badminton athletes divided into junior high school athletes (age = 13.36 ± 1.14 years, females = 22, males = 11) and senior high school athletes (age = 16.25 ± 0.84 years, females = 11, males = 13) were evaluated using a cognitive component skills approach. Elite levels were classified as semi-elite (n = 29, score = 3.23) and competitive elite (n = 28, score = 5.84) levels. Each group completed a cognitive test, including an evaluation of their capacity for Corsi block-tapping (CCT) and spatial priming tasks (SPT).ResultsNo gender effects were found in the perceptual skills of the adolescent players, and the age effect was consistent across gender. For the elite levels, the perceptual-cognitive skills of SPT of reaction time was performed equally in the groups of semi-elite and competitive players, however, in the CCT Span of working-memory (WM), competitive-elite players outperformed semi-elite players.ConclusionWe found that perceptual-cognitive skills of WM play crucial roles in the open-skill sports of badminton. Thus, when developing advanced skills to higher elite levels in adolescent players, perceptual-cognitive skills should be considered.

Chitosan nanofiber membranes manufactured via electrospinning are attractive for drug delivery applications due to their increased surface area. The as-spun fibers contain trifluoroacetate (TFA)-salts that cause swelling and loss of nanofiber structure in physiological solutions and are cytotoxic. Here, a post-electrospinning treatment has been reported using fatty acyl chlorides and pyridine to O-acylate the membranes with different acyl chain-length (C6, C8, C10, and C12). The O-acylation reactions were carried out with acyl chlorides in a basic environment for 2 hr, 3 hr, 4 hr and, 5 hr. The effects of the acyl chain length and the reaction time were assessed using various physio-chemical characterization techniques including FTIR, NMR, Contact Angle, XPS, and SEM. The acylated nanofibers displayed hydrophobic properties and allowed the removal of the cytotoxic TFA salts without compromising the nanofibrous structure. The fiber diameter increased with the increasing length of the substituted acyl chain. The degree of substitution of the acyl chains did not change significantly when reacted for a longer period indicating the completion of the reaction within 2 hr. This could allow the faster modification of the membranes for potential application in the delivery of hydrophobic drugs.

Introduction: Clinical symptoms of autism spectrum disorder are diverse and include neurodevelopmental and cognitive impairments, as well as memory deficits, which are one of the most challenging areas for these individuals. Aim: The present study aimed to develop and validate a neurocognitive rehabilitation program and evaluate its efficacy on reaction time, recognition of shape, and visual-spatial memory in high-functioning male teenagers with autism. Method: The study was conducted as a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test measures and a one-month follow-up session. The population included male teenagers with autism attending special schools in Tehran during the academic year 2022-2023. A total of 30 participants were selected from this population using convenient random sampling and assigned to experimental and control groups. The participants received ten one-hour sessions of intervention over a period of 1.5 months, and Sina cognitive software was used in three stages: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. Independent t-test was used to compare the change scores between the two groups, and repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine the stability of the intervention's effectiveness. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in reaction time for simple reaction (t(28)=3.16, d=0.83, P=0.004) and selective reaction (t(28)=8.11, d=0.76, P

Abstract Background In team sports, deficits in visuomotor reaction speed are considered a significant and modifiable risk factor that can lead to decreased performance and an increased risk of injuries. Thus, identifying effective methods to enhance visuomotor abilities is crucial. The main objective of this research was to investigate the impact of a six-week stroboscopic intervention on visuomotor reaction speed in goal-directed specific movements based on agility among young volleyball players. Additionally, the study aimed to explore the impact of saccade dynamics on visuomotor reaction speed performance throughout the experiment. Methods There were 50 athletes (26 males and 24 females) with an average age of 16.5 years (± 0.6) who participated in this study. Over a six-week training period, athletes performed volleyball-specific training either wearing stroboscopic glasses (intervention) or under normal visual conditions (control). Prior to and after the training period, the agility tests based on change-of-direction speed (CODS) and reactive agility (RA) were used to identify visuomotor reaction speed performance. To measure agility performance a five-repetition shuttle run to gates was conducted. The REAC-INDEX, which represents visuomotor reaction speed, was analyzed as the resulting difference between the CODS test and the RA test. To elicit saccadic dynamics, a laboratory visual search task was performed. Results A significant GROUP×TIME interaction was observed for the REAC-INDEX (p = 0.012, ηp2 = 0.13). ANCOVA analyses revealed significant GROUP differences, indicating improved post-training REAC-INDEX results (p = 0.004, d = 0.87), regardless of gender. Training-induced modulations in saccade acceleration did not reach significance, but a significant relationship was observed between changes in saccade acceleration and changes in the REAC-INDEX (r = -0.281, p = 0.048), indicating that higher performance gains following training were associated with a stronger increase in saccade acceleration. Conclusions This study demonstrates that stroboscopic training effectively enhances visuomotor reaction speed in goal-directed movements based on agility. Furthermore, visuomotor reaction speed gains could potentially be mediated by saccade dynamics. These findings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of stroboscopic eyewear for training sport-specific visuomotor skills among young volleyball players.

Abstract Background Acute cannabis use has been demonstrated to slow reaction time and affect decision-making and short-term memory. These effects may have utility in identifying impairment associated with recent use. However, these effects have not been widely investigated among individuals with a pattern of daily use, who may have acquired tolerance. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of tolerance to cannabis on the acute effects as measured by reaction time, decision-making (gap acceptance), and short-term memory. Methods Participants (ages 25–45) completed a tablet-based (iPad) test battery before and approximately 60 min after smoking cannabis flower. The change in performance from before to after cannabis use was compared across three groups of cannabis users: (1) occasional use (n = 23); (2) daily use (n = 31); or (3) no current use (n = 32). Participants in the occasional and daily use group self-administered ad libitum, by smoking or vaping, self-supplied cannabis flower with a high concentration of total THC (15–30%). Results The occasional use group exhibited decrements in reaction time (slowed) and short-term memory (replicated fewer shapes) from before to after cannabis use, as compared to the no-use group. In the gap acceptance task, daily use participants took more time to complete the task post-smoking cannabis as compared to those with no use or occasional use; however, the level of accuracy did not significantly change. Conclusions The findings are consistent with acquired tolerance to certain acute psychomotor effects with daily cannabis use. The finding from the gap acceptance task which showed a decline in speed but not accuracy may indicate a prioritization of accuracy over response time. Cognitive and psychomotor assessments may have utility for identifying impairment associated with recent cannabis use.

Study aim: This study aimed (i) to describe psychomotor parameters for different temperature and humidity conditions, and (ii) to verify whether conditions at the borderline between some and great thermal discomfort on the humidex scale affect psycho-motor parameters in soccer players.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of our newly developed virtual reality head-mounted display (VR-HMD) “walker avoidance” game in reducing step-aside reaction time (SART) and enhancing agility in collision avoidance. Fifteen young adults in experimental group (EG) engaged in the “walker avoidance” game, while another 15 young adults in the control group (CG) played the “first touch” tutorial. The results showed the EG had significant decreases (p < 0.01) in both SART-standing and SART-walking when compared with pre-intervention measurements. Compared with the CG, the EG SART-standing exhibited significant decreases in both the first (p = 0.001) and second (p < 0.001) measurements post-intervention; the EG SART-walking demonstrated significant decreases in all (p < 0.05) measurements, except for pre-intervention measurement. One-dimensional statistical parametric mapping (spm1d) also demonstrated significant differences in most of the electromyography and forefoot/hindfoot ground reaction force results because the step-aside movement became quicker in the EG following training. After pushing the leg-heel contact, the EG participants made a toe-off sooner than the CG participants. Following two sessions of our newly developed “walker avoidance” game, conducted 1 week apart, the EG exhibited less collisions with virtual pedestrians and reduced reaction times to unpredictable directional change measurements compared with the CG. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of this targeted VR training program in improving motor function, which introduced a novel approach to rehabilitation as a digital therapy. It offers innovative perspectives and an approach for clinical rehabilitation, while also providing new ideas for the VR content development industry.

Study aim: Reaction time (RT) is the time taken to make a decisive voluntary response to a stimulus. It is an indirect index of the central nervous system’s ability to process information and a simple method to evaluate sensorimotor performance and coordination. The current study explored the potential of tactile imagery (TI) training to enhance RT in distinct digits within the same hand, namely the index and middle fingers and the thumb.

Study aim: The study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of a lavender soy wax candle on the autonomic nervous system, stress, and reaction time in adolescents with moderate stress levels.

Abstract Background The altered respiratory patterns have a significant impact on our health. However, the links between respiration patterns during spontaneous breathing and physical fitness remain unknown. Therefore, we sought to examine how the respiratory pattern during spontaneous breathing interacts with physical fitness. Methods A total of 610 participants (aged 20-59 years) were enrolled; 163 men (age = 41 ± 11) and 401 women (age = 42 ± 9) were included for analysis. The parameters of the respiration pattern were respiration rate (RR) and inhalation/exhalation (I/E) ratio. The physical fitness components were body size, visuomotor reaction time, balance, flexibility, hand grip strength, back extension strength, vertical jump height, number of push-ups, number of sit-ups, and the maximum rate of oxygen consumption. The data were analyzed separately for two gender groups. Participants within each gender group were further divided into two age categories (young: 20−39 years, middle-aged: 40−59 years) for the analysis, and both correlational and comparative tests were used to solidify the results. Results Neither RRs nor the I/E ratios were substantially correlated with physical fitness in women. In addition, the I/E ratios showed no significant correlation with physical fitness in young men, while the results from correlational and comparative tests were inconsistent in middle-aged men. Consistently, men with lower RRs exhibited significantly shorter visuomotor reaction times in two age groups, and demonstrated significantly higher vertical jump heights in the middle-aged group. Conclusions In women, respiratory patterns were not correlated with physical fitness. The relationship between middle-aged men’s I/E ratios and their physical fitness warrants further investigation. Men with lower RRs may have better visual-motor coordination and/or sustained attention, while middle-aged men with lower RRs may also have greater leg explosive power and neuromuscular coordination, which should be considered for physical assessment and health improvement.

Background: Many studies have investigated ankle sprain injury and it has been reported that in 80% of cases, ankle sprains lead to functional ankle instability (FAI). The conventional exercises for FAI rehabilitation neglect the associated neurocognitive dysfunction.Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effect of Wii Fit Plus as a virtual reality training on neurocognitive function in athletes with FAI compared to athletes without FAI.Material and Methods: In this matched randomized clinical trial study, 25 athletes with unilateral FAI and 25 athletes without FAI were assigned to two groups randomly: 1) the intervention group, subjects performed the Wii training including balance and strengthening games three times a week for 12 sessions and 2) subjects in the control group received no intervention. Before and after the training, the neurocognitive function was assessed through the computerized-reaction time test based on the detection or identification of ‘X’ mark on a computer monitor. Between-groups and within-group comparisons were done by the independent T-test and paired T-test, respectively.Results: A significant difference was observed in mean differences of neurocognitive function between athletes with and without FAI. Comprising before and after training was significant in the intervention group. Conclusion: Based on the results, the information-processing speed of athletes with FAI increased after the training, utilized for rehabilitation protocols.

Training in team sports such as soccer requires advanced technical and tactical skills for effective decision-making, particularly when executing a shot. This study validates an innovative instrument, a training platform (TP), designed to measure and enhance decision-making in dual-task scenarios. The TP aims to improve visual–motor reactions in multitask environments that simulate real game conditions. Equipped with an LED panel, main circuitry, ball sensor, and targets, the TP challenges players to kick the ball in response to the illumination of the final LED array on the panel while hitting a designated target. The study evaluated three parameters: reaction time (RT), ball speed (BS) and accuracy. To validate the TP against a gold standard (GS), we conducted correlation analyses. The results exhibited very strong correlations for both RT (r = 0.997) and BS (r = 0.994). The mean differences between TP and GS measurements were 13 ± 15 ms for RT and 0.1 ± 0.5 km/h for BS. Bland–Altman plots revealed trend lines obtained by a simple linear regression of r = −0.507, p = 0.307 for RT and r = 0.134, p = 0.077 for BS. The TP effectively simulates game scenarios, offering advantages such as low-cost components, installation flexibility, test variability, instant feedback, and integration of physical and cognitive components of sports performance.

The neurocognitive response following hypoxia has received special interest. However, it is necessary to understand the impact of acute hypoxic exposure induced by simulated altitude on cognitive performance. This study aimed to determine the effects of acute hypoxic exposure in simulated altitude in healthy adults on reaction time, response accuracy, memory, and attention. Five electronic databases were searched. The inclusion criteria were: (1) Experimental studies involving a hypoxia intervention induced by a hypoxic air generator to determine the effects on cognitive performance; and (2) Conducted in adults (males and/or females; aged 18–50 years) without pathologies or health/mental problems. Four meta-analyses were performed: (1) reaction time, (2) response accuracy, (3) memory, and (4) attention. Finally, 37 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Hypoxia exposure induced detrimental effects on reaction time (standard mean difference (SMD) −0.23; 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.38–−0.07; p = 0.004), response accuracy (SMD −0.20; 95% CI −0.38–−0.03; p = 0.02), and memory (SMD −0.93; 95% CI: −1.68–−0.17; p = 0.02). Nevertheless, attention was not affected during hypoxia exposure (SMD −0.06; 95% CI: −0.23–0.11; p = 0.47). Acute exposure to hypoxia in controlled lab conditions appears to be detrimental to cognitive performance, specifically in reaction time, response accuracy, and memory.

Background/Objectives: This study addresses the gap in methodological guidelines for neuroergonomic attention assessment in safety-critical tasks, focusing on validating EEG indices, including the engagement index (EI) and beta/alpha ratio, alongside subjective ratings. Methods: A novel task-embedded reaction time paradigm was developed to evaluate the sensitivity of these metrics to dynamic attentional demands in a more naturalistic multitasking context. By manipulating attention levels through varying secondary tasks in the NASA MATB-II task while maintaining a consistent primary reaction-time task, this study successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of the paradigm. Results: Results indicate that both the beta/alpha ratio and EI are sensitive to changes in attentional demands, with beta/alpha being more responsive to dynamic variations in attention, and EI reflecting more the overall effort required to sustain performance, especially in conditions where maintaining attention is challenging. Conclusions: The potential for predicting the attention lapses through integration of performance metrics, EEG measures, and subjective assessments was demonstrated, providing a more nuanced understanding of dynamic fluctuations of attention in multitasking scenarios, mimicking those in real-world safety-critical tasks. These findings provide a foundation for advancing methods to monitor attention fluctuations accurately and mitigate risks in critical scenarios, such as train-driving or automated vehicle operation, where maintaining a high attention level is crucial.

(1) Background. Neurofeedback has been used in sports since the 1990s, frequently showing positive outcomes in enhancing athletic performance. This systematic review provides an updated analysis of neurofeedback training in sports, evaluating reaction time, cognitive performance, and emotional regulation to address literature gaps and suggest future research directions. (2) Methods. A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases for articles published from January 2016 to April 2023. The search included only original articles written in English, resulting in 24 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. (3) Results. The reviewed studies cover a wide range of sports, including golf, basketball, swimming, rifle shooting, football, volleyball, athletics, judo, ice hockey, triathlon, handball, fencing, taekwondo, and darts. They involved athletes of varying experience levels (beginners, professionals, and experts) and utilized neurofeedback training targeting different frequency bands (alpha, beta, theta, and SMR), either individually or in mixed protocols. Findings show improvements in sports and cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and anxiety management. (4) Conclusions. This systematic review supports the effectiveness of neurofeedback in enhancing sports and cognitive performance across various disciplines and experience levels. Notable improvements were observed in technical skills, physical performance parameters, scoring, attention, concentration, reaction time, short-term and working memory, self-regulation, and cognitive anxiety. Future research should standardize protocols, include more diverse samples, and explore long-term effects to further validate these findings.

Phaeodactylum tricornutum (PT) is a microalgae extract that contains fucoxanthin and has been shown to enhance cognitive function in younger populations. The present study assessed if PT supplementation affects cognition in healthy, young-old, physically active adults with self-perceptions of cognitive and memory decline. Methods: Forty-three males and females (64.3 ± 6.0 years, 79.8 ± 16.0 kg, 27.0 ± 4.0 kg/m2) with perceptions of cognitive and memory decline completed the double-blind, randomized, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled intervention clinical trial. Participants were counterbalanced by sex and BMI and randomly allocated to their respective 12-week supplementation interventions, which were either the placebo (PL) or 1100 mg/day of PT containing 8.8 mg of fucoxanthin (FX). Fasting blood samples were collected, and cognitive assessments were performed during the testing session at 0, 4, and 12 weeks of intervention. The data were analyzed by multivariate and univariate general linear model (GLM) analyses with repeated measures, pairwise comparisons, and mean changes from baseline analysis with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the clinical significance of the findings. Results: FX supplementation significantly affected (p < 0.05) or exhibited tendencies toward significance (p > 0.05 to p < 0.10 with effect sizes ranging from medium to large) for word recall, picture recognition reaction time, Stroop color–word test, choice reaction time, and digit vigilance test variables. Additionally, FX supplementation promoted a more consistent clinical improvement from baseline values when examining mean changes with 95% CIs, although most differences were seen over time rather than between groups. Conclusions: The results demonstrate some evidence that FX supplementation can improve working and secondary memory, vigilance, attention, accuracy, and executive function. There was also evidence that FX promoted more positive effects on insulin sensitivity and perceptions about sleep quality with no negative effects on clinical blood panels or perceived side effects. Additional research should investigate how FX may affect cognition in individuals perceiving memory and cognitive decline. Registered clinical trial #NCT05759910.