The Prevalence of Educational Neuromyths among Hungarian Pre-Service Teachers.

Teachers with poor neuroliteracy fail to distinguish scientific evidence from neuromyths (NM), which might lead to the implementation of pseudoscientific educational methods. The prevalence of NM and general knowledge about the brain (GKAB) among in-service and pre-service teachers has been assessed in multiple countries, but no such study has been performed in Hungary. The aims of this study were to (1) assess the neuroliteracy of pre-service teachers, (2) compare the results with those of previous studies and (3) analyze the factors influencing neuroliteracy. Our sample included 822 pre-service teachers from 12 Hungarian universities. We developed a survey including 10 NM and 13 GKAB statements, adapted from a widely used questionnaire. The average rate of incorrect answers to NM was 56.9%, whereas the average rate of correct answers to GKAB was 70.9%. Male gender and frequency of using Facebook as the primary information source about neuroscience were the only predictors of NM acceptance. In comparison with other studies, the Hungarian pre-service teachers had the second highest endorsement of NM. The most prevalent NM were linked to motor functions, which might be related to the widespread use and promotion of motor therapies in Hungary.

Bone characteristics and physical fitness in children and adolescents with visual impairment.

BACKGROUND: Lower habitual physical activity in adolescents with visual impairment (VI) have detrimental effect on their general health such as bone quality and physical fitness. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the bone quality in children with VI and to analyze the correlations of their bone characteristics with anthropometric and physical fitness tests. METHODS: The participants (N.=38) were adolescents (14.85±2.79 yrs) with low vision (N.=18) or blindness (N.=20). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to measure bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC) of the total body and L1-L4 of the lumbar spinal region. After anthropometry physical fitness was examined by laboratory test (V̇O2peak) and field tests (strength and running). RESULTS: Height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), V̇O2peak were similar in the two groups. Blind boys showed significant higher handgrip strength. Estimated V̇O2peak (from 20-m shuttle running test) was significantly lower in blind children (43.84±4.42 mL/kg/min) than in children with low vision (35.08±5.23 mL/kg/min; P<0.001). BMD and BMC did not differ in subgroups, Z-score of total body BMD was significantly lower in blind children. Means of Z-score in L1-L4 lumbal spinal region were negative values and similar in blind and low vision adolescents' subgroups. A linear regression model in the collective group revealed significant associations of BMD (r2=0.538; P=0.0001) and BMC (r2=0.698; P=0.048) with BMI and handgrip strength test. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with VI have generally decreased bone health and physical fitness level. BMI and handgrip strength are predictors of total body BMD and BMC; suggesting that these measures may be adequate to estimate bone health.