Brain mechanisms discriminating enactive mental simulations of running and plogging.

Enactive cognition emphasizes co-constructive roles of humans and their environment in shaping cognitive processes. It is specifically engaged in the mental simulation of behaviors, enhancing the connection between perception and action. Here we investigated the core network of brain regions involved in enactive cognition as applied to mental simulations of physical exercise. We used a neuroimaging paradigm in which participants (N = 103) were required to project themselves running or plogging (running while picking-up litter) along an image-guided naturalistic trail. Using both univariate and multivariate brain imaging analyses, we find that a broad spectrum of brain activation discriminates between the mental simulation of plogging versus running. Critically, we show that self-reported ratings of daily life running engagement and the quality of mental simulation (how well participants were able to imagine themselves running) modulate the brain reactivity to plogging versus running. Finally, we undertook functional connectivity analyses centered on the insular cortex, which is a key region in the dynamic interplay between neurocognitive processes. This analysis revealed increased positive and negative patterns of insular-centered functional connectivity in the plogging condition (as compared to the running condition), thereby confirming the key role of the insular cortex in action simulation involving complex sets of mental mechanisms. Taken together, the present findings provide new insights into the brain networks involved in the enactive mental simulation of physical exercise.

Examining Plogging in South Korea as a New Social Movement: From the Perspective of Claus Offe's New Social Movement Theory.

This study examines plogging as an environmental movement, using Claus Offe's new social movement theory to critically analyze why its value as an environmental movement has not been recognized in Korean society. Four rounds of in-depth interviews and narrative analysis were conducted between 2 October and 28 December 2022, which involved eight individuals who participated in and organized the plogging movement. The results revealed three reasons for plogging's failure to be appreciated by Korean society as an environmental movement: (1) the plogging movement overlaps with existing social movements; (2) the generational gap related to plogging movement participants stemming from the "new middle class"; and (3) conglomerates using the plogging movement as a marketing tool. The plogging movement has value as a new proactive, social movement for environmental protection that centers on people's participation. However, long-standing ideological and structural issues embedded in Korean society hinder the recognition of plogging's value.

Ergonomic risk and physiological assessment of plogging activity.

BACKGROUND: Plogging, an environment friendly trash workout is a combination of jogging with litter collection. People who are involved in the plogging carry a baggage for collecting the litter. Walking with a weight on one side causes the opposite side of the body to engage for stability and are also exposed to repetitive bending during the activity. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the postural and physiological aspects of plogging activity. METHODS: Thirty six subjects performed the litter collection in stoop, semi-squat, full squat and lunge postures respectively. Postures were analyzed using Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). Physiological aspects of plogging, as well as a comparison of physical activity assessment during jogging and plogging, were investigated using a Polar M430 optical heart rate monitor. Statistical analysis were performed using SPSS version 23. RESULTS: Mean±SD of full squat (5.13±0.59) and lunge (6.64±1.15) posture was found to have lesser risk score in comparison with the other two postures such as stoop (10.31±0.88) and semi-squat (8.11±1.40). Analysis from the Kruskal-Wallis and post hoc test showed that there is no significant interaction between the postures (p < 0.05). Paired Sample t-test showed that the energy expenditure for plogging and jogging are found to be similar (p > 0.05), but the fat percentages of calories burned is more in plogging (p < 0.05). Howerver plogging can be considered as a strenous activity as the % Cardiovascular strain of the activity had a mean value of (99.261%). CONCLUSIONS: Ergonomic interventions are needed to play a vital role in minimizing the musculoskeletal related injuries and the physical strain of the task.