Iranian Herbalists, But Not Cooks, Are Better at Naming Odors Than Laypeople.

Odor naming is enhanced in communities where communication about odors is a central part of daily life (e.g., wine experts, flavorists, and some hunter-gatherer groups). In this study, we investigated how expert knowledge and daily experience affect the ability to name odors in a group of experts that has not previously been investigated in this context-Iranian herbalists; also called attars-as well as cooks and laypeople. We assessed naming accuracy and consistency for 16 herb and spice odors, collected judgments of odor perception, and evaluated participants' odor meta-awareness. Participants' responses were overall more consistent and accurate for more frequent and familiar odors. Moreover, attars were more accurate than both cooks and laypeople at naming odors, although cooks did not perform significantly better than laypeople. Attars' perceptual ratings of odors and their overall odor meta-awareness suggest they are also more attuned to odors than the other two groups. To conclude, Iranian attars-but not cooks-are better odor namers than laypeople. They also have greater meta-awareness and differential perceptual responses to odors. These findings further highlight the critical role that expertise and type of experience have on olfactory functions.

Identification of elite performance characteristics in a small sample of taekwondo athletes.

Along with the increasing popularity of taekwondo, there is a need of evidence-based talent identification (TID) and development programs based upon profiles of future elite athletes. This study first aims to investigate the differences between elite and non-elite taekwondo athletes in anthropometry, physical performance and motor coordination. The second aim is to demonstrate the applicability of z-scores in TID research. A total of 98 Taekwondo athletes between 12 and 17 years old were tested using a generic test battery consisting of four anthropometrical (Height, Weight, Fat Percentage, BMI), six physical performance (Sit & Reach, Sprint 5m, Sprint 30m, Counter Movement Jump, Squat Jump, Endurance Shuttle Run) and three motor coordination tests (Moving Sideways, Jumping Sideways, Walking Backwards). Based on the individual success at international competition level, 18 were categorised as elite athletes and 80 were considered as non-elite. T-tests (step 1) on raw test scores and MANOVAs on z-scores (step 2) were conducted to examine differences between the elite and non-elite taekwondo athletes for anthropometry, physical performance and motor coordination tests. Finally, z-scores were reconverted to raw scores to demonstrate practical significance for coaches. Overall, elite taekwondo athletes score better compared to the non-elite group. The MANOVA analysis better scores for elites on fat percentage (-0.55 versus 0.12;p = 0.006), BMI (-0.37 versus 0,08;p = 0.067) sprint speed 30m (-0.48 versus 0.11;p = 0.029), counter movement jump (0.79 versus -0.18;p = 0.000), squat jump (0.42 versus -0.11;p = 0.041), moving sideways (0.79 versus -0.18;p = 0.000) and walking backwards (0.54 versus -0.12;p = 0.006). This study confirms our knowledge on physical profiles of elite taekwondo athletes and expands our knowledge to the domain of motor coordination. This study showed how the z-score method can be used to distinguish between elite and non-elite athletes, the former being low in number by definition.

Individual differences in absolute pitch performance: Contributions of working memory, musical expertise, and tonal language background.

By definition, individuals with absolute pitch (AP) can categorize with near perfect accuracy without a reference pitch. This definition implies a uniformity of performance across people; however, in reality AP is a complex, multidimensional ability, shaped by both early and recent auditory experiences. In the present study we assess whether AP possessors' accuracy for identifying isolated notes is more distributed when judging more challenging instrumental timbres and octaves, as well as whether variability in note categorization could be explained through individual differences in musical expertise, language background, or working memory. In a standard test of AP, all participants performed virtually perfectly. When tested on the challenging notes, performance was more normally distributed. In exploratory analyses, we found (1) lower accuracy among participants who speak a tonal language, (2) less musical expertise among tonal language participants, and (3) a positive relationship between working memory and note performance among tonal language participants that was not present for non-tonal language participants. Taken together, these results highlight the complexity of AP categorization when considered as an auditory skill rather than a native talent. The observation that working memory may be an important in AP categorization under some challenging circumstances is consistent with recent theoretical accounts of how working memory and expertise relate to auditory recognition more broadly.

The efect of self-regulated feedback on acquisition and learning the overhand service skill of novice female athletes in volleyball / Efecto del feedback autorregulado sobre la adquisición y el aprendizaje de la habilidad en el servicio de jugadoras noveles en voleibol / O efeito de auto-regulação feedback sobre aquisição e aprender a habilidade de seu ponto de serviço de atletas do sexo feminino iniciante no voleibol

The purpose of the present research was to study the effect of self regulated feedback on the acquisition and learning of the volleyball overhand service skill in novice female players 10-11 years old. Twenty-eight (28) novice female athletes aged 10-11 years old and with a 2- year training experience participated in this study. The female athletes were randomly divided into two groups, the experimental (n=14) and the control group (n=14). The athletes of both groups followed a five week training program with two units per week, which included drills for the learning of the service skill. The athletes of the experimental group were able to ask for feedback whenever they wished, while the athletes of the control group followed the program for learning the skill, taking feedback (knowledge of performance), whenever it was considered necessary by the coach. The results showed that there were significant differences between the two groups in learning the skill. Specifically, the experimental group was better at all the elements of the service skill, except for the throw of the ball, which apparently is due to lack of coordination of athletes at this age. It is suggested that coaches can use the self-regulated feedback, for better performance and learning and to develop athletes' internal cognitive processes (AU)

El propósito de la presente investigación fue estudiar el efecto de realimentación autorregulado en la adquisición y el aprendizaje de la habilidad de servicio volado de voleibol en los jugadores novatos femenino 10-11 años de edad. Veintiocho 28 atletas de principiante de 10-11 años de edad y con una experiencia de entrenamiento de 2 años participaron en este estudio. Los atletas fueron divididos aleatoriamente en dos grupos, el experimentales (n = 14) y el grupo control (n = 14). Los atletas de ambos grupos siguieron un programa de entrenamiento de cinco semanas con dos unidades por semana, que incluye ejercicios para el aprendizaje de la habilidad de servicio. Los atletas del grupo experimental fueron capaces de solicitar retroalimentación siempre que quisieran, mientras los atletas del grupo control siguieron el programa para el aprendizaje de la habilidad, tomando información (conocimiento de resultados), siempre se ha considerado necesario por la entrenador. Los resultados mostraron que hubo diferencias significativas entre los dos grupos en el aprendizaje de la habilidad. En concreto, el grupo experimental fue mejor en todos los elementos de la habilidad de servicio, excepto el tiro de la bola, que al parecer es debido a la falta de coordinación de los atletas de esta edad. Se sugiere que entrenadores pueden utilizar la retroalimentación autorregulada, para mejor rendimiento y aprendizaje y para desarrollar procesos cognitivos internos de los atletas (AU)

O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi estudar o efeito de auto regulação feedback sobre a aquisição e a aprendizagem da habilidade de voleibol serviço overhand em jogadoras de noviço 10-11 anos de idade. Vinte e oito 28 atletas do sexo feminino iniciante com 10-11 anos de idade e com uma experiência de formação de 2 anos participaram do estudo. As atletas foram divididas aleatoriamente em dois grupos, o experimentais (n = 14) e grupo controle (n = 14). Os atletas de ambos os grupos seguiram um programa de treinamento de cinco semanas com duas unidades por semana, que incluiu exercícios para a aprendizagem da habilidade serviço. Os atletas do grupo experimental foram capazes de pedir feedback sempre que quisessem, enquanto os atletas do grupo controle seguiram o programa para aprender a habilidade, levando o gabarito (conhecimento de desempenho), sempre que considerou necessário pela treinador. Os resultados mostraram que houve diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos em aprender a habilidade. Especificamente, o grupo experimental foi melhor em todos os elementos de habilidade o serviço, exceto para o arremesso da bola, que aparentemente é devido à falta de coordenação dos atletas nesta idade. Sugere-se que treinadores podem usar o feedback de auto regulação, para melhor desempenho e aprendizagem e para desenvolver processos cognitivos internos dos atletas (AU)

Validez factorial y fiabilidad de la versión española del Sport Imagery Ability Questionnaire (SIAQ) / Validade fatorial e fabilidade da versão em espanhol do questionário Sport Imagery Ability Questionnaire (SIAQ) / Factorial validity and reliability of the spanish version of Sport Imagery Ability Questionnaire (SIAQ)

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo encontrar evidencias de validez factorial y fiabilidad del Sport Imagery Ability Questionnaire SIAQ (Williams y Cumming, 2011) en una versión traducida al castellano y denominada Cuestionario de Habilidad de Imaginería en el Deporte (CHID). Evalúa la facilidad a la hora de generar imágenes de diferente contenido de los y las deportistas en cinco ámbitos diferentes Estrategia, Adversidad, Habilidad, Afectos y Logro. Se ha llevado a cabo un estudio con una muestra de 360 deportistas, 93 mujeres y 267 hombres, de diferentes modalidades tanto individuales como colectivas. Tomando el modelo teórico final del estudio de Williams y Cumming (2011) se llevó a cabo un Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio (AFC) que reveló un modelo de 5 factores y 15 ítems con evidencias de validez factorial. Asimismo, se llevaron a cabo un análisis de consistencia interna (alfa de Cronbach, fabilidad compuesta y promedio de varianza explicada), y otro de estabilidad temporal (test-retest con un intervalo de un mes entre la primera y la segunda vez que completan el cuestionario) para hallar evidencias de fabilidad del instrumento. En general, el CHID demuestra una buena validez factorial y consistencia interna (AU)

This research aimed to find evidence of the validity and reliability of the Sport Imagery Ability Questionnaire SIAQ (Williams and Cumming, 2011) in a Spanish translated version called "Cuestionario de Habilidad de Imaginería en el Deporte" (CHID). The SIAQ is a 15 item questionnaire to assess five types of athlete imagery ability: skill imagery ability, strategy imagery ability, goal imagery ability, affect imagery ability, and mastery imagery ability. The study consisted of a sample of 360 athletes, 93 women and 267 men, of different individual and team sports. Taking the final theoretical model of Williams and Cumming (2011), the researchers conducted a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) that revealed a model of 5 factors and 15 items with evidence of factorial validity. Furthermore, an analysis of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability and Average Variance Extracted) and a test-retest analysis were carried out, with a time interval of a month in between, to find evidence of the reliability of the instrument. In general, the CHID demonstrates good factorial validity and internal reliability (AU)

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo encontrar evidências de validade e confiabilidade do questionário Sport Imagery Ability Questionnaire SIAQ (Williams e Cumming, 2011) em uma versão traduzida em espanhol chamada «Cuestionario de Habilidad de Imaginería en el Deporte» (CHID, Cuestionário de Habilidade de Imagiologia no Deporte). O SIAQ é um questionário de 15 itens para avaliar cinco tipos de habilidades de imaginação de atleta diferentes: habilidade de imaginação, habilidade de capacidade de estratégia, habilidade de imagem de objetivo, habilidade de imagem de afeto e habilidade de imagem de domínio. O estudo consistiu de uma amostra de 360 atletas, 93 mulheres e 267 Homens, de diferentes esportes individuais e de equipe. Considerando o modelo teórico final de Williams e Cumming (2011), os pesquisadores realizaram uma análise de fatores confrmatória (CFA) que revelou um modelo de 5 fatores e 15 itens com evidência de validade. Realizou-se também uma análise de consistência interna (alfa de Cronbach, confiabilidade composta e variância média extraída). Por fim, foi feita uma análise teste-reateste com um intervalo de tempo de um mês entre os dois. Em geral, o CHID que demonstra boa validade fatorial e confiabilidade interna (AU)

Ability and sex differences in spatial thinking: What does the mental rotation test really measure?

Spatial ability tests are often interpreted as measuring facility with imagined spatial transformations of objects. But some spatial ability tests can be solved by analytic strategies as well as imagery transformation strategies. In the present study, participants gave verbal protocols while completing items on the Vandenberg and Kuse (Perceptual & Motor Skills, 4, 599-604, 1978) mental rotation test, and/or reported the strategies they had used on the test. Most participants used both imagery transformation and analytic strategies (i.e., feature-based, orientation-independent strategies) to solve the test items. Use of one analytic strategy, the global-shape strategy, was positively correlated with accuracy. Specifically, some of the most successful students used this strategy to eliminate answer choices, reducing the need for mental imagery. Men outperformed women, as is typical on this test, and were more likely than women to use the global-shape strategy, in particular, and more holistic strategies, in general. These results argue against the mental rotation test as a measure of spatial imagery alone and suggest that the ability to discover and use more efficient analytic strategies may be an important additional component of what this test measures.

Maximizing the persuasiveness of a salesperson: an exploratory study of the effects of nonverbal immediacy and language power on the extent of persuasion / Cómo maximizar la capacidad de persuasión de un vendedor: estudio exploratorio de los efectos de la cercanía no verbal y el poder del lenguaje en el grado de persuasión

The present study investigated the effects of a salesperson’s use of language power and nonverbal immediacy on the persuasiveness of the salesperson. A high level of language power and a high level of nonverbal immediacy were hypothesized to singularly and jointly increase a salesperson’s level of persuasiveness. A sample of 211 undergraduate students voluntarily completed an online survey, which displayed a video clip of a sales presentation. Each participant randomly viewed one of four video clips, which differed in terms of the salesperson’s levels of language power (powerful vs. powerless) and nonverbal immediacy (high vs. low). A three-way ANOVA indicated that language power had a significant main effect on persuasion in the expected direction, and also revealed a significant interaction between nonverbal immediacy and participant biological sex. However, there were no main effects for nonverbal immediacy and participant biological sex, and no interaction effect was found between language power and nonverbal immediacy. Subsequent data analysis revealed that the perceived power of the speaker mediated the relationship between language power and the extent of persuasion. We conclude the article with a discussion of the implications of our findings for both researchers and practitioners (AU)

Este estudio investiga los efectos de la utilización por parte de los vendedores del poder del lenguaje y de la cercanía no verbal en la persuasión del vendedor. Se postula que un grado elevado de poder del lenguaje y de cercanía no verbal aumentarán tanto individualmente como conjuntamente el nivel de persuasión del vendedor. Una muestra compuesta por 211 estudiantes universitarios cumplimentó voluntariamente una encuesta online que mostraba un video de una presentación de ventas. Cada participante vio al azar uno de los cuatro videos, que se diferenciaban en el grado de poder del lenguaje (poderoso vs. incapaz) y de cercanía (elevada vs. baja) no verbal del vendedor. Un ANOVA de tres factores indicaba que el poder del lenguaje tenía un efecto principal significativo en la persuasión en la dirección esperada, así como una interacción significativa entre la proximidad no verbal y el sexo biológico de los participantes. No obstante, no había efectos principales para la cercanía no verbal o el sexo biológico de los participantes ni se encontró interacción entre el poder del lenguaje y la proximidad no verbal. Un análisis de datos posterior reveló que el poder percibido del hablante mediatizaba la relación entre el poder del lenguaje y el grado de persuasión. El artículo finaliza con un debate sobre las implicaciones de los resultados para investigadores y los profesionales (AU)

Investigating the social behavioral dynamics and differentiation of skill in a martial arts technique.

Coordinating interpersonal motor activity is crucial in martial arts, where managing spatiotemporal parameters is emphasized to produce effective techniques. Modeling arm movements in an Aikido technique as coupled oscillators, we investigated whether more-skilled participants would adapt to the perturbation of weighted arms in different and predictable ways compared to less-skilled participants. Thirty-four participants ranging from complete novice to veterans of more than twenty years were asked to perform an Aikido exercise with a repeated attack and response, resulting in a period of steady-state coordination, followed by a take down. We used mean relative phase and its variability to measure the steady-state dynamics of both the inter- and intrapersonal coordination. Our findings suggest that interpersonal coordination of less-skilled participants is disrupted in highly predictable ways based on oscillatory dynamics; however, more-skilled participants overcome these natural dynamics to maintain critical performance variables. Interestingly, the more-skilled participants exhibited more variability in their intrapersonal dynamics while meeting these interpersonal demands. This work lends insight to the development of skill in competitive social motor activities.

Motor imagery ability and internal representation of movement in children with probable developmental coordination disorder.

It has been hypothesised that deficits in the functioning of the mirror neuron system (MNS) and internal modelling may contribute to the motor impairments associated with DCD. These processes can be explored behaviourally through motor imagery paradigms. Motor imagery proficiency of children with and without probable DCD (pDCD) was examined using a complex hand rotation task to explore whether motor imagery strategies could be used during more complex tasks. Forty-four boys aged 7-13 years participated, 22 with pDCD (mean = 9.90 years ± 1.57) and 22 controls (mean = 9.68 years ± 1.53). Participants completed the task twice: with and without motor imagery instructions. Stimuli were presented in two rotational axes--palm/back, and eight 45° rotational steps. Both groups showed evidence of following the biomechanical and postural constraints of actual movements. Responses of children with pDCD were slower and less accurate than controls, with group differences increasing alongside task complexity. A greater impact of biomechanical constraints for accuracy was observed in the DCD group. The response characteristics of children with pDCD likely reflects a reduced capacity to mentally manipulate a body schema and reduced visuo-motor processing capabilities. Behaviourally, these processes are linked to MNS and internal modelling function, suggesting deficits in these systems may contribute to the movement difficulties characteristic of DCD.

The association of noise sensitivity with music listening, training, and aptitude.

After intensive, long-term musical training, the auditory system of a musician is specifically tuned to perceive musical sounds. We wished to find out whether a musician's auditory system also develops increased sensitivity to any sound of everyday life, experiencing them as noise. For this purpose, an online survey, including questionnaires on noise sensitivity, musical background, and listening tests for assessing musical aptitude, was administered to 197 participants in Finland and Italy. Subjective noise sensitivity (assessed with the Weinstein's Noise Sensitivity Scale) was analyzed for associations with musicianship, musical aptitude, weekly time spent listening to music, and the importance of music in each person's life (or music importance). Subjects were divided into three groups according to their musical expertise: Nonmusicians (N = 103), amateur musicians (N = 44), and professional musicians (N = 50). The results showed that noise sensitivity did not depend on musical expertise or performance on musicality tests or the amount of active (attentive) listening to music. In contrast, it was associated with daily passive listening to music, so that individuals with higher noise sensitivity spent less time in passive (background) listening to music than those with lower sensitivity to noise. Furthermore, noise-sensitive respondents rated music as less important in their life than did individuals with lower sensitivity to noise. The results demonstrate that the special sensitivity of the auditory system derived from musical training does not lead to increased irritability from unwanted sounds. However, the disposition to tolerate contingent musical backgrounds in everyday life depends on the individual's noise sensitivity.

Rasch-master's partial credit model in the assessment of children’s creativity in drawings

The purpose of the present study was to use the Partial Credit Model to study the factors of the Test of Creativity in Children and identify which characteristics of the creative person would be more effective to differentiate subjects according to their ability level. A sample of 1426 students from first to eighth grades answered the instrument. The Partial Credits model was used to estimate the ability of the subjects and item difficulties on a common scale for each of the four factors, indicating which items required a higher level of creativity to be scored and will differentiate the more creative individuals. The results demonstrated that the greater part of the characteristics showed good fit indices, with values between 0.80 and 1.30 both infit and outfit, indicating a response pattern consistent with the model. The characteristics of Unusual Perspective, Expression of Emotion and Originality have been identified as better predictors of creative performance because requires greater ability level (usually above two standard deviation). These results may be used in the future development of an instrument’s reduced form or simplification of the current correction model (AU)

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Managing multiple roles: development of the work-family conciliation strategies scale

Juggling the demands of work and family is becoming increasingly difficult in today's world. As dual-earners are now a majority and men and women's roles in both the workplace and at home have changed, questions have been raised regarding how individuals and couples can balance family and work. Nevertheless, research addressing workfamily conciliation strategies is limited to a conflict-driven approach and context-specific instruments are scarce. This study develops an instrument for assessing how dual-earners manage their multiple roles detaching from a conflict point of view highlighting the work-family conciliation strategies put forward by these couples. Through qualitative and quantitative procedures the Work-Family Conciliation Strategies Scales was developed and is composed by 5 factors: Couple Coping; Positive Attitude Towards Multiple Roles, Planning and Management Skills, Professional Adjustments and Institutional Support; with good adjustment [χ2/df = 1.22; CFI = .90, RMSEA = .04, SRMR = .08.] and good reliability coefficients [from .67 to .87]. The developed scale contributes to research because of its specificity to the work-family framework and its focus on the proactive nature of balancing work and family roles. The results support further use of this instrument (AU)

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Auditory implicit semantic priming in Spanish-speaking children with and without specific language impairment

We analyzed whether Spanish-speaking children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) showed deficits in lexical-semantic processing/organization, and whether these lexical measures correlated with standardized measures of language abilities. Fourteen children with Typical Language Development (TLD) and 16 age-matched children with SLI (8;0-9;11 years) participated. In a Lexical Decision (LD) task with implicit semantic priming, children judged whether a given speech pair contained two words (semantically related/unrelated) or a word-pseudoword. Children received a comprehensive language and reading test battery. Children with TLD exhibited significant semantic priming; they were faster for semantically related word pairs than for unrelated (p < .001) and than for word-pseudoword pairs (p < .0002). The group with SLI did not exhibit significant semantic priming, despite showing more variability. Children with SLI made significantly slower LDs [F(1, 26) = 4.61, p < .05, partial η2 = .15] and more errors [F(1, 26) = 4.16, p < .05, partial η2 = .13] than children with TLD. Mean response time across all LD conditions and the receptive vocabulary (PPVT-III) were significantly negativity correlated for children with SLI (r = -.71, p = .004). Children with SLI, especially those with the poorest language scores, showed a semantic-lexical deficit and a weakness in lexical-semantic association networks. Their performance on the LD task was significantly slower and poorer than for children with TLD. Increasing a child’s vocabulary may benefit lexical access (AU)

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Sobre o desenvolvimento do talento no desporto: um contributo dos modelos teóricos do desenvolvimento desportivo / Athlete development models

Con este artículo, se pretende, globalmente, sintetizar algunos de los avances más importantes de las últimas décadas sobre el tema del talento en deporte, pero también contribuir para que los diferentes agentes deportivos, particularmente dirigentes y entrenadores, los pueden reconocer y aplicar en sus prácticas. Así, inicialmente se presenta una breve evolución histórica que procura explorar como si ha pasado de una perspectiva basado en la idea de la detección de rasgos innatos que podrían predecir el éxito deportivo, para una perspectiva de desarrollo del talento y para un marco holístico de lo atleta y de su contexto. En seguida, lo artículo presenta una retrospectiva sobre varios modelos teóricos que han sido avanzados en lo ámbito de la psicología del deporte, a saber, modelos basados en las transiciones de la carrera y los basados en lo desarrollo del talento y de la pericia. Finalmente en cuanto modelo conceptual más referenciado en la literatura, se hace una análisis con detalle del Modelo de Desarrollo de la Participación Deportiva (Côté, Baker y Abernethy, 2007), en particular con respecto a los procesos de desarrollo relativos a las normas de entrenamiento (e.g., diversificación y especialización) y las influencias psicosociales, aspectos que están en la base de todo el desarrollo del atleta (AU)

With this article, we aim to offer a conceptual synthesis of some of the most important developments in past decades on the subject of talent in sport, while also helping sports stakeholders, particularly managers and coaches, to recognize and apply these conclusions in their practices. The article starts with a brief historical review, which explores how there has been a shift from a talent detection perspective to a talent development perspective and to a holistic vision of athletes and their background context. Secondly, the article presents an overview of the main theoretical models put forward in literature on sport psychology, including career-transition-based models and talent-and-expertise-based models. Finally, as the conceptual model most widely referred to in literature, a detailed analysis of the Development Model of Sports Participation (Côté, Baker & Abernethy, 2007), is made, especially with regard to development processes relating to standards of practice (e.g. diversification and specialization) and psychosocial influences, aspects that form the basis of all-round athlete development (AU)

Measure of the ability to rotate mental images / Medida de la aptitud para rotar imágenes mentales

The aim of this study was to design an innovative test to measure the ability to rotate mental images. An unfolded cube was designed, which participants had to reassemble mentally, prior to mentally rotating the image, and answering 23 questions concerning the cube. The Measure of the Ability to Rotate Mental Images (MARMI) test was administered to 354 participants. Cronbach alpha was .90, and high correlations between this test and other image rotation and spatial image tests were found. However, poor correlations were observed between test scores and the responses to the visual imagery vividness questionnaire. Both test reliability and validity underscore that it is a good instrument for measuring the ability to rotate mental images (AU)

El objetivo del presente trabajo era construir un nuevo test que midiese la capacidad de rotar imágenes mentales. Para ello, se construyó un cubo descompuesto que los participantes debían componer mentalmente, y después rotar, también mentalmente, y contestar a 23 preguntas referidas al cubo. Se aplicó el test, Medida de la Aptitud para Rotar Imágenes Mentales (MARMI), a un grupo de 354 participantes. Se encontró un alfa de Cronbach de .90, y altas correlaciones del test con otros tests de rotación de imágenes y de imágenes espaciales. Sin embargo, se han encontrado bajas correlaciones entre las puntuaciones del test y las respuestas a cuestionarios de viveza de imagen visual. Tanto la fiabilidad como la validez del test lo convierten en un buen instrumento para la medida de la capacidad de las personas para rotar imágenes mentales (AU)

Learning and liking of melody and harmony: further studies in artificial grammar learning.

Much of what we know and love about music is based on implicitly acquired mental representations of musical pitches and the relationships between them. While previous studies have shown that these mental representations of music can be acquired rapidly and can influence preference, it is still unclear which aspects of music influence learning and preference formation. This article reports two experiments that use an artificial musical system to examine two questions: (1) which aspects of music matter most for learning, and (2) which aspects of music matter most for preference formation. Two aspects of music are tested: melody and harmony. In Experiment 1 we tested the learning and liking of a new musical system that is manipulated melodically so that only some of the possible conditional probabilities between successive notes are presented. In Experiment 2 we administered the same tests for learning and liking, but we used a musical system that is manipulated harmonically to eliminate the property of harmonic whole-integer ratios between pitches. Results show that disrupting melody (Experiment 1) disabled the learning of music without disrupting preference formation, whereas disrupting harmony (Experiment 2) does not affect learning and memory but disrupts preference formation. Results point to a possible dissociation between learning and preference in musical knowledge.

La transposición frecuencial. Incidencia en las habilidades de identificación y el reconocimiento auditivo en jóvenes con pérdidas auditivas profundas / Frequency transposition. Impact on identification skills, auditory comprehension, and voice quality in young adults with profound hearing loss

A partir de la necesidad de facilitar la percepción de los rasgos acústicos más agudos de los fonemas del habla, se presenta un estudio sobre los cambios observados en un grupo de jóvenes con discapacidad auditiva severa-profunda, después de utilizar la transposición frecuencial proporcionada por unos audífonos digitales Mind440-19, mediante el extensor de audibilidad. La muestra del estudio la constituyó un grupo de 7jóvenes con edades comprendidas entre los 13 y los 25años, divididos en dos grupos, en función de su configuración audiométrica. El primer grupo estuvo formado por 4participantes con una pérdida auditiva promedio de 99dB. El segundo grupo presentó una pérdida mayor, con un promedio de 105 dB para ambos oídos. El beneficio de la transposición frecuencial se comprobó mediante una batería de pruebas que incluía el test de Ling, un test de identificación y otro de reconocimiento de palabras. Las pruebas fueron administradas después de 4, 8 y 12semanas de emplear los nuevos audífonos y se compararon con los resultados obtenidos con los anteriores audífonos empleados por los participantes en este estudio, sin el extensor de audibilidad activado (AU)

Based on the need to enhance perception of more high-pitched acoustic features of speech phonemes, we present this study on the changes observed in a group of young people with severe-profound hearing impairment after trialling the frequency transposition technology of the Mind440-19 hearing aid, using the Audibility Extender. The sample of the study was a group of 7young people with ages ranging from 13 to 25years, divided into two groups based on their audiometric configuration. The first group consisted of 4subjects with a mean pure tone of 99dB. The second group had more profound hearing loss, with a mean pure tone of 105dB in both ears. Frequency transposition benefit was measured through a test battery including Ling's test, an identification test and a word recognition test. Tests were administered after 4, 8, and 12weeks of hearing aid use, and compared with results from the previous hearing aids used by the participants, with their Audibility Extender off (AU)

Influência dos ritmos circadianos na temperatura corporal, no sistema cardiovascular, no desempenho psicomotor e neuromuscular / Influence of circadian rhythms in body temperature, cardiovascular system, psychomotor and neuromuscular performance

Objetivo. El ritmo circadiano consiste en los cambios cíclicos que ocurren en el período de 24 h, pudiendo interferir en el desempeño humano. El objetivo del presente fue comparar los resultados de las variables fisiológicas, neuromusculares y del tiempo de reacción obtenidos en diferentes horarios del día. Método. Los 30 voluntarios (15 hombres y 15 mujeres) realizaron un conjunto de pruebas por la mañana (10 h), tarde (16 h) y noche (20 h). Las variables analizadas fueron la temperatura corporal (temperatura oral), la frecuencia cardíaca, la presión arterial (sistólica y diastólica), el tiempo de reacción, la flexibilidad, la agilidad, la velocidad, la potencia muscular y la fuerza muscular. Resultados. En la mayoría de las variables estudiadas no fue constatada la variación circadiana. Sin embargo, en el grupo masculino, la temperatura corporal fue estadísticamente mayor por la tarde (36,3 ± 0,4 °C) y por la noche (36,4 ± 0,3 °C) en comparación con la mañana (35,9 ± 0,5 °C), y la agilidad fue estadísticamente menor (lo que refleja un mayor rendimiento) por la tarde (10,9 ± 0,8 s) en comparación con la mañana (11,4 ± 0,8 s). Mientras que en el grupo de mujeres, la presión arterial sistólica fue estadísticamente mayor por la mañana (111,7 ± 7 mmHg) en comparación con la tarde (107,7 ± 7 mmHg) y la impulsión vertical fue estadísticamente mayor por la tarde (37,3 ± 6,5 cm) en comparación con la mañana (35,3 ± 7,1 cm). Conclusión. Los datos sugieren que la respuesta de la mayoría de las variables estudiadas no sufren la influencia de la hora del día (10, 16 e 20 h)(AU)

Objective. The circadian rhythm consists on the cyclic changes that occur in the 24 h period, which might interfere in the human performance. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of the physiologic and neuromuscular variables and of the reaction time obtained in different times of the day. Method. The 30 volunteers (15 men and 15 women) performed a battery of tests in the morning (10 h), in the afternoon (16 h) and at night (20 h). The analyzed variables were the body temperature (oral temperature), heart rate, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), reaction time, flexibility, agility, velocity (30 m sprint), the muscle power (medicine ball throw, long and sargent jump) and muscle strength. Results. In the majority of the studied variables there was no circadian variation. However, for the male group, body temperature was statiscally higher in the afternoon (36.3 ± 0.4 °C) and at night (36.4 ± 0.3 °C) compared morning (35. 9 ± 0.5 °C) and agility was statiscally lower (reflecting higher performance) in the afternoon (10.9 ± 0.8 sec) compared morning (11.4 ± 0.8 sec). While in the female group, systolic blood pressure was statiscally higher in the morning (111.7 ± 7 mmHg) compared afternoon (107.7 ± 7 mmHg) and vertical jump was statiscally higher in the afternoon (37.3 ± 6.5 cm) compared morning (35.3 ± 7.1 cm). Conclusion. The data suggest that the response of the majority of the studied variables, do not suffer influence of the time of day (10, 16 and 20 h)(AU)

Subcortical processing of speech regularities underlies reading and music aptitude in children.

BACKGROUND: Neural sensitivity to acoustic regularities supports fundamental human behaviors such as hearing in noise and reading. Although the failure to encode acoustic regularities in ongoing speech has been associated with language and literacy deficits, how auditory expertise, such as the expertise that is associated with musical skill, relates to the brainstem processing of speech regularities is unknown. An association between musical skill and neural sensitivity to acoustic regularities would not be surprising given the importance of repetition and regularity in music. Here, we aimed to define relationships between the subcortical processing of speech regularities, music aptitude, and reading abilities in children with and without reading impairment. We hypothesized that, in combination with auditory cognitive abilities, neural sensitivity to regularities in ongoing speech provides a common biological mechanism underlying the development of music and reading abilities. METHODS: We assessed auditory working memory and attention, music aptitude, reading ability, and neural sensitivity to acoustic regularities in 42 school-aged children with a wide range of reading ability. Neural sensitivity to acoustic regularities was assessed by recording brainstem responses to the same speech sound presented in predictable and variable speech streams. RESULTS: Through correlation analyses and structural equation modeling, we reveal that music aptitude and literacy both relate to the extent of subcortical adaptation to regularities in ongoing speech as well as with auditory working memory and attention. Relationships between music and speech processing are specifically driven by performance on a musical rhythm task, underscoring the importance of rhythmic regularity for both language and music. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate common brain mechanisms underlying reading and music abilities that relate to how the nervous system responds to regularities in auditory input. Definition of common biological underpinnings for music and reading supports the usefulness of music for promoting child literacy, with the potential to improve reading remediation.

Variables predictivas del aprovechamiento formativo en la policía local / Predictive variables of training proficiency in the local police

La selección policial incluye un periodo de entrenamiento en el que los aspirantes adquieren conocimientos y destrezas relevantes para el trabajo. Este trabajo, realizado en la Policía Local de la ciudad de Zaragoza, examina la validez de la habilidad mental general, las dimensiones de personalidad y los conocimientos teóricos aplicados al trabajo, para predecir el aprovechamiento de la formación. Se realizaron análisis correlacionales, de regresión múltiple y path analysis con los datos correspondientes a 240 aspirantes a policía. Los resultados muestran que el aprovechamiento formativo se puede predecir a partir de la habilidad mental general, los conocimientos teóricos aplicados al puesto y tres dimensiones de personalidad, conciencia, apertura a la experiencia y amigabilidad. Se presenta un modelo causal que incluye los efectos directos e indirectos de las variables sobre el aprovechamiento de la formación en el caso de los policías locales(AU)

Police selection includes a period of training in which candidates acquire the relevant skills and knowledge for work. This study was carried out with the Local Police of Zaragoza. It examines the validity of general mental ability, the personality dimensions and theoretical knowledge applied to work, in order to predict training proficiency. A multiple regression correlational analysis and path analysis were carried out using the data of 240 candidates to be police officers. The results show that training proficiency can be predicted by general mental ability, theoretical knowledge applied to the job and three personality dimensions: conscientiousness, openness to experience and agreeableness. A causal model is presented, including the direct and indirect effects the variables have on training proficiency in the case of local police officers(AU)