An automated approach for predicting HAMD-17 scores via divergent selective focused multi-heads self-attention network.

This study introduces the Divergent Selective Focused Multi-heads Self-Attention Network (DSFMANet), an innovative deep learning model devised to automatically predict Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAMD-17) scores in patients with depression. This model introduces a multi-branch structure for sub-bands and artificially configures attention focus factors on various branches, resulting in distinct attention distributions for different sub-bands. Experimental results demonstrate that when DSFMANet processes sub-band data, its performance surpasses current benchmarks in key metrics such as mean square error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and coefficient of determination (R2). This success is particularly evident in terms of MSE and MAE, where the performance of sub-band data is significantly superior, highlighting the model's potential in accurately predicting HAMD-17 scores. Concurrently, the experiment also compared the model's performance with sub-band and full-band data, affirming the superiority of the selective focus attention mechanism in electroencephalography (EEG) signal processing. DSFMANet, when utilizing sub-band data, exhibits higher data processing efficiency and reduced model complexity. The findings of this study underscore the significance of employing deep learning models based on sub-band analysis in depression diagnosis. The DSFMANet model not only effectively enhances the accuracy of depression diagnosis but also offers valuable research directions for similar applications in the future. This deep learning-based automated approach can effectively ascertain the HAMD-17 scores of patients with depression, thus offering more accurate and reliable support for clinical decision-making.

The effect of internal and external focus of attention on tennis skill acquisition in children.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of internal and external focus attention instructions on learning the tennis groundstroke (forehand-backhand drive) for children. Methods: A total of 60 (30 girls, 30 boys) children aged 10.24 ± 0.48 years were included in the study. Children were randomly divided into three groups: External Focused Group (EFG), Internal Focused Group (IFG), and Control Group (CG). Results: In the pre-training tests of tennis skill (TST) and tennis transfer (TTT), there was no significant difference between the three groups (EFG, IFG, and CG) according to one-way ANOVA results (p > 0.05). Significant interaction was determined between groups and measurements in a repeated-measures ANOVA analysis (three groups, three measurements) and TST and TTT (p < 0.01). According to the post-hoc analysis, it was determined that the TST results increased significantly in the EFG compared to the IFG and CG, and there was no significant difference in the TTT between the EFG and IFG, but both groups showed significant improvements compared to the CG. Conclusion: Instructions to children to focus attention externally facilitate learning the groundstroke (forehand-backhand) technique, which is one of the basic tennis techniques.

Global and Local Processing of Letters and Faces: The Role of Visual Focal Attention.

Studies in the literature have shown how the preference towards local or global processing can vary according to different characteristics of the stimuli involved, such as stimulus type and stimulus time duration. In the present study, we investigated whether letters and faces undergo similar or different global/local processing and the attentional mechanisms that might be linked to eventual differences. We used hierarchical, congruent, and incongruent letters and faces in different time conditions (180 and 500 ms) and we conducted three different experiments. The results of Experiment 1 showed that with stimuli shown for 180 ms, letters are processed more efficiently at the local level, with an inversion of the global interference effect. Conversely, faces are still processed more efficiently at the global level, with evidence of global advantage and global interference. The results of Experiment 2 showed that when the same stimuli are presented for longer (500 ms), they are still processed differently. Indeed, we observed faster local processing for letters but still a tendency, even if not significant, toward a global processing advantage for faces. Moreover, the cue-size effect, i.e., the ability to modulate visual focal attention based on the characteristics of the cue, was measured. In Experiment 3, the cue-size effect showed a statistically significant correlation with the local processing advantage for letters but not for faces. We conclude that during the almost automatic processing of letters it is possible to modulate focal attention on the basis of the task, narrowing the field of visual attention during the local task and neglecting the global stimulus. Conversely, during face processing, the holistic mechanism tends to prevail over focal attention modulation skills, even when it is explicitly required to focus on the local stimulus.

[Attentional focus instructions for therapeutic exercise in people with musculoskeletal disorders. A scoping review]. / Instrucciones con foco atencional durante el ejercicio terapéutico en personas con trastornos musculoesqueléticos. Una revisión de alcance.

Attentional focus instructions are verbal strategies that could maximize the effects of exercise. The objective of this review was to explore and synthesize the available evidence on the incorporation of attentional focus instruction in the exercise of people with musculoskeletal disorders. A search of 11 databases was carried out until October 2020. Of 4,227 studies identified in the searches, 15 were included. The studies showed deficiencies in the conceptualization and definition of attentional focus instructions. The available evidence indicates that external focus is effective in improving motor learning and function. However, methodological limitations, clinical heterogeneity, the small number of articles included, and new experimental studies challenge the conclusions of the systematic reviews available to date. Attentional focus instructions in musculoskeletal disorders is an emerging field and requires further research. This review is a guide for future studies.

Effects of a neuromuscular training program using external focus attention cues in male athletes with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Athletes who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction often exhibit persistent altered biomechanics and impaired function. Neuromuscular training programs appear to be effective for reducing high-risk landing mechanics and preventing primary ACL injuries; however, there have been few attempts to examine their effects in athletes who have undergone ACL reconstruction. The purpose of our study was to examine the effects of a neuromuscular training program that emphasizes external focus of attention cuing on biomechanics, knee proprioception, and patient-reported function in athletes who had undergone ACL reconstruction and completed conventional post-operative rehabilitation. METHODS: Twenty-four male athletes who had undergone primary, unilateral, hamstring autograft ACL reconstruction and completed conventional post-operative rehabilitation were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 12) who took part in an 8-week neuromuscular training program or a control group (n = 12) who continued a placebo program. The neuromuscular training program included lower extremity strengthening and plyometric exercises, balance training, and movement pattern re-training. Biomechanics during single-leg landing, knee proprioception, and patient-reported function were assessed before and after the 8-week training period. RESULTS: Athletes in the experimental group demonstrated increased trunk, hip, and knee flexion angles and decreased knee abduction, internal rotation angles and knee valgus during landing following the intervention. Further, the experimental group decreased their peak knee extension and abduction moments and vertical ground reaction force on landing post-intervention. International Knee Documentation Committee questionnaire (IKDC) scores increased in the experimental group following training. The control group demonstrated no changes in any variable over the same time period. CONCLUSIONS: Neuromuscular training with external focus of attention cueing improved landing biomechanics in patients after ACL reconstruction. Neuromuscular training programs beneficially mitigate second ACL injury risk factors and should be emphasized during and after traditional post-operative rehabilitation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials using the IRCT website with ID number of, IRCT20180412039278N1 "Prospectively registered" at 21/12/2018.

Improvement of Attention in Elementary School Students through Fixation Focus Training Activity.

The attentional problems of school children are a crucial topic due to abundant information in this digital era. There are five attention dimensions for children: focused attention, sustained attention, selective attention, alternating attention, and divided attention. Focused training is a traditional method of improving attention ability. Subjects are required to focus on a fixed point for an extensive period without blinking and to perceive small objects as large. This study investigates which types of attention indicators are influenced by focus training. Eighty-two grade five and six elementary school students (45 experiment group, 37 control group) were involved. The experiment group underwent focus training for 12 weeks. The training was conducted once per week, and the Attention Scales for Elementary School Children were used before and after the training to examine the children's attention. The percentile rank scores of five attention dimensions and the total attention scale were evaluated. The results gave difference data, defined as post-test results minus the pretest results, where significant differences occurred for the total scale (p < 0.05), focused attention (p < 0.05), and selective attention (p < 0.01). Participants also noted that the training helped them improve concentration during school lessons (54.15%), fall asleep (29.1%), and relax the body (8.4%).

La atención-concentraciónen el deporte de rendimento / A atenção-concentração no desportode rendimento / Attention-concentration in sportperformance

El empleo del proceso atencional y de concentración ha demostrado que mejora el rendimiento deportivo. Igualmente, el empleo del enfoque atencional también influye e impacta en la ejecución y aprendizaje deportivo, lo cual constituye una variable esencial en la preparación psicológica y deportiva de los atletas. No obstante, algunos entrenadores no conocen sobre los postulados teóricos que conciernen al proceso atencional. El objetivo de este manuscrito es ofrecer una visión general de la atención y concentración, al igual que ofrecer pautas teórico-prácticas aplicadas en las disciplinas deportivas. La revisión de literatura científica demuestra efectos potencialmente beneficiosos del foco atencional externo sobre el interno, principalmente en tareas de rendimiento y habilidades deportivas. Los estudios evidencian amplio sustento a la hipótesis de acción restringida, la cual sostiene que un enfoque atencional externo es más efectivo en relación al rendimiento, debido al control automático del movimiento. Por el contrario, una adopción de foco interno induce a que el movimiento sea más consciente y, en consecuencia, a perturbaciones del movimiento. Se describen las principales técnicas del mejoramiento y aprendizaje atencional, en consonancia con lo sugerido por las investigaciones, así como los factores distractores. Se alienta a replicar y desarrollar investigaciones en función al proceso atencional en contextos latinoamericanos ajustados a las condiciones particulares.

O emprego do processo de atenção e de concentração tem demonstrado que melhora o rendimento desportivo. Igualmente, o emprego do enfoque de atenção também influi e impacta na execução e aprendizagem desportiva,o qual constitui uma variável essencial na preparação psicológica e desportiva dos atletas. Não obstante, alguns treinadores não conhecem sobre os postulados teóricos que concernem ao processo de atenção. O objetivo deste manuscrito é oferecer uma visão geral da atenção e concentração,ao igual que oferecer pautas teórico-práticas aplicadas nas disciplinas desportivas.A revisão de literatura científica demonstra efeitos potencial mente benéficos do foco de atenção externos sobre o interno, principalmente em tarefas de rendimento e habilidades desportivas. Os estudos evidenciam amplo sustento à hipótese de ação restringida, a qual sustenta que um enfoque de atenção externo é mais efetivo em relação ao rendimento,devido ao controle automático do movimento. Pelo contrário, uma adopção de foco interno induza a que o movimento seja mais consciente e,em consequência, a perturbações do movimento. Descrevem-se as principais técnicas da melhoria e aprendizagem de atenção, de acordo com o sugerido pelas investigações, bem como os fatores de distrações. Alenta-se a replicar e desenvolver investigações em função ao processo de atenção em contextos latino-americanos ajustados às condições particulares.

The use of attentional and concentration process has been shown to improveathletic performance. Similarly, the use of attentional focus also influencesand impacts the learning performance and sporty, which is an essential variablein the psychological preparation of athletes and sports. However, somecoaches do not know about theoretical postulates concerning the attentionalprocess, therefore, the aim of this manuscript is to provide an overview ofattention and concentration, as well as provide theoretical and practical guidelinesapplied in sports. The review of scientific literature shows potentiallybeneficial effects of external attentional focus on domestic tasks primarily onperformance and sports skills. Studies show broad support for the hypothesisof restricted stock, which argues that an external attentional focus is moreeffective in relation to performance, because of the automatic control of themovement, adopting instead a pro-internal focusing induces the movementis more accordingly conscious movement disturbances. It describes the maintechniques attentional improvement and consistent learning as suggestedby the research, as well as distracting factors are encouraged to replicateand develop research according to the American context attentional processtailored to the particular condition.