Thomas Finkenzeller

Frontal midline theta in the pre-shot phase of rifle shooting: Differences between experts and novices

In the present study the time course of frontal midline theta (Fmtheta) during the aiming period in rifle shooting was investigated. Experts (n=8) and novices (n=10) had to shoot repeatedly while EEG was recorded, and the time course of Fmtheta during the aiming period was significantly different between the two groups, showing a steady increase of power for the last 3s before the shot only for experts, but not for novices. Source analysis (LORETA) indicated a significantly stronger theta activity for experts strictly located at the anterior cingulate area and medial frontal cortex, locations well known for focused attention. The results suggest that experts and novices use different strategies during the aiming period. While novices keep a relatively constant amount of attention to the target, experts are able to increase attention exactly to the time point of the trigger pull.

Different types of resistance training in type 2 diabetes mellitus: effects on glycaemic control, muscle mass and strength.

Background: Resistance training has become a mainstay of exercise training in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, it remains controversial whether hypertrophy resistance training (HRT) is superior to endurance resistance training (ERT) with regard to its effects on glycaemic control, muscle mass and strength. Methods: Thirty-two patients with T2DM (13 men and 19 women; 64.8 ± 7.8 years) were randomly assigned to either eight weeks of HRT (n = 16; 2 sets, 10–12 repetitions, 70% of the one-repetition maximum (1-RM)) or ERT (n = 16; 2 sets, 25–30 repetitions, 40% 1-RM). In addition, all patients participated in aerobic exercise training (AET; 1 hour/day on 2 non-consecutive days/week; cycle ergometer; 70% of heart rate reserve). Results: After eight weeks of intervention, there were time but not group effects for reduced glucose and fructosamine levels, weight, BMI, waist circumference, subcutaneous abdominal fat, resting heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure; muscle mass of the arms and physical exercise capacity increased significantly. Significant time and group effects were documented for maximum strength of the chest, with a greater increase for HRT than ERT (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Specific maximal resistance training of the chest muscles led to superior gain in strength as compared to endurance resistance training. This, however, did not translate into superior values of glycaemic control, weight, waist circumference, muscle mass and physical work capacity, which all improved significantly by a similar magnitude in both groups. Since overall effects of both protocols were comparable, both may be offered to patients according to their personal preference.

Shooting under cardiovascular load: Electroencephalographic activity in preparation for biathlon shooting.

This study explored the influence of sub-maximal cardiovascular load on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity preceding biathlon shooting. Frontal-midline theta and alpha power were examined to assess monitoring processes and cortical inhibition, respectively. Thirteen experienced biathletes (mean age: 17years; 5 males, 8 females) fired sets of five consecutive shots from the standing position at a 50-meter-distant target, under two fixed-order conditions: (i) at rest and (ii) immediately after 3-minute exercise on a bicycle ergometer at 90% of maximum heart rate (HR). HR and rate of physical exertion (RPE) were measured as manipulation checks. Shooting accuracy was assessed in target rings for each shot. Frontal-midline theta and alpha power were computed in the last second preceding each shot from average-reference 61-channel EEG and inter-individual differences were minimized through a median-scaled log transformation (Appendix). HR and RPE increased under cardiovascular load, however, shooting accuracy did not change. Pre-shooting frontal-midline theta power decreased, whereas alpha power increased over temporal and occipital - but not central - regions. These changes were larger for greater HR values. Additionally, higher frontal-midline theta, lower left-central alpha, and higher left-temporal alpha power were associated with more accurate shooting. These findings suggest that monitoring processes are beneficial to shooting performance but can be impaired by sub-maximal cardiovascular load. Greater inhibition of movement-irrelevant regions (temporal, occipital) and concomitant activation of movement-related regions (central) indicate that greater neural efficiency is beneficial to shooting performance and can allow trained biathletes to shoot accurately despite physically demanding conditions.

Alpine Skiing With total knee ArthroPlasty (ASWAP): physical activity, knee function, pain, exertion, and well-being.

This study focused on the psychological and quality of life aspects of resuming alpine skiing practice after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in elderly skilled skiers. Two data pools were used in order to analyze psychological states: (a) at the beginning, at the end, and 8 weeks after a 12‐week skiing intervention; and (b) concerning diurnal variations of states (i.e., skiing days compared with everyday life during intervention and retention phase). In particular, effects of skiing on amount of physical activity and perceived exertion, perceived pain and knee function, and subjective well‐being were analyzed using a control group design. Results reveal that the skiing intervention substantially increases the amount of physical activity by the intervention group (122.30 ± 32.38 min/day), compared with the control group (75.14 ± 21.27 min/day) [F (2, 32) = 8.22, P < 0.01, η2 = 0.34)]. Additionally, the analyses of psychological states demonstrated that skiing goes along with enhanced well‐being and no significant impact on perceived pain, exertion or knee function. In sum, alpine skiing can be recommended for older persons with TKA with respect to well‐being, perceived pain and knee function, and perceived exertion.

Does a skiing intervention influence the psycho-social characteristics of the elderly?

The purpose of this study was to assess whether a guided alpine skiing intervention lasting 12 weeks has an impact on psycho‐social dimensions, measured by subjective assessments, of individuals who are 60+ years of age. A number of well‐established questionnaires were used to measure well‐being, life satisfaction, self‐concept, health status, depression and self‐efficacy. The physical self‐concept in the domain “strength” increased significantly in the intervention group from pre‐ to post‐test and remained stable through the retention test, whereas the control group demonstrated nearly no alteration. A similar effect was obtained in life satisfaction for the dimension “friends and relatives.” On the contrary, psycho‐social aspects of the elderly were not negatively influenced. The subjects of this study had very high pre‐test scores that might reflect a ceiling effect which, in turn, can explain the marginal positive impact of the intervention. The findings of this study argue for recommending a guided alpine skiing intervention for individuals who are 60 years of age and older with high values in psycho‐social variables.

Effect of a skiing intervention on the psycho-physiological reactivity and recovery in the elderly.

This study determined the effects of a skiing intervention lasting 12 weeks on the psycho‐physiological reactivity to and recovery from mental stressors in individuals who are 60+ years of age. In accordance with the cross‐stressor hypothesis, it was assumed that a skiing intervention optimizes psycho‐physiological pre‐conditions for coping with stress. A cognitive task was used to investigate stress‐induced changes (reactivity) in the high‐frequency (HF) component of the heart rate variability (HRV) and in the skin conductance level (SCL) as well as recovery from this stressor. The intervention group demonstrated a significant increase in maximal oxygen consumption that was not accompanied by alterations in HRV at rest. In comparison with the control group, there was no difference in the alteration of the reactivity and recovery in the HF component and in the SCL after completing the training. The findings indicate that neither the psycho‐physiological reactivity nor the recovery was influenced by the skiing intervention. It may be speculated that the intensity of the skiing intervention was too low to induce such adaptations. Therefore, further studies are encouraged to enhance the duration and intensity of the exercises to achieve adaptations of the autonomous nervous system of elderly individuals.

Sport type determines differences in executive functions in elite athletes

Objectives: Past research has indicated the significance of Executive Functions (EF) in several sports. According to the cognitive skill transfer hypothesis, training in specific cognitive tasks may have beneficial effects on related but untrained tasks. Considering the differing cognitive demands of several sports, differences in EF between sport types were addressed. Design: EF performances of elite athletes in static, interceptive, and strategic sports were compared using a cross sectional study design. Method: Austrian elite athletes (N = 184; 110 male/64 female; mean age 23.21 ± 4.48 years) of various sports conducted three tests at the starting point of their sport‐psychological consultancy, measuring inhibition and interference control (flanker task), cognitive shifting (adopted flanker task including a second task to shift response reactions) and working memory (2‐back task). Results: MANOVAs for each test indicated differences between sport types: Strategic sports revealed benefits in comparison to static sports in mean reaction times, cognitive shifting and to a certain extent working memory. Discriminant analysis clarified a significant differentiation between these three sport types considering the main scores of all three tests as independent variables. Conclusions: The results emphasize the role of EF in high‐performance sports and demonstrate that athletes differ in EF according to their individual sports. This finding suggests that the development of EF might be favored by the deliberate practice of strategic sports, and/or that EF might play a more prominent role in strategic sports. HighlightsDifferences in Executive Functions (EF) between sport types were detected.184 elite athletes of various sports conducted three tests measuring core EF.Athletes of strategic sports showed benefits on inhibition and shifting.Athletes of static sports showed worse EF performances.

The influence of physiobiomechanical parameters, technical aspects of shooting, and psychophysiological factors on biathlon performance: A review

The biathlon, an Olympic sporting discipline that combines cross-country skiing with rifle marksmanship, entails considerable physiological demands, as well as fine motor control while shooting after intense exercise and under mental pressure. Although much of our knowledge about cross-country skiing is probably also applicable to the biathlon, carrying the rifle and shooting under stress make this discipline somewhat unique. The present review summarizes and examines the scientific literature related to biathlon performance, with a focus on physiological and biomechanical factors and shooting technique, as well as psychophysiological aspects of shooting performance. We conclude with suggestions for future research designed to extend our knowledge about the biathlon, which is presently quite limited.

Consumer-Grade Brain Stimulation Devices in Sports: A Challenge for Traditional Sport Psychology?

The implementation of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques to improve sports performance is getting more and more popular. There are, however, practical and ethical concerns about the benefits of using NIBS in sports psychology. Two studies on the efficacy of two specific NIBS devices—AVWF method and OGIRO Modulation—were conducted and revealed no obvious benefits for cognitive and mental skills and psychophysiological activity in pupils and sport students. Recommendations derived from the empirical effectiveness of NIBS for the ethical application in routine training protocols are discussed. Finally, we suggest guidelines for sports psychologists who are faced with modern technological devices.

The influence of physical exercise on the relation between the phase of cardiac cycle and shooting accuracy in biathlon

Abstract This study examined the influence of physical exercise on the relation between shooting accuracy and the phase of the cardiac cycle in which the shot is fired. Thirteen experienced biathletes (8 females, mean age 17 years) fired from the standing position at rest and right after a submaximal exercise on a bicycle ergometer. Shooting accuracy and the timing of each shot relative to the R-waves of the electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded. Best shots (with greatest accuracy) and worst shots (with lowest accuracy) were fired prevalently in different phases of the cardiac cycle. In the rest condition, best shots were fired less frequently from 200 to 300 ms and more frequently from 500 to 600 ms after the R-wave, compared to worst shots. In the exercise condition, best shots were fired less frequently from 100 to 200 ms after the R-wave and from 20% to 30% of the R-R interval, compared to worst shots. These findings support the hypothesis that shooting accuracy is influenced by the cardiac cycle phase due to the ballistocardiac recoil generated at each heartbeat. To achieve best results athletes could be trained (e.g. through biofeedback) to fire within a specific phase of the cardiac cycle.