Faculty publications - Kinesiology and Physical Education

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/1807/78338

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Skeletal muscle mechanisms contributing to improved glycemic control following intense interval exercise and training
(Elsevier B.V, 2023) Islam, Hashim; Gillen, Jenna B.
High-intensity and sprint interval training (HIIT and SIT, respectively) enhance insulin sensitivity and glycemic control in both healthy adults and those with cardiometabolic diseases. The beneficial effects of intense interval training on glycemic control include both improvements seen in the hours to days following a single session of HIIT/SIT and those which accrue with chronic training. Skeletal muscle is the largest site of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and plays an integral role in the beneficial effects of exercise on glycemic control. Here we summarize the skeletal muscle responses that contribute to improved glycemic control during and following a single session of interval exercise and evaluate the relationship between skeletal muscle remodelling and improved insulin sensitivity following HIIT/SIT training interventions. Recent evidence suggests that targeting skeletal muscle mechanisms via nutritional interventions around exercise, particularly with carbohydrate manipulation, can enhance the acute glycemic benefits of HIIT. There is also some evidence of sex-based differences in the glycemic benefits of intense interval exercise, with blunted responses observed after training in females relative to males. Differences in skeletal muscle metabolism between males and females may contribute to sex differences in insulin sensitivity following HIIT/SIT, but well-controlled studies evaluating purported muscle mechanisms alongside measurement of insulin sensitivity are needed. Given the greater representation of males in muscle physiology literature, there is also a need for more research involving female-only cohorts to enhance our basic understanding of how intense interval training influences muscle insulin sensitivity in females across the lifespan.
““The clothes (and the face) make the Starman”: Facial and clothing features shape self-other matching processes between human observers and a cartoon character
(2022) Welsh, Timothy N.; Patel, Shikha; Pathak, Aarohi; Jovanov, Kim
Anthropomorphization occurs when human characteristics are attributed to nonhuman animals or objects. One process that could facilitate the anthropomorphization of nonhuman animals may be a self-other body-part matching mechanism wherein the body of the nonhuman animal is conceptually mapped to the human observer’s representation of their body. The present study was designed to determine if specific features could facilitate body-part matching between the cartoon of a nonhuman animal and human observers. Participants responded to targets presented on the cartoon of a starfish. In No Structure conditions, dots and curved lines were distributed evenly within the starfish. In Face conditions, two dots and one curved line represented eyes and a mouth of a “face”. In Clothes conditions, dots and lines represented a shirt and pants. Body-part matching emerged when the image had a face or clothing, but did not emerge in No Structure conditions. These studies provide unique evidence that the anthropomorphization of a nonhuman cartoon may be facilitated by human-like internal features on the image.
Investigating the online control of goal directed actions to a tactile target on the body
(2022) Abdulrabba, Sadiya; Tremblay, Luc; Manson, Gerome
Movement corrections to somatosensory targets have been found to be shorter in latency and larger in magnitude than corrections to external visual targets. Somatosensory targets (e.g., body positions) can be identified using both tactile (i.e., skin receptors) and proprioceptive information (e.g., the sense of body position derived from sensory organs in the muscles and joints). Here, we investigated whether changes in tactile information alone, without changes in proprioception, can elicit shorter correction latencies and larger correction magnitudes than those to external visual targets. Participants made reaching movements to a myofilament touching the index finger of the non-reaching finger (i.e., a tactile target) and a light-emitting diode (i.e., visual target). In one-third of the trials, target perturbations occurred 100 ms after movement onset, such that the target was displaced 3 cm either away or toward the participant. We found that participants demonstrated larger correction magnitudes to visual than tactile target perturbations. Moreover, we found no differences in correction latency between movements to perturbed tactile and visual targets. Further, we found that while participants detected tactile stimuli earlier than visual stimuli, they took longer to initiate reaching movements to an unperturbed tactile target than an unperturbed visual target. These results provide evidence that additional processes may be required when planning movements to tactile versus visual targets and that corrections to changes in tactile target positions alone may not facilitate the latency and magnitude advantages observed for corrections to somatosensory targets (i.e., proprioceptive-tactile targets).
‘Safe Sport Is Not for Everyone’: Equity-Deserving Athletes’ Perspectives of, Experiences and Recommendations for Safe Sport
(2022) Gurgis, Joseph John; Kerr, Gretchen; Darnell, Simon
There is a growing concern that the voices of athletes, and in particular, athletes from equity-deserving groups, are unaccounted for in the development and advancement of Safe Sport initiatives. The lack of consideration of the needs and experiences of diverse groups is concerning, given the existing literature outside the context of sport indicating that equity-deserving individuals experience more violence. As such, the following study sought to understand how equity-deserving athletes interpret and experience Safe Sport. Grounded within an interpretive phenomenological analysis, semi-structured interviews were used to understand how athletes with marginalized identities conceptualize and experience Safe Sport. Seven participants, including two Black male athletes, two White, gay male athletes, one Middle Eastern female athlete, one White, female athlete with a physical disability, and one White, non-binary, queer, athlete with a physical disability, were asked to conceptualize and describe their experiences of Safe Sport. The findings revealed these athletes perceived Safe Sport as an unrealistic and unattainable ideal that cannot fully be experienced by those from equity-deserving groups. This interpretation was reinforced by reported experiences of discriminatory comments, discriminatory behaviours, and systemic barriers, perpetrated by coaches, teammates, and resulting from structural aspects of sport. The findings draw on the human rights literature to suggest integrating principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion is fundamental to safeguarding equity-deserving athletes.
Hand, but not foot, cues generate increases in salience at the pointed-at location
(Elsevier, 2020-10) Chen, Maggie; Karlinsky, April; Welsh, Timothy N.
One line of research has indicated that directional social cues, such as eye gaze and pointed fingers, increase the salience of spatial locations or objects in a relatively involuntary manner (social cueing effect). A separate line of research has indicated that the compatibility between the body part that is observed by an actor primes and facilitates responses with a similar body part more than a dissimilar body part (body-part compatibility effect). The present experiment investigated whether or not social cueing effects were modulated by the relationship between the responding effector and the body part observed as the cue. To this end, non-predictive directional hand or foot cues were presented 100 or 1000 ms prior to a target. On different blocks of trials, participants (n=19) executed discrete hand-button and foot-pedal responses to the location of a target to examine the influence of cue-effector body-part compatibility on social cueing effects. Response times (RTs) of hand and foot responses were shorter to cued targets than to uncued targets when hand cues were used. No cueing effects emerged when foot cues were used. The hand-only cueing effect emerged when either a hand or foot response was executed. These results suggest cueing effects are not modulated by the compatibility between limb used as the cue and effector, but rather they are determined by the body part used as the cue. Overall, the social relevance and learned use of a cue seem more pertinent than body-part matching of a stimulus type and response effector in social cueing.
A pragmatic approach to measuring physical literacy and behavioural outcomes in youth with and without disabilities
(Taylor and Francis, 2022-06-13) Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Kelly P.; Bremer, Emily; Leo, Jennifer; Wright, F. Virginia
This study used a pragmatic measurement approach to examine changes in physical literacy (PL) and physical activity (PA) behaviour outcomes associated with a community-based PL program for youth with and without disabilities. A single group, pre-post study was conducted with 67 youth (68.7% male; 62.7% with a disability; 12.2 +/-1.7 years) participating in a 16-week, inclusive PL program offered across three community sites. Valid, age-appropriate outcome measures were completed at baseline and post-program. Gains were found in movement competence (Cohen’s dz=0.99; n=46), overall self-regulated motivation (dz=0.29; n=43), confidence (dz=0.15 to 0.21; n=43), and minutes spent in moderate PA behaviour (dz=0.83; n=20). Peer relationships ratings (n=35) indicated strong social support, and mean weekly attendance was 78.5% (n=62). Findings provide evidence of gains in PL, particularly motor competence, and PA behaviour outcomes associated with PL program participation in youth with and without disabilities.
Choices in a key press decision-making task are more optimal after gaining both aiming and reward experience
(SAGE, 2020-12) Manzone, Joseph; Taravati, Saba; Neyedli, Heather F.; Welsh, Timothy, N.
When presented with two different target-penalty configurations of similar Maximum Expected Gain (MEG), participants prefer aiming to configurations with more advantageous spatial, rather than more advantageous gain parameters (Neyedli & Welsh, 2015b) – perhaps due to the motor system’s inherent prioritization of spatial information during movements with high accuracy demands such as aiming. To test this hypothesis, participants in the present studies chose between target-penalty configurations via key presses to reduce the importance of spatial parameters of the response and performance-related feedback. Configurations varied in spatial (target-penalty region overlap) and gain parameters (negative penalty values) and could have similar or different MEG. Choices were made without prior aiming experience (Experiment 1), after aiming experience provided information of movement variability (Experiment 2), or after aiming experience provided information of movement variability and outcome feedback (Experiment 3). Overall, configurations with advantageous spatial or gain parameters were chosen equally (Both-Similar condition) in all experiments. However, average behaviour at the group level was not reflective of the behaviour of most individual participants with three subgroups emerging: those with a value preference, distance preference, or no preference. In Experiments 1 and 2, these individual differences cannot be explained by MEG differences between configurations or participants’ movement variability, but these variables predicted choice behaviour in Experiment 3. Further in the Both-Different condition, participants only selected the larger MEG configuration at a level above chance when both variability and outcome information were given prior to the key press task (Experiment 3). In sum, the data indicate that prioritization of spatial information did not emerge at the group level when performing key presses and more optimal behaviour emerged when information regarding movement variability and outcome feedback were given.
Emotion focused therapy with injured athletes: Conceptualizing injury challenges and working with emotions
(Taylor and Francis, 2022-02-07) Tamminen, Katherine A.; Watson, Jeanne C.
Athletes’ emotional responses to injuries may include feeling sad, angry, anxious, frustrated, helpless, irritated, and confused about their identity as athletes. Emotions are central in athletes’ sport injury experiences, yet most therapeutic approaches described in the sport psychology literature are grounded in cognitive-behavioural traditions and strategies may tend to emphasize controlling or suppressing emotions. Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) is a robust, empirically-supported therapeutic approach grounded in experiential therapy and emotion theory that can be used to help athletes deal with injury-related difficulties. This position paper presents a rationale for using EFT in working with injured athletes. We review foundational principles of EFT and the conceptualization of emotions, emotion regulation, and dysregulation from an EFT perspective. Drawing on EFT theory, we present a conceptualization of five challenges and conflicts that arise within athletes’ injury experiences: (a) attending to the body and listening to the body; (b) tending to the pain versus pushing through pain; (c) interpersonal challenges and conflicts with others; (d) injuries as a challenge to athlete identity; and (e) concerns about time left in career and falling behind. Examples of ‘in vivo’ interactions between therapists and athletes are also presented to bring to life the use of EFT strategies and techniques, and we conclude with directions for future research and suggestions for practitioners to advance the use of EFT within the field of sport psychology. Lay summary: Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) is a process-experiential, person-centered therapeutic approach that holds promise for clinicians and therapists working with injured athletes. EFT could be used to evoke and experience emotions in therapeutic sessions in order to develop greater acceptance, awareness, and understanding about one’s emotions to facilitate healing and support athletes’ ongoing performance and sport careers.
Parent and child car-ride interactions before and after sport competitions and practices: Video analysis of verbal and non-verbal communication
(Elsevier, 2022-01) Katherine A., Tamminen; Bissett E., James; Sina, Azimi; Jeemin, Kim
Objective Parents’ behaviours have important implications for youth athletes’ sport experiences, and researchers have begun to examine parental communication with youth athletes. However, there is a lack of information about the range of behaviours in parent-child interactions, and much of the existing research has focused on parental verbal comments. Thus, there is a need to better understand the quality, quantity, and types of sport-related communication between parents and athletes that occurs before and after sport events. The purpose of the present study was to examine the nature of parent-child communication during the car ride to and from sport practices and games. Design Video recordings (N = 98 videos) of interactions during the car ride to and from sporting events were collected from 28 parent-child dyads (30 h of video in total). Sport-related conversations were analyzed to identify verbal and non-verbal behaviours and patterns of responses between parents and athletes. Results The amount of time spent talking about sport-related topics was minimal (12.9%) compared to non-sport-related conversations (28.5%) or periods of silence (59.0%). Parents provided more praise about their child’s performance than athletes did themselves. Parents’ praise and criticism typically consisted of general or task-oriented comments, with few instances of ego-oriented praise or criticism. Parents asked closed/descriptive questions most frequently, while open/reflective questions were asked least often. In several instances, parents interjected before athletes could respond to parents’ comments. Conclusions The results of this study identify a wider range of verbal and non-verbal behaviours than previously reported in the literature on parent-athlete communication in sport. The patterns of interactions and responses identified in this study provide a starting point for further research to understand parent-athlete communication and its contribution to positive developmental outcomes for youth athletes.
Prehabilitation in geriatric oncology
(2020-05) Santa Mina, Daniel; Alibhai, Shabbir M.H
With advancing age, older adults with cancer often face reductions in functional capacity and comorbid conditions become more prevalent. An overall state of deconditioning can be further exacerbated by a combination of sedentary behaviour and malnutrition that independently contribute to cachexia, morbidity and mortality. Collectively, these changes can induce a state of frailty that undermines the tolerability and safety of cancer treatments. For example, among older adults with cancer undergoing surgery, those who are classified as frail by common multidimensional instruments (e.g., Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment) have a higher risk of surgical complications, longer hospital stays, higher readmission rates, and higher mortality. Given that frailty indices typically capture functional, psychosocial, and/or nutritional assessments, interventions that target deficits in these health domains including exercise, stress reduction, and dietary optimization, respectively, may be particularly valuable for reducing the risk of potential treatment-related adverse effects. In fact, the evidence supporting the role of pre-treatment conditioning via one or more targeted health behaviours, referred to as prehabilitation, has rapidly grown in recent years, giving rise to questions about its potential role in models of care. In this commentary, we provide a synopsis of prehabilitation for the older adult with cancer, including a brief review of its origins in geriatric and clinical care, current applications, and a pragmatic implementation model for consideration.
Physiological responses to low-volume interval training in women
(2021-12-23) Skelly, Lauren E.; Bailleul, Celine; Gillen, Jenna B.
Interval training is a form of exercise that involves intermittent bouts of relatively intense effort interspersed with periods of rest or lower intensity exercise for recovery. Low-volume high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT) induce physiological and health-related adaptations comparable to traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in healthy adults and those with chronic disease despite a lower time commitment. However, most studies within the field have been conducted in men, with a relatively limited number of studies conducted in women cohorts across the lifespan. This review summarizes our understanding of physiological responses to low-volume interval training in women, including those with overweight/obesity or type 2 diabetes, with a focus on cardiorespiratory fitness, glycemic control, and skeletal muscle mitochondrial content. We also describe emerging evidence demonstrating similarities and differences in the adaptive response between women and men. Collectively, HIIT and SIT have consistently been demonstrated to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in women, and most sex-based comparisons demonstrate similar improvements in men and women. However, research examining insulin sensitivity and skeletal muscle mitochondrial responses to HIIT and SIT in women is limited and conflicting, with some evidence of blunted improvements in women relative to men. There is a need for additional research that examines physiological adaptations to low-volume interval training in women across the lifespan, including studies that directly compare responses to MICT, evaluate potential mechanisms, and/or assess the influence of sex on the adaptive response. Future work in this area will strengthen the evidence-base for physical activity recommendations in women.
Detecting endpoint error of an ongoing reaching movement: the role of vision, proprioception, and efference
(Taylor and Francis, 2021-12-16) Singh, Animesh K.; Gerome, Manson A.; Timothy, Welsh N.; Tremblay, Luc
Brief windows of vision presented during reaching movements contribute to endpoint error estimates. It is not clear whether such error detection processes depend on other sources of information (e.g., proprioception and efference). In the current study, participants were presented a brief window of vision and then judged whether their movement endpoint under- or over-shoot the target after: 1) performing an active reach; 2) being passively guided by a robotic arm; and 3) observing a fake hand moved by the robot arm. Participants were most accurate at estimating their endpoint error in the active movement conditions and least accurate in the action observation condition. Thus, efferent and proprioceptive information significantly contribute to endpoint error detection processes even with brief visual feedback.
Protein requirements for Master Athletes: just older versions of their younger selves
(2021-09-13) Moore, Daniel R.
It is established that protein requirements are elevated in athletes to support their training and post-exercise recovery and adaptation, especially within skeletal muscle. However, research on the requirements for this macronutrient has been performed almost exclusively in younger athletes, which may complicate their translation to the growing population of Master athletes (i.e. >35y old). In contrast to older (>65y) untrained adults who typically demonstrate anabolic resistance to dietary protein as a primary mediator of the ‘normal’ age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, Master athletes are generally considered successful models of aging as evidenced by possessing similar body composition, muscle mass, and aerobic fitness as untrained adults more than half their age. The primary physiology changes considered to underpin the anabolic resistance of aging are precipitated or exacerbated by physical inactivity, which has led to higher protein recommendations to stimulate muscle protein synthesis in older untrained compared to younger untrained adults. This review puts forth the argument that Master athletes have similar muscle characteristics, physiological responses to exercise, and protein metabolism as young athletes and therefore are unlikely to have protein requirements that are different from their young contemporaries. Recommendations for protein amount, type, and pattern will be discussed for Master athletes to enhance their recovery from and adaptation to resistance and endurance training.
Behavioural indexes of movement imagery ability are associated with the magnitude of corticospinal adaptation following movement imagery training
(Elsevier, 2022-02-15) Yoxon, Emma; Brillinger, Molly; Welsh, Timothy N.
Movement imagery (MI) is a cognitive process wherein an individual simulates themselves performing a movement in the absence of physical movement. The current paper reports an examination of the relationship between behavioural indexes of MI ability and the magnitude of corticospinal adaptation following MI training. Behavioural indexes of MI ability included data from a questionnaire (MIQ-3), a mental chronometry task, and a hand laterality judgment task. For the measure of corticospinal adaptation, single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was administered to elicit thumb movements to determine the representation of thumb movements before and after MI training. MI training involved participants imagining themselves moving their thumb in the opposite direction to the dominant direction of the TMS-evoked movements prior to training. Pre/post-training changes in the direction and velocity of TMS-evoked thumb movements indicated the magnitude of adaptation following MI training. The two main findings were: 1) a positive relationship was found between the MIQ-3 and the pre/post-training changes in the direction of TMS-evoked thumb movements; and 2) a negative relationship between the mental chronometry measure and both measures of corticospinal adaptation following MI training. These results indicate that both ease of imagery and timing of imagery could predict the magnitude of neuroplastic adaptation following MI training. Thus, both these measures may be considered when assessing imagery ability and determining who might benefit from MI interventions.
Quality of Participation Experiences in Special Olympics Sports Programs
(Human Kinetics Journals, 2021-11-05) Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Kelly P; Bruno, Natasha; Orr, Krystn; O’Rourke, Roxy; Wright, Virginia; Renwick, Rebecca; Bobbie, Kirsten; Noronha, James
This cross-sectional study examined experiential elements facilitating quality sport experiences for youth (ages 12-24) in Special Olympics, and the associated influences of sport program and sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 451 athletes involved in the 2019 Special Olympics Youth Games completed a survey assessing elements of quality participation (autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, mastery, meaning). T-tests investigated whether athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) rated elements differently across Traditional and Unified Sport. Regression analyses explored whether sport program and sociodemographic characteristics were predictors of these elements. Youth reported high mean scores across the elements, with no significant differences between athletes with IDD in Traditional or Unified Sport. Athletes with no reported disability rated higher autonomy than those who reported disability (p = .01). Women tended to report greater engagement in sport than men (p = .07). Findings provide theoretical and practical insights into youth’s quality sport participation in Special Olympics.
Interrupting prolonged sitting with repeated chair stands or short walks reduces postprandial insulinemia in healthy adult
(American Physiological Society, 2021-01-14) Gillen, Jenna B.; Estafanos, Stephanie; Williamson, Eric; Hodson, Nathan; Malowany, Julia M.; Kumbhare, Dinesh; Moore, Daniel R.
We determined if interrupting prolonged sitting with practical “activity snacks” could reduce postprandial glycemia and insulinemia in healthy adults. Fourteen participants (7 males, 7 females; 24 ± 5 yr; 25 ± 5 kg/m2; 40 ± 8 mL/kg/min; 7,033 ± 2,288 steps/day) completed three 7.5-h trials in a randomized order consisting of uninterrupted sitting (SIT), sitting with intermittent (every 30 min) walking (WALK; 2 min at 3.1 mph), or sitting with intermittent squats (SQUAT; 15 chair stands with calf raise). Mixed-macronutrient liquid meals provided 20% (“breakfast”) and 30% (“lunch”) of daily energy needs to mimic Western meal patterns. Blood samples were obtained for analysis of postprandial plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, and skeletal muscle biopsy samples were collected to measure markers of contraction- and insulin-mediated glucose uptake signaling. Postprandial glucose and insulin did not differ across conditions following breakfast. After lunch, peak insulin concentration was lower in SQUAT (52 ± 27, P < 0.01) and WALK (62 ± 35, P < 0.05) compared with SIT (79 ± 43 μIU/mL). The insulin incremental area under the curve (iAUC) 1 h following lunch was 37 and 29% lower in SQUAT (P < 0.01) and WALK (P < 0.05) compared with SIT, respectively; however, 3-h insulin iAUC was reduced in SQUAT only (24% vs. SIT, P < 0.05). The 3-h insulin:glucose iAUC was reduced following lunch in both SQUAT (30%) and WALK (23%) compared with SIT (P < 0.05). Phosphorylation of AKTThr308, AKTSer473, and AS160Ser318 was not different between conditions (P > 0.05). Interrupting prolonged sitting with short walks or repeated chair stands reduces postprandial insulinemia in healthy adults. Our results may have implications for mitigating cardiometabolic disease risk in adults who engage in periods of prolonged sitting.
Athletes’ Perspectives of Preparation Strategies in Open-Skill Sports
(Taylor & Francis, 2021-02-03) Bonk, Devin; Tamminen, Katherine. A
Preparation strategies (i.e., pre-game rituals, pre-performance routines) have long been a topic of study in sport psychology. However, previous research has focused on closed-skill tasks and employed methodologies that make it difficult to capture athletes’ perspectives of these behaviors. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of open-skill sport athletes regarding their preparation strategies. Nineteen high-performance athletes participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants described their perceptions of the structures and functions of the behaviors they consider to be part of their preparation strategies. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how athletes perceive what they do to prepare for a performance. Exploring athletes’ perspectives of this phenomenon allowed for existing theoretical representations of strategies to be compared to the lived experiences of the athletes who engage in them having implications for coaches and sport psychology consultants. Lay Summary: Many athletes have strategies they use to help prepare themselves to perform at their best. We asked 19 high-performance open-skill sport athletes to describe what their preparation strategies are and why they engage in them. Coaches and practitioners should consider their athlete’s perspective when working to establish an effective preparation strategy. Implications for practice Sport psychology practitioners should strive to understand what components an athlete perceives to be part of their preparation strategy and why they engage in them. Preparation strategies can help athletes achieve optimal physical, mental, and emotional states, which differ between athletes and contexts. Preparation strategies are tied to athletes’ individual identities, and in team sports, can help to build and maintain a team’s collective identity over the course of a season.
“When are you gonna commit?” Exploring the Experiences of Youth Athletes and Their Parents Prior to a Sporting Transition
(2021-06-02) Dunn, Rachel; Tamminen, Katherine. A
The aim of this research was to explore the experiences of youth athletes and their parents in the lead up to a sporting transition into the development years of competitive sport. Parents (n = 6) and children (n = 5) were interviewed from sports teams in the Greater Toronto Area. Case study methodology and phenomenological analysis were used to explore each athlete and parents’ individual experience and, where appropriate, cross-case comparisons were made. Results indicate that athletes experienced psychosocial challenges prior to their transition, such as anxiety about competitive soccer. Parents were the primary support network and experienced their own stressors such as shielding their child from organisational politics in youth sport. It is argued that some youth athletes participate in highly competitive sport and are encouraged to commit to an athletic career before they have successfully developed the psychosocial skills to manage the challenges associated with competitive sport. Results are discussed with regard to the holistic athletic careers model (Wylleman et al., [2013]. Athletes’ careers in Belgium: A holistic perspective to understand and alleviate challenges occurring throughout the athletic and post-athletic career. In N. B. Stambulova, T. V. Ryba, & T. V (Eds.), Athletes’ careers across cultures (1st ed, pp. 51–62). Routledge.). There is a need to conduct more research on the early transitions into competitive sport, which may not be developmentally appropriate for young athletes.
Susceptibility to the fusion illusion is modulated during both action execution and action observation
(2020-02-12) Welsh, Timothy N.; Reid, Connor; Manson, Gerome; Constable, Merryn D.; Tremblay, Luc
Many researchers have proposed that when an individual observes the actions of another individual, the observer simulates the action using many of the same neural areas that are involved in action production. The present study was designed to test this simulation hypothesis by comparing the perception of multisensory stimuli during both the execution and observation of an aiming action. The present work used the fusion illusion - an audio-visual illusion in which two visual stimuli presented with one auditory stimulus are erroneously perceived as being one visual stimulus. Previous research has shown that, during action execution, susceptibly to this illusion is reduced early in the execution of the movement when visual information may be more highly weighted than other sensory information. We sought to determine whether or not a non-acting observer of an action showed a similar reduction in susceptibility to the fusion illusion. Participants fixated a target and either executed or observed a manual aiming movement to that target. Audiovisual stimuli were presented at 0, 100, or 200 ms relative to movement onset and participants reported the number of perceived flashes after the movement was completed. Analysis of perceived flashes revealed that participants were less susceptible to the fusion illusion when the stimuli were presented early (100 ms) relative to later in the movement (200 ms). Critically, this pattern emerged in both execution and observation tasks. These findings support the hypothesis that observers simulate the performance of the actor and experience comparable real-time alterations in multisensory processing.
Examining the impact of the Respect in Sport Parent Program on the psychosocial experiences of minor hockey athletes
(Taylor and Francis, 2020-06-03) Tamminen, Katherine A.; McEwen, Carolyn E.; Kerr, Gretchen; Donnelly, Peter
Models of positive youth development suggest that athletes may be influenced by parent education programmes; however, there is little research examining the impact of such programmes on athlete outcomes. This study examined the impact of the Respect in Sport Parent Program on athlete outcomes among minor hockey players over three years. This study consisted of cross-sectional and longitudinal online surveys measuring athletes’ positive and negative developmental experiences, prosocial and antisocial behaviours, parental support and pressure, and sport enjoyment and commitment. Athletes completed at least one online survey during the study period (N = 366; 84.2% males; 14–19 years of age; M = 15.4 years), and 83 athletes completed multiple surveys for longitudinal analyses. Cross-sectional results comparing athletes in leagues adopting the programme at different time points indicated significant differences in prosocial behaviours towards teammates. Multilevel longitudinal analyses revealed improvements in athletes’ antisocial behaviours towards opponents, initiative, goal setting, and cognitive skills over time, regardless of whether they were in a league that implemented the programme. However, athletes in leagues that implemented the programme during the study reported greater improvements in antisocial behaviours towards opponents, and there were trends with respect to improved personal and social skills. These findings provide suggestions to improve the delivery and impact of parent education programmes in youth sport.

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