motor learning

This study aimed at determining the effect of cathodal Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation (c-tDCS) of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) on learning simple volleyball serves. This semi-experimental study was performed as pre-test and post-test with a control group. Thirty male volleyball players with an average age of 14±0.50 years were selected through purposeful sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The participants were randomly assigned to experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. During eight consecutive sessions, the left DLPFC of participants was stimulated for 10 min using sham and real c-tDCS of 1.5 mA before each session. The participants then performed 35 simple volleyball serves. Absolute error and total variability of participants' performance in pre-test, in the first, third and eighth sessions were recorded. Data analysis by repeated-measures showed that there was a significant difference between absolute error (F=14.597, P = 0.001) and total variability (F=17.523, P = 0.001) of experimental and control group performance. ANCOVA showed that absolute error and total variability of the experimental group performance was respectively (P = 0.013 and P = 0.018) in the first session, (P = 0.021 and P = 0.007) in the third session and (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001) in the eighth session, which were significantly higher than that in the control group. Thus, it seems that c-tDCS of DLPFC is associated with reduced declarative memory activity in the cognitive stage leading to a negative impact on serve learning in beginner volleyball learners.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of autonomy support (i.e., in the form of self-controlled feedback) on learning and self-efficacy in a throwing skill in adolescents with ADHD. The subjects were 40 adolescents with ADHD (14 to 17 years old) and were randomly and equally divided into two groups: self-controlled and yoked. Motor task consisted of throwing bean bags with the non-dominant arm at a target on the ground. The participants completed the pretest (10 trials), an acquisition phase including 6 blocks of 10 trials, and a retention test consisting of 10 trials. The participants in the self-controlled group received knowledge of result (KR) anytime the requested. The yoked group was matched with self-controlled group, but without having a choice to request for feedback. Prior to pretest, each block, and before the retention test, all participants completed the self-efficacy scale. Dependent measures were throwing accuracy scores and self-efficacy. Independent t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures were used to analyze the data. The results showed that participants in the self-controlled group had significantly higher throwing accuracy scores in the acquisition phase and the retention test than those in yoked group. Moreover, participants in the self-controlled group reported significantly higher self-efficacy scores in the acquisition phase and the retention test than those in yoked group. The results of this study show that people with ADHD benefit from autonomy support to learn a novel motor skill.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of positive social-comparative feedback on motor learning and self-efficacy of a throwing motor skill in individuals with ADHD. The subjects were 44 adolescents with ADHD in the age range of 15 to 18 years old and were randomly and equally divided into two groups: positive social-comparative feedback and control group. Motor task consisted of throwing bean bags with the non-dominant arm at a target on the ground. The participants completed the pretest (10 trials), an acquisition phase including 6 blocks of 10 trials, and a retention test consisting of 10 trials. The participants in the positive social comparison feedback group were informed that their throws on the previous block were, on average, better than the throws of the other participants in this group. Prior to pretest, each block, and before the retention test, all participants completed the self-efficacy scale. Dependent measures were throwing accuracy scores and self-efficacy. Independent t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures were employed to analyze the data. Positive social comparison feedback group throwed the bean bags significantly better in the acquisition phase and the retention test compared to the control group. In addition, positive social comparison feedback group reported significantly higher self-efficacy scores in the acquisition phase and the retention test in comparison to the control group. Our findings indicated that enhanced expectancies benefited individuals with ADHD to enhance their performance and learn a novel motor skill

Motor learning studies on adults have shown that directing the learners’ attention to external cues is more effectual than internal cues. In this study, we investigated if this could be applied to children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). 45 boys with developmental coordination disorder were selected using motor observation questionnaire for teachers. The task was static balance test that was measured in two experimental conditions including internal (focus on body limb) and external (focus on rex marker) focus of attention. For data analysis, ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc were used at the significant level of P < 0.05. Results showed that external focus could improve motor learning. However, there was no significant difference between internal focus and control groups. Thus children with DCD benefit from the external focus of attention to learning a static balance skill. According to the results of this study, therapists and coaches should adjust their rehabilitation methods and instructions based on external focus of attention.

The current study was conducted to identify the impact of artificial intelligence on sports marketing (applications and limitations). This research is a sequential mixed-methods study (qualitative-quantitative). The participants in qualitative phase consisted of 15 sport management experts who were interviewed. In the quantitative section, the statistical population included members of the sports management academic community that was selected through random sampling approach. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, confirmatory factor analysis, and path analysis were used in the quantitative part of the study. The structural equation method with partial least squares method was used to measure the validity of the model, and the research hypotheses. According to the results of the study, there are 8 effective factors of artificial intelligence applications in sports marketing, including predicting sales and prices of sports products/services, identifying revenue growth opportunities, automating sales processes of sports products/services, personalized recommendation systems through analyzing customer behavior of sports products/services, tracking satisfaction with sports products/services, and advertising. Additionally, there are 5 factors identified as limitations of artificial intelligence in sports marketing, including limited understanding of human elements, concerns about data privacy, costs, and technical issues. The findings can help sports marketers to better utilize artificial intelligence for better delivery and customer satisfaction of sports products and services.