Effects of anxiety on decision making and visual search behaviour in complex sport situations

Introduction Current empirical findings indicate that the efficiency of decision making (both for experts and near-experts) in simple situations is reduced under increased stress (Wilson, 2008). Explaining the phenomenon, the Attentional Control Theory (ACT, Eysenck et al., 2007) postulates an impairment of attentional processes resulting in a less efficient processing of visual information. From a practitioner’s perspective, it would be highly relevant to know whether this phenomenon can also be found in complex sport situations like in the game of football. Consequently, in the present study, decision making of football players was examined under regular vs. increased anxiety conditions. Methods 22 participants (11 experts and 11 near-experts) viewed 24 complex football situations (counterbalanced) in two anxiety conditions from the perspective of the last defender. They had to decide as fast and accurate as possible on the next action of the player in possession (options: shot on goal, dribble or pass to a designated team member) for equal numbers of trials in a near and far distance condition (based on the position of the player in possession). Anxiety was manipulated via a competitive environment, false feedback as well as ego threats. Decision time and accuracy, gaze behaviour (e.g., fixation duration on different locations) as well as state anxiety and mental effort were used as dependent variables and analysed with 2 (expertise) x 2 (distance) x 2 (anxiety) ANOVAs with repeated measures on the last two factors. Besides expertise differences, it was hypothesised that, based on ACT, increased anxiety reduces performance efficiency and impairs gaze behaviour. Results and Discussion Anxiety was manipulated successfully, indicated by higher ratings of state anxiety, F(1, 20) = 13.13, p < .01, ηp2 = .40. Besides expertise differences in decision making – experts responded faster, F(1, 20) = 11.32, p < .01, ηp2 = .36, and more accurate, F(1,20) = 23.93, p < .01, ηp2 = .55, than near-experts – decision time, F(1, 20) = 9.29, p < .01, ηp2 = .32, and mental effort, F(1, 20) = 7.33, p = .01, ηp2 = .27, increased for both groups in the high anxiety condition. This result confirms the ACT assumption that processing efficiency is reduced when being anxious. Replicating earlier findings, a significant expertise by distance interaction could be observed, F(1, 18) = 18.53, p < .01, ηp2 = .51), with experts fixating longer on the player in possession or the ball in the near distance and longer on other opponents, teammates and free space in the far distance condition. This shows that experts are able to adjust their gaze behaviour to affordances of displayed playing patterns. Additionally, a three way interaction was found, F(1, 18) = 7.37 p = .01, ηp2 = .29, revealing that experts utilised a reduced number of fixations in the far distance condition when being anxious indicating a reduced ability to pick up visual information. Since especially the visual search behaviour of experts was impaired, the ACT prediction that particularly top-down processes are affected by anxiety could be confirmed. Taken together, the results show that sports performance is negatively influenced by anxiety since longer response times, higher mental effort and inefficient visual search behaviour were observed. From a practitioner’s perspective, this finding might suggest preferring (implicit) perceptual cognitive training; however, this recommendation needs to be empirically supported in intervention studies. References: Eysenck, M. W., Derakshan, N., Santos, R., & Calvo, M. G. (2007). Anxiety and cognitive performance: Attentional control theory. Emotion, 7, 336-353. Wilson, M. (2008). From processing efficiency to attentional control: A mechanistic account of the anxiety-performance relationship. Int. Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1, 184-201.

Recht der Humanforschung: Internationale Einflüsse. Entwurf einer EU-Verordnung und neue OECD Recommendation zu Arzneimittelversuchen im Vergleich mit dem schweizerischen Humanforschungsrecht

Der Beitrag befasst sich, ausgehend von der zukünftigen schweizerischen Regelung der Forschung mit Versuchspersonen, mit neueren Entwicklungen im Recht der Humanforschung. Mit Blick auf die in diesem Bereich besonders wichtigen internationalen Vorgaben stehen dabei zwei neuere Regelwerke zur Humanforschung europäischer und internationaler Herkunft im Zentrum. Beide haben erst kürzlich konkretere Formen angenommen, wodurch sie bei der Ausarbeitung des Verordnungsrechts zum neuen Bundesgesetz über die Forschung am Menschen (HFG) nur in beschränktem Rahmen berücksichtigt werden konnten.

The role of self-monitoring of blood glucose in patients treated with SGLT-2 inhibitors: a European expert recommendation.

The role for the novel treatment approach of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) in type 2 diabetes is increasing. Structured self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), based on a less intensive and a more intensive scheme, may contribute to an optimization of SGLT-2 inhibitor based treatment. The current expert recommendation suggests individualized approaches of SMBG, using simple and clinically applicable schemes. Potential benefits of SMBG in SGLT-2 inhibitor based treatment approaches are early assessment of treatment success or failure, timely modification of treatment, detection of hypoglycemic episodes, assessment of glucose excursions, and support of diabetes management and education. The length and frequency of SMBG should depend on the clinical setting and the quality of metabolic control.

IUPAC-IUGS recommendation on the half life of 87Rb

The IUPAC-IUGS joint Task Group “Isotopes in Geosciences” recommends a value of (49.61 ± 0.16) Ga for the half life of 87Rb, corresponding to a decay constant λ87 = (1.3972 ± 0.0045) × 10-11 a-1.

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 15 - Korrespondenzen u.a. mit Hans Fried (p. I 8, 1-201)

11 Briefe zwischen Hans Fried und Max Horkheimer, 1938-1940; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an die Albert Teachers Agency New York, 21.03.1941; 2 Briefe zwischen dem American Committee for International Studies, Princeton, New York und Max Horkheimer, 11.01.1941, 16.01.1941; 1 Brief von Sullivan & Cromwell New York an Max Horkheimer, 18.03.1940; 12 Briefe zwischen der Columbia University in the City of New York und Max Horkheimer, 1938-1940; 2 Briefe von Hans Fried an die Columbia University in the City of New york, 1938-1939; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an das Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced German Scholars New York; 2 Briefe zwischen der Ittleson Foundation New York und Max Horkheimer, 19.11.1938, 28.11.1938; 1 Brief von Max Goldschmidt an Hans Fried, 21.04.1938; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Max Goldschmidt, 25.04.1938; 2 Briefe von Alice Friedlaender an Max Horkheimer, 1932, 1944; 3 Briefe zwischen Charles S. Friedman und Max Horkheimer, 21.03.1942, 1936, 1942; 4 Briefe von C. J. Friedrich an Max Horkheimer, 1941; 4 Briefe von Franz L. Neumann an C. J. Friedrich, 1941; 8 Briefe zwischen den Friends of Europe London und Max Horkheimer, 1934-1938; 3 Briefe von Max Horkheimer an John W. Fries, 1939; 2 Briefe von Gertrud Fries an Max Horkheimer, 1936; 1 Brief von Josef Fröbes an Max Horkheimer, 24.08.1937; 3 Briefe zwischen Fruin und Max Horkheimer, 1936; 14 Briefe zwischen Eduard Fuchs und Max Horkheimer, 1935-1939;

Na 50 Nachlass Arthur Schopenhauer - 'Schopenhauer-Archiv', 201 - Übermittlung von August Röckel des vom British Association in Aberdeen bestätigten Beweises der Richtigkeit der Farbenlehre Goethes

u.a.: Zitat aus dem englischen Magazin Athenaeum; Experiment zur Farbenlehre; Johann Wolfgang von Goethe; Smith; Isaak Newton;

Ms.Ff.F.Stoltze 3. 201 - Brief von Ernst F. A. Münzenberger an Friedrich Stoltze

Soziale Verhältnisse ("Pauperismus") in Frankfurt, Zu einem "Schützling" Stoltzes

Ausst. 201 - Speculu[m] patie[n]tie cum theologycis consolationibus fratris Ioannis de Tambaco

Vorbesitzer: Heinrich Anton Cornill-d'Orville (Exlibris im Vorderdeckel);

Ms. lat. oct. 201 - El Duende de Palacio

Die im Katalog angegebenen Seitenzahlen weichen von den vorhandenen ab.

Current United States stem cell policy considerations and a recommendation for an alternative policy based on guidelines from existing international policies

Embryonic stem cell research is a widely debated topic in modern politics and religion. Differing views on the fetal rights conflict with the rights of an embryo. Those who believe an embryo has the same human qualities as a fetus accordingly believe embryonic stem cell research is unethical because it destroys a potential human life. However, scientists advocate the embryo does not have human qualities and should be used for valuable research in the stem cell field. Stem cell research may lead to vast developments in medical treatments, including cancer and brain conditions and injuries that are currently incurable. ^ The current stem cell policy introduced by President Bush in 2001 in an attempt to balance the moral issues with the need for scientific research has broad negative implications on the furthering of stem cell research. There is a limited diversity of available stem cell lines, there may be constitutional issues, there is an increasing disparity between the public and private research spheres, and the U.S. is struggling to maintain its scientific community. The U.S. must develop a new stem cell research policy that will balance the interest of science and public health with the moral issues that concern the public. ^ The United Kingdom allows researchers great liberty in conducting research, permitting the creation of embryos for the sole purpose of research, while Germany is equally conservative in their laws, as their policies support the philosophy that all embryos deserve the protection of full life. The United States should adopt a policy that takes the "middle ground" approach and permit research on excess embryos created for IVF purposes, rather than simply discarding those potentially valuable research tools. ^

"I understood what she meant when she said '21st century medicine'": A qualitative analysis of patient responses for plans for colorectal cancer screening following a recommendation from their physician

Although physician recommendation has been significantly associated with colorectal cancer screening (CRCS), it still does not motivate all patients to get CRCS. Although improved physician recommendation for CRCS has been shown to increase patient CRCS screening, questions remain about what elements of that discussion may lead to screening. The objective of this study is to describe patients' perceptions and interpretations about their physician's recommendation for CRCS during their annual wellness exam. A subset of patients (n=51) participating in a supplement study of a behavioral intervention trial designed to increase CRCS completed a follow-up, open-ended interview two to four weeks after their annual wellness visit. Using qualitative methods, transcripts of these interviews were analyzed. Findings suggest that most patients would follow their physician's recommendation for CRCS despite not engaging in much discussion. Patients may refrain from CRCS discussion because of a commitment to CRCS, awareness of screening guidelines, and trust in physician's honesty and beneficence. Yet many patients left their wellness exams with questions, refraining because of future plans to consult with their physicians, perceived time constraints or a lack of a patient-physician relationship. If patients are leaving their wellness exams with unanswered questions, interventions should prepare physicians for patient reticence, teaching physicians how to assure patients that CRCS is a primary care activity where all questions and concerns, including cost and scheduling, may be resolved.^