Cortical activity in body balance tasks as a function of motor and cognitive demands: A systematic review.

Technological tools, like electroencephalography and functional near-infrared spectroscopy, have deepened our understanding of cortical regions involved in balance control. In this systematic literature review, we aimed to identify the prevalent cortical areas activated during balance tasks with specific motor or cognitive demands. Our search strategy encompassed terms related to balance control and cortical activity, yielding 2250 results across five databases.

Control of interjoint coordination in the performance of manual circular movements can explain lateral specialization.

Between-arm performance asymmetry can be seen in different arm movements requiring specific interjoint coordination to generate the desired hand trajectory. In the current investigation, we assessed between-arm asymmetry of shoulder-elbow coordination and its stability in the performance of circular movements. Participants were 16 healthy right-handed university students.

Motor learning and tDCS: A systematic review on the dependency of the stimulation effect on motor task characteristics or tDCS assembly specifications.

TDCS is one of the most commonly used methods among studies with transcranial electrical stimulation and motor skills learning. Differences between study results suggest that the effect of tDCS on motor learning is dependent on the motor task performed or on the tDCS assembly specification used in the learning process. This systematic review aimed to analyze the tDCS effect on motor learning and verify whether this effect is dependent on the task or tDCS assembly specifications.

The development of hand, foot, trunk, hearing, and visual lateral preference throughout the lifespan.

This research investigated the developmental process of five lateral preference dimensions (hand, foot, trunk, hearing, and visual preference). A total of 1236 volunteers participated in this study, divided into five age groups: 07-12 (n = 247); 13-17 (n = 234); 18-30 (n = 227); 31-60 (n = 225); and 61-90 years old (n = 303). Lateral preference was assessed via questionnaire with the Global Lateral Preference Inventory.

Use of accelerometry to investigate standing and dynamic body balance in people with cerebral palsy: A systematic review.

Background: People with cerebral palsy (CP) often have difficulties related to maintaining body balance in their daily living activities. Accelerometers are low-cost wearable devices with potential use to objectively assess balance.

Research Question: What are the main characteristics and findings from protocols used in research aiming to investigate standing or dynamic body balance stability through trunk accelerometry in people with CP?

Method: We searched in December 2021 seven databases, Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane, Science Direct, Scopus, PEDro, and Lilacs, with descriptors related to cerebral palsy, accelerometer, and balance.

Cultural and environmental aspects influence lateral preferences.

Transcultural approaches comparing the distribution of lateral preference between countries focused primarily on handedness. However, other laterality dimensions may also be susceptible to cultural variations. The present study compared lateral preference in five dimensions (hand, foot, trunk, hearing, and visual) of young adults from Brazil and Mozambique.

How Positional Constraints Affect Footedness in Football: A Notational Analysis of Five Leagues in Europe.

In elite-level soccer, the ability to take shots with both limbs from different positions in the pitch may be key to success. This research aimed to: 1) analyze footedness of elite-football players in European leagues during shooting by computing frequency of right- and left-foot use and accuracy; and 2) investigate whether an athlete's distance from the target (goal, penalty, and outside penalty area) and pitch zone (center, left, or right from the goal) can constrain foot selection during shooting. We analyzed 1826 games from the 2017/18 season, divided between: Spanish LaLiga (380 matches); Italian Serie A (380 matches); English Premier League (380 matches); German Bundesliga (306 matches); and French Ligue 1 (380 matches).

Are the Predictions of the Dynamic Dominance Model of Laterality Applicable to Children?

According to the dynamic dominance model, the left cerebral hemisphere is specialized for the control of intersegmental dynamics and the right hemisphere for impedance control. Our aim was to test predictions from the dynamic dominance model in children by comparing performance between the right (preferred) and left hands in aiming. Three groups were compared: 4-7, 8-11, and 18-38 years old.

Are the predictions of the dynamic dominance model of laterality applicable to the lower limbs?

Investigation of manual actions has supported the proposition that the right and left cerebral hemispheres have complementary specializations relevant for movement control. To test the extent to which hemisphere specialization affect lower limb control, we compared performance between the legs in two motor tasks. A pedal aiming task was employed to test the notion of left hemisphere specialization for dynamic control, and unipedal balance was employed to test the notion of right hemisphere specialization for impedance control.

Changing handedness: What can we learn from preference shift studies?

Handedness is a dynamic and complex aspect of human behavior. Changing it through practice, either willingly or obliged by some reason, requires a considerable amount of effort. Analyzing studies that presented handedness shifts may expand our comprehension of this phenomenon, since knowing how to change it might provide insights into how it develops.

Motor repertoire and gray matter plasticity: Is there a link?

There is a considerable amount of evidence sustaining that aerobic exercise causes positive modifications in gray matter density (GMD), especially in the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex. However, recent experimental researches with motor learning paradigms are consistently showing that increasing cardiorespiratory capacity is not the only mechanism able to promote positive outcomes in GMD with exercise. In the present study, we present a theoretical suggestion that expanding one's motor repertoire is another primary mechanism related to the increases in GMD.

A historical, systematic review of handedness origins.

Handedness ontogenesis is still under debate in science. This systematic review analyzed articles regarding the theories and basis of handedness formation, highlighting the historical knowledge path that this literature underwent. Cochrane Library, LILACS, Web of Sciences, Science Direct and PubMed databases were searched.

Beyond handedness: assessing younger adults and older people lateral preference in six laterality dimensions.

Lateral preference is influenced by many different factors. Although studies that assessed handedness contributed greatly to our understanding of the phenomenon, looking to other dimensions of motor laterality, such as lower limbs, trunk, visual and hearing preference, may be an interesting strategy to further advance in the field. Comparing different age groups with a complete inventory also contributes to understanding the ageing impact on these variables.