Analysis of Eye and Head Tracking Movements During a Puck-Hitting Task in Ice Hockey Players, Compared to Wrestlers and Controls.

Background: The study of eye-movement strategies of athletes of various disciplines and skill levels is highly significant for sports psychology, since the results can be used in training to improve performance. Such studies are extremely scarce for ice hockey.

Objective: To determine successful eye-movement strategies for ice hockey players compared to wrestlers and controls (non-athletes) during puck-hitting tasks of various degrees of difficulty, using virtual reality.

Adaptive Structure Strategy for Designing Nonparametric Models Based on Differential Neural Networks Using Functional Projection.

Differential neural networks (DiNNs) encounter a trade-off between the approximation quality and structural complexity. One promising approach to address this trade-off is incorporating dynamic complexity adjustment as an integral part of the learning process. Taking inspiration from the Fourier approximation theory, this study introduces a novel method for adapting the architecture of DiNNs, when they serve as nonparametric identifiers for dynamic systems with uncertain mathematical models.

Heart rate response to cognitive load as a marker of depression and increased anxiety.

Introduction: Understanding the interplay between cardiovascular parameters, cognitive stress induced by increasing load, and mental well-being is vital for the development of integrated health strategies today. By monitoring physiological signals like electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmogram (PPG) in real time, researchers can discover how cognitive tasks influence both cardiovascular and mental health. Cardiac biomarkers resulting from cognitive strain act as indicators of autonomic nervous system function, potentially reflecting conditions related to heart and mental health, including depression and anxiety.

Is Frequency of Practice of Different Types of Physical Activity Associated with Health and a Healthy Lifestyle at Different Ages?

Physical activity (PA) has been shown to be related to physical and mental health. Yet there are few studies on how the frequency of PA relates to health and a healthy lifestyle. We aimed to investigate how the frequency of different PAs is associated with the following health indicators: body mass index (BMI), substance consumption, physical health, and mental health.

What Differences Exist in Professional Ice Hockey Performance Using Virtual Reality (VR) Technology between Professional Hockey Players and Freestyle Wrestlers? (a Pilot Study).

There is little research on the study of specific characteristics that contribute to the faster adaptation of athletes during the transition from one sport to another. We used virtual reality (VR) to study the differences between professional ice hockey players and other sport professionals (freestyle wrestlers), who were novices in hockey in terms of motor responses and efficiency performance, on different levels of difficulty. In the VR environment, four levels of difficulty (four blocks) were simulated, depended on the speed of the puck and the distance to it (Bl1-60-80 km/h and 18 m; Bl2-60-100 km/h, distances 12 and 18 m; Bl3-speeds up to 170 km/h and 6, 12, and 18 m; Bl4-the pucks are presented in a series of two (in sequence with a 1 s interval)).