sajad parsaei

Physical Activity as a fundamental basis, generally for everyone in the community and particularly important for disabled people. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Physical Activity on mental health and mindfulness in veterans and disabled people.

The method of this research is descriptive-correlational. 100 veteran and disabled athletes and 100 veterans and non-athlete disabled participated in this research among disability institutions and rehabilitation centers in Ahvaz. The instrument used in this study was an international physical activity, mental health and mindfulness questionnaire.

The mean age was in the athlete group (29.87 ± 3.88) and in the non-athlete group (28.25 ± 3.55). The results of independent t-test showed that there is a significant difference between the two groups, which shows the positive effect of activity on mental health and mindfulness variables in veterans and disabled athletes compared to non-athletes. It was also found that physical activity variable predicts two variables of mental health and mindfulness in veterans and the disabled. Multiple correlation coefficient was equal to MR = 0.879 and determination coefficient was equal to R2 = 0.772 which was significant at P <0.01 level.

In a general conclusion, participation in active activities and having sufficient mobility in veterans and disabled people can improve mental variables such as mental health and also mind awareness.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of unilateral and bilateral electrical stimulation of the brain on balance in elderly.

Thirty-six elderly in Ilam city participated in study. In the pre-test, static balance was taken and then the participants were randomly divided into three groups: unilateral brain stimulation, bilateral brain stimulation and sham. The intervention took in 3 sessions. In unilateral stimulation group, the anode electrode was positioned at O point and the cathode was above the left ophthalmic cavity (FP1). In bilateral stimulation group, the anode electrode was positioned at O1 and the cathode was positioned at O2. The intensity of stimulation was 2 mA and the duration of treatment was 15 minutes per session. In control group, the anode and cathode electrodes were placed on the O and FP1 points, respectively, but the excitation current was stopped after 30 seconds. After the last training session, the post-test was performed. Data analyzed were using one-way ANOVA.

The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in pre-test phase (P<0.535). But at post-test was a difference between groups (P<0.002). Post-hoc test results showed that there was a difference between unilateral stimulation with control group (P=0.001) and bilateral stimulation with control group (P=0.005). But there was no significant difference between unilateral stimulation group and bilateral stimulation group (P=0.599).

In conclusion, it can be concluded that unilaterally and bilaterally cerebellar stimulation can be improved in the elderly.

Anxiety means threats and insecurity whose source is not clear to the individual. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on anxiety in Veterans and Disabled Athletes.

The method of this study was semi-experimental. Twenty-four veterans and disabled members of Board of Veterans and Disabled in Ahvaz city were selected by available sampling. First, all participants completed the Beck Anxiety and State-Competitive Anxiety questionnaire. The participants were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Experimental group received tDCS intervention for three consecutive days. After the last intervention session, once again, all participants completed the Beck Anxiety and State-Competitive Anxiety questionnaire. ANCOVA test was used to compare post-test of two groups.

The results showed that tDCS intervention had a significant effect on general anxiety (p=0.001) and state-competitive anxiety (p=0.001) and anxiety level in experimental group better than the sham group (p < 0.05).

tDCS with Two-mA intensity during 3 sessions of 20 minutes can improve the performance of general anxiety and state-competitive anxiety in veterans and disabled athletes. Therefore, it is recommended that coaches, those involved, and veteran and disabled athletes use tDCS interventions to improve and control their anxiety whenever possible on the days leading up to the competition.

Objectives :

having adequate physical activity during aging period can be effective in improving mental health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of physical activity in the relationship of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Psychological Well-Being (PWB). 

Methods & Materials :

This is a descriptive/correlational study. The study population consisted of elderly people in Ahvaz, Iran. Of these, 120 with a mean age of 64.52±2.98 were selected using convenience and purposive sampling methods and based on inclusion criteria (age over 60 years, the ability to understand and answer to the questions, full consciousness, and mental health). Data were collected using Cyberia-Shrink’s EI test, Ryff’s PWB questionnaire and Craig’s International Questionnaires of Physical Activity. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS V. 21 and AMOS V.18 applications by using the correlation coefficient and Bootstrap test (to determine the mediating role of physical activity). The significance level was set at P<0.05.  

Results:

 There was a significant correlation between EI and physical activity(r= 0.70), between EI and PWB (r= 0.84) and between physical activity and PWB (r= 0.70) (p<0.01). Physical activity had a mediating role in the relationship of EI and PWB using Bootstrap test (P <0.001).

Conclusion:

 There was a positive and significant relationship between EI and PWB and physical activity had a mediating role. Therefore, encouraging elderly people to have physical activity can improve their emotional and mental health and help them have a healthy and comfortable old age.

Working memory is the most basic pillar of memory for doing cognitive tasks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on working memory in veterans and disabled athletes.   The method of this study was semi-experimental. 24 veterans and disabled of Shiraz athletes participated in this study in an available sampling. After the pre-test, the participants were randomly divided into real stimulation and sham groups. In the real stimulation group, anodal electrode was on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and cathode electrode in the FP1. The location of the electrodes in the sham group was the same as the real stimulation group, but the stimulation was interrupted after 30 seconds. The stimulation rate was 2 mA for 15 minutes, which was performed during three sessions with an interval of 48 hours per session. Data analysis was performed using ANCOVA test in SPSS version 22.   The results showed that there was a significant difference between the real stimulation group and the sham at the working memory (P = 0.0001). The results of Bonferroni post-hoc test showed that the performance of the real stimulation was better than the sham group (P = 0.0001).   It can be said that anodal tDCS in the DLPFC region with 2 mA excitation can improve working memory in veterans and disabled athletes.

The ability of the elderly to maintain balance during cognitive activity changes. Given the importance of recognizing the nature of the balance disorder among the elderly and the importance of verbal commands in rehabilitating such disorders, the purpose of this study was to investigate the Effectiveness of Dual Task and Focus of Attention Intervention on Balance in Elderly in Ahvaz.

The research method is semi-experimental and applied in terms of purpose. The statistical population was the elderly men of Salehin House in Ahvaz in 1397. 40 people were selected by available method. First, a static and dynamic equilibrium test was taken. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups of 10: dual task, internal attention, external attention, and control. The intervention was performed for 3 consecutive days. The dual task group performed a cognitive secondary task while performing a static and dynamic balance. The inner focus group focused on their feet during the performance. While performing the dynamic balance, the external focus group focused on the end of the path and focused on the static balance at a distance of 3 meters. An hour after the end of the training phase, the post-test was taken. Data analysis was performed using the statistical analysis of one-way variance analysis with SPSS software version 22.

The results showed that the groups did not differ in demographic characteristics (P <0.05). In the pre-test phase, there is no significant difference between groups (P <0.05), but in the post-test period, there is a significant difference between groups in both static and dynamic equilibrium (P <0.05).

The results of this study confirmed that the exercises of the instruction of the focus of internal attention weaken the static and dynamic balance. Exercises of the external focus guide improve static and dynamic balance, and the dual task attention guideline improves static balance in the elderly, but has a weakening effect on the dynamic balance of the elderly.

: Imagery is the concept of assimilation, creating or recreating a perception experience the sensory moderator in mind. the aim of this study was to the relationship between mirror neuron action and different mental imagery speeds in the motor performance.
The research method was semi-empirical. The subjects included 30 female students of Shahid Chamran University (average age 22± 1.12) selected through a purposive sampling (No experience basketball game) method and categorized in three groups of rapid-speed, real-speed, low-speed imagery. Following the basketball dribble function in pretests, the subjects were involved in imagery for a period of four consecutive days, and were subsequently tested for the real dribble function on the middle cones in the posttests. They were also subjected electroencephalographic assessment during imagery, focusing primarily on the reaction of the mirror neurons within the process.
All of the group improved dribble function (p≤0.05). With the effect size observed a significant improvement in the groups with slow-speed and real-speed imagery compared to those receiving high-speed imagery. Additionally, higher function of the mirror neurons was observed in the groups subjected to slow-speed imagery and also there is significant relationship mirror neuron action and different mental imagery speeds on the basketball dribble function (p≤0.05).
The mirror neurons within the premotor cortex establish an essential nervous mechanism within the cognitive activity pattern which impacts the effect of imagery for the improvement of motor skills.

Physical function, such as balance is disturbed with increasing age. Neurofeedback program has the ability to affect physical function through self-regulatory control of brain waves abnormalities. In this study, the effect of beta/theta neurofeedback training, was investigated on static and dynamic balance in the elderly in Ahvaz city.
The present study was a semi-experimental study and was practical in terms of purpose. Eighteen elderly individuals with the mean age of 65.3±3.1, were selected and equally divided into two groups of experimental and control. To evaluate static and dynamic balance of the participants, single leg stand test and time to get up and go, were used. The subjects of the experimental group participated in 12 sessions of neurofeedback trainings (including increase of beta power and decrease of theta power). The control group had the same conditions, but watched the recorded waves of trainings of the experimental group as training.
In this study, according to the t-test, neurofeedback training significantly improved static and dynamic balance performance as compared to the control group (p˂0.05).
The results of this study showed that neurofeedback trainings by enhancing or inhibiting brain wave activity in a specific area, lead to changes in individual performance and can be considered as an effective training methods to improve balance in the elderly.

Imagery is a cognitive process playing a vital role in the programming and execution of movements and can be used as a tool for learning motor skills, retraining movements, and also clinical applications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different mental imagery speeds on motor performance and to evaluate the role of the mirror neurons.
This research was carried out as a semi-experimental study using pretest-posttest design. Forty female students (mean age, 22±1.12), were selected by purposeful sampling and assigned to four groups (fast-speed, equal-speed, low-speed imagery, and control). Following the basketball dribble function in pretests, the subjects performed imagery for 4 consecutive days, then, they were tested for real dribble function. In the end, the brain waves of the participants were recorded during the imagery, and the mirror neuron response were recorded using an electroencephalography system. The data were analyzed using intragroup analysis of variance. The significant level was considered 5%.
All the imagery groups progressed in their performance (p≤0.05). In terms of the size effect, the low-speed and equal-speed imagery groups showed better performance compared to the fast-speed imagery group. Additionally, it was revealed that mirror neurons had higher function in the low-speed imagery group.
The results of this study showed that mirror neurons within the premotor cortex are an important neural mechanism in the brain activity pattern, which causes the effectiveness of imagery in the improvement of motor skills.

Imagery is a cognitive process that may play an important role in the planning and execution of movements and actions and in many cases it can be used as a tool for learning skills and retraining movements. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different speeds of mental imagery on basketball dribbling performance in the young women.

the research method was semiexperimental which was performed with pretest-posttest design. 40 female students of Shahid Chamran University with average of age (22+1/12) years were selected by purposive sampling and assigned in one of four groups: (low-speed imagery, real-peed imagery, rapid-speed imagery and control without imagery). After performing basketball dribbling skill in a pretest, the subjects of experimental group performed four consecutive days of imagery training and then performed the same skill.

The results showed that all groups improved in their performance except control group (p ≤ 0/05). But with regard to the effect size, the best performance belongs to the low-speed imagery and real-peed imagery group.

we conluded that it is better to use low-speed imagery and real-peed imagery when learning a new task and in the novice.

Objectives Given the reduction of the ability to correctly predict stimuli, the aging process is often associated with an increase in reaction time. This is particularly more pronounced in the elderly. The neurofeedback program can influence the cognitive function and physical performance by auto-tuning the brain wave abnormalities. The main objective of the current study was to investigate the impact of neurofeedback exercises upon the improvement of the reaction time in elderly, passive males.
Methods & Materials The study was a quasi-experimental research in which 18 elderly males, with an average (SD) age of 65.38 (3.12) years, were selected and randomly assigned in experimental and control groups. A YB-1000 reaction timer was used to evaluate the reaction time of the subjects across 3 sets of measurements (pretests, midtests, and posttests). The subjects in the experimental group participated in 12 neurofeedback exercise sessions (increase of beta and decrease of theta powers). To eliminate the impact of empathy, the control group was subject to a similar training plan in which they only observed the recorded waves of the experimental group exercises.
Results Statistical analysis of the results based on the MANCOVA test demonstrated a significant improvement in the reaction time of the experimental group compared with the control group following the neurofeedback exercising (PConclusion Based on the reinforcement or inhibition of the brain waves as well as the improvement of the memory use, neurofeedback exercises can serve as an effective means to improve the cognitive processes (e.g. the reaction time) of the elderly.

Objectives In recent years, psychology and psychotherapy have received particular attention, especially with regard to the elderly. As a direct consequence of the growing number of mental disorders among the elderly, it has become more important to identify factors affecting the mental health of the elderly. The purpose of this research was to study the relationship between psychological well-being and mental toughness among elders, with physical activity playing the mediator role.
Methods & Materials This research is a descriptive correlational study. The study subjects included 217 active and non-active elderly people (average age 65.38±3.12 y) selected through a purposeful sampling method. They completed international physical activity, psychological well-being and mental toughness questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Full consciousness and mental health of inclusion criteria were having. Data were analyzed by using Pearson correlation test was used Bootstrap to determine Mediating Role of Physical Activity. SPSS-21 and AMOS version 18 was used to analyze data. The significance level was considered as PResults Based on the physical activity questionnaire results, the participants were divided into two groups: active and non-active. The results revealed that there were positive and significant relationships between the majority of subscales of mental toughness and psychological well-being. It was also found that the average mental toughness and psychological well-being was higher among active elders than those who were inactive.
Conclusion In accordance with the results of this study, the elders should be encouraged to perform physical activities, which in turn improves aspects of mental health such as psychological well-being and mental toughness

Objectives Cognitive functions such as reaction time undergo change with aging. Given the importance of preparation in response to reaction time in various life situations, this study aimed to examine the effect of various foreperiods (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 s), and handedness at the time of simple and choice auditory reaction time.
Methods & Materials The current research followed a quasi-experimental methodology and was carried out using a self-made software. The study population comprised all old people living in Ahvaz City. Of them, 30 people were selected through purposive sampling method and allocated into two groups of right- and left-handed people. Each individual was randomly tested for simple and selective reaction with randomly chosen foreperiods.
Results The findings demonstrated a significant difference (PConclusion Since cognitive processing occurs slower in the elderly, it is recommended that foreperiods with very short durations be avoided when preparing elders for different motor skills. In addition, the dominance of the right hemisphere, which contains higher numbers of neurons, among the left-handed might lead them to possess lower reaction times compared with right-handed individuals.