O objetivo do estudo foi descrever e comparar a força de preensão palmar em recém-nascidos de termo (RNT) e pré-termo tardios (RNPT) nas primeiras 72 horas de vida. A força de preensão palmar foi avaliada com o equipamento M-Flex®, sendo realizadas três medidas para cada mão em cada neonato entre 12-24h, 25-48h e 49-72 h de vida. Foi utilizado os testes t-Student e Anova two-way, considerando-se significante p<0,05. Foram estudados 306 recém-nascidos (219 RNT e 87 RNPT),divididos em três grupos. Os RNT apresentaram maior força de preensão quando comparados aos RNPT em cada idade:12-24h (t=4,64, p=0,00); 25-48h (t= 2,54, p=0,01, t=8,02, p=0,00); 49-72h (t=0,95, p=0,01, t= 1,84, p=0,06). O mesmo comportamento foi observado na comparação entre as três idades (força: F=2,67, p=0,00; tempo F=2,18, p=0,02). Na análise de cada grupo os RNT apresentaram maior força de preensão entre 49-72 h de vida, em relação à idade entre 12-24h (t=0,22, p=0,01) e 25-48h (t=0,06, p=0,001), enquanto os RNPT apresentaram diminuição da força (F=3,55, p=0,02) e do tempo (F=23,10, p=0,00) de preensão palmar entre 12 e 72 h. Os autores concluíram que houve aumento significativo da força de preensão palmar nas primeiras 72 horas de vida nos RNT. No entanto, os recém-nascidos pré-termo tardios apresentaram diminuição da força de preensão palmar. A variabilidade da força de preensão palmar observada na comparação entre os gêneros indica similaridade nesta faixa etária. Na comparação entre as mãos, direita e esquerda, não foi identificada preferência manual / The objective of this study was to describe and compare the palmar grasping strength of full-term (FT) and late preterm (LPT) infants in the first 72 hours of life. The palmar grasping strength was assessed with the M-Flex ® equipment, where three measures were performed for each hand of each infant at ages 12-24 h 25-48 h and 49-72 h of life. The t-Student and two-way ANOVA was used, being considered significant at p <0.05. Overall, 306 infants (219 FT and 87 LPT) were studied, being divided into three groups. FT infants had higher grasping strength and time when compared to LPT infants at the following ages: 12-24h (t = 4.64, p = 0.00), 25-48h (t = 2.54, p = 0.01, t = 8.02, p = 0.00), 49-72h (t = 0.95, p = 0.01, t = 1.84, p = 0.06). The same behavior was observed in the comparison between the three ages (strength: t = 2.67, p = 0.00; time t = 2.18, p = 0.02). In the analysis of each group, FT infants had higher grasping strength between 49 and 72 hours of life when compared to the age between 12 and 24h (t = 0.22, p = 0.01) and between 25 and 48 h (t = 0.06, p = 0.001), while LPT infants showed reduced palmar grasping strength (F = 3.55, p = 0.02) and time (F = 23.10, p = 0.00) between 12 and 72 h. The authors concluded that there was significant increase in the palmar grasping strength in the first 72 hours of life for FT infants. However, late preterm infants showed lower palmar grasping strength. The variability in the palmar grasping strength observed in the comparison between genders indicates similarity in this age group. In the comparison between right and left hands, no manual preference was identified

Die Ausprägung der Lateralität der Körperextremitäten steht in engem Zusammenhang mit der Hemisphärenspezialisierung des menschlichen Gehirns. Die Lateralität und die Dominanz einer Hemisphäre mit ihren Auswirkungen auf die Leistungsfähigkeit ist ein bislang unvollständig untersuchtes Phänomen im Sport. In der vorliegenden Arbeit soll daher die Bedeutung der Seitigkeitsausprägung im Rahmen sportlicher Bewegungsabläufe geprüft werden. Sowohl bei Messungen im "Freiwasser", als auch in der "Kanu–Gegenstromanlage" im Bereich des Kanurennsportes werden seit einigen Jahren sich in Qualität und Quantität unterscheidende Kraft–Zeit–Funktionen der linken und rechten Körperseite beobachtet, die zwar dokumentiert, aber bislang ungeprüft in ihrer Bedeutung als leistungsbeeinflussend angenommen werden.<br><br> Im Zeitraum von Oktober 1997 bis Oktober 2000 wurden 275 Kajakfahrer und Canadierfahrer im Alter zwischen 11 und 20 Jahren zweimal jährlich (März und Oktober) mit einem umfangreichen trainings- und bewegungswissenschaftlichen sowie biomechanischen Instrumentarium untersucht. Die Athleten gehören zum Nachwuchs- und Anschlusskader des LKV Brandenburg. Schwerpunkt der Fragestellung ist der Zusammenhang von auftretenden Kraftdifferenzen zwischen der linken und rechten oberen Extremität und sportartspezifischen Leistungen unter Laborbedingungen und Feldbedingungen. Es wurden objektive Daten zu ausgewählten Kraftfähigkeiten der oberen Arm–Beuge–Schlinge an einem Kraftdiagnosegerät, Kraftverläufe am Messpaddel während Leistungsüberprüfungen im "Kanu–Gegenstromkanal" und im "Freiwasser" über 250 m und 2.000 m im Jahresverlauf erhoben.<br><br> Die Ergebnisse zeigen einen Trend der im Altersverlauf ansteigenden Differenz der Mittelwertunterschiede in der Maximalkraft zwischen dem linken und rechten Arm. Bei bestehenden Maximalkraftdifferenzen zwischen linker und rechter oberer Extremität in der Längsschnittgruppe liegen die Leistungen mit dem rechten Arm deutlich über den Kraftleistungen des linken Arms und sind nicht zufällig. Mit steigendem Maximalkraftniveau nimmt überraschenderweise auch die Differenz der Maximalkraft zwischen der linken und rechten oberen Extremität trotz bilateralen Trainings zu. Die Ergebnisse der EMG–Analyse bestätigen, dass die Maximalkraft leistungsbestimmend für die Bootsleistungen ist. In den EMG–Signalverläufen werden die unterschiedlichen Belastungen der Labor– und Feldbedingungen mit individuellen Charakteristika nachgezeichnet. Deutlich unterscheiden sich die Kraftverläufe im "Freiwasser" gegenüber den Kraftverläufen in der "Kanu–Gegenstromanlage".<br><br> Bei der vorliegenden Untersuchung handelt es sich um eine erste empirische Arbeit zur Auswirkung von Seitigkeitsunterschieden in zyklischen Sportarten auf der Expertiseebene. In der Untersuchung wurden methodische Verfahren eingesetzt, die dem derzeitigen Forschungsstand in der Trainings- und Bewegungswissenschaft entsprechen. Neben varianzanalytischen Verfahren der Auswertung zur Darstellung von Mittelwertunterschieden und Zusammenhänge prüfenden Verfahren wurden ebenso explorative EMG–Analysen angewandt. Die Ergebnisse aus dem Längsschnitt belegen bei ausschließlich rechtshändigen Probanden, dass die Schlussfolgerung von bevorzugter Extremität auf ein höheres Kraftniveau nicht eineindeutig ist. Zwischen den oberen Extremitäten bei Kanurennsportlern bestehen nicht nur zufällige Kraftunterschiede, trotz des bilateralen Trainings. Kontrovers diskutiert wird die Beziehung von bevorzugter Extremität und der Höhe der Kraftentfaltung. Im Alltagsverständnis wird häufig angenommen, dass ein höheres Maximalkraftniveau in der Extremität vorliegen muss, die auch die bevorzugte (z.B. Schreibhand) ist (WIRTH & LIPHARDT, 1999). Diese Eindeutigkeit konnte in der durchgeführten Untersuchung nicht bestätigt werden. Wie die Ergebnisse dieser Untersuchung deutlich zeigen, nimmt mit der höheren Maximalkraft aber auch die Differenz der Kraftleistungen zwischen dem linken und rechten Arm bei bilateral ausgerichtetem Training zu. FISCHER (1988; 1992) wies nach, dass sich ein Training auf der subdominanten Seite in einem kontralateralen Leistungstransfer auf der dominanten Seite positiv auswirkte. Erkenntnisse von KUHN (1986) und HOLLMANN & HETTINGER (2000) unterstützen nachhaltig die Ergebnisse. Die EMG–Ergebnisse zeigen die individuelle Reaktion auf die Belastungsanforderungen. Die elektromyographischen Daten beziehen sich auf den neuromuskulären Komplex. Somit sprechen hohe Amplitudenwerte einerseits für eine hohe Innervation der beteiligten motorischen Einheiten an der Bewegungsausführung und andererseits für einsetzende Ermüdungserscheinungen im Muskel. In Bezug auf die Ermüdung der oberen Extremitätenmuskeln der rechten und linken Seite beschreiben WILLIAMS, SHARMA & BILODEAU (2002) keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen der dominanten und nichtdominanten Handseite. / The development of body extremity laterality is closely linked to hemisphere specialization of the human brain. Laterality, the dominance of one hemisphere, and the effect of these two phenomena on sports performance capacity have yet to be described in detail. The question arises as to whether performance differences between paired extremities and the attendant extent of this difference might determine performance levels. In flat water canoeing, measurements in flat water as well as in the canoe counter current system reveal force time functions of the left and right body side that differ in quality and quantity. These differences have been documented for a number of years. However, so far their influence on performance has been presumed to exist and no attempt has been made to explain them.<br><br> During the period from October 1997 to October 2000, 275 kayakers and canoeists between the ages of 11 and 20 were examined twice annually (March and October) using extensive training scientific, kinetic and biomechanical equipment. The athletes were members of a state-wide canoeing club.<br><br> The main focus of the study was the correlation between (a) force differences arising between the left and right upper extremity and (b) athletic performance under laboratory conditions and field conditions. The following data was gathered: selected strength capacities of the upper arm flexor at a static strength measurement system (Wick & Krüger, 1998), force curves at the measuring paddle during exercise tests using the canoe counter current system and canoeing times in flat water over 250 m and 2,000 m during the course of the year.<br><br> The results of the static maximum force test showed that the difference in maximum force between the left and right arm increases with age. In the cross-sectional group, maximum force differences were observed between the left and right upper extremity; in terms of strength performance the right arm was clearly superior to the left arm. Despite bilateral training, contrary to what might be expected, the difference in maximum force between the left and right upper extremity increases with rising maximum force level. The proportional relationship remains unaffected by this. The evaluation of force parameters from the longitudinal and cross-sectional standpoint does not provide any clear indication of performance dominance of a specific extremity. The differences of the force parameters between the left and right upper extremity as measured in the canoe counter current system and in flat water are not stable. An analysis of EMG results confirmed that the maximum force has a decisive effect on canoeing performance. Force curves in flat water differ markedly from force curves in the canoe counter current system.<br><br> The present investigation is a first empirical paper on the effect of laterality differences on expert athletes in cyclic sports. The methodologies applied during the investigation correspond to the present state of research in the fields of training science and human kinetics. Variance-analytical methods of evaluation for the representation of average value differences, procedures that search connections and explorative EMG analyses were used. Results from the longitudinal section indicate that with exclusively right-handed subjects the preferred extremity cannot biuniquely be shown to have a higher force level. This result is confirmed by the cross-sectional findings. Despite bilateral training, force differences are observed between the upper extremities of canoeists. However, there is ongoing controversy about the relationship between preferred extremity and the extent of force development. The preferred extremity (e.g. the writing hand) is commonly believed to possess the higher maximum force level (Wirth & Liphardt, 1999). Nonetheless, this assumption could not be confirmed during the present investigation. However, the results of this investigation clearly show that as maximum force increases, the difference in strength performance between the left and right arm increases, including when bilateral training is applied. Fischer (1988; 1992) showed that training the subdominant side positively affected the dominant side. This is attributable to contralateral achievement transfer. These results are strongly supported by the findings of Kuhn (1986) and Hollmann & Hettinger (2000). The proportional difference remains stable over time with the athletes studied. This too supports the concept that the preferred extremity benefits from positive transfer effects. The electromyographic data pertains to the neuromuscular complex. Thus high amplitude values suggest on one hand a high innervation of the motor units involved in the performance of the movement and on the other hand the first signs of muscle fatigue. Williams, Sharma & Bilodeau (2002) found no significant differences between fatigue levels in the upper extremity muscles of the dominant and non-dominant extremity.

In daily activities, the brain regularly assigns different roles to the hands dependingon task and context. Yet, little is known about the underlying neural processes. Thiscertainly applies to how the brain, where each hemisphere primarily controls onehand, manages the between-hand coordination required in bimanual objectmanipulation. By using behavioral, neurophysiological and functional magneticresonance imaging techniques, the present thesis examines neural mechanisms thatsupport hand coordination during tasks where the two hands apply spatiotemporallycoupled but opposing forces for goal attainment, e.g., as when removing the cap froma bottle. Although the two hands seem to operate symmetrically in such tasks, Study Ishowed that one hand primarily acts while the other assists. Moreover, this roledifferentiation was found to be flexible with the brain appointing either hand asprime actor depending on the spatial congruency between hand forces and desiredmovement consequences. Accordingly, when we remove a cap from a bottle, the handthat grasps the cap, be it left or right depending on overall task constraints, isappointed as prime actor because the twist forces it generates are aligned with thegoal to remove the cap, while the other hand, holding the bottle, applies stabilizingforces in the opposite direction. Changes in hand assignments are caused by amidline shift of lateralized activity throughout the motor system, from distal handmuscles to corticospinal pathways and primary sensorimotor and cerebellar corticalareas (Study I). Although the bimanual actions examined involved both within- andbetween-hand coordination, Study II failed to reveal additional brain activity duringbimanual as compared to matching unimanual actions, except for the primarysensorimotor areas where subpopulations of neurons were preferentially engagedduring either bimanual or unimanual actions. Thus, dedicated neurons in the motorcortices might support critical bimanual coordinative operations. While imagingresults indicated that a mainly left-lateralized parietal-premotor network managedthe task irrespective of prime actor, premotor areas presumably established handassignment by allocating the lead either to the left or the right primary sensorimotorareas (Study I and II). Regarding the process of prime actor selection and hence thecontrol of these premotor networks, imaging results indicate a transitory involvementof prefrontal cortical areas (Study III). The detected areas belong to a networkconsidered critical for cognitive operations such as judgment and decision-making,and for evaluation of utility of actions, including conflict detection. The implicitselection of prime actor during bimanual tasks thus seems to be supported by corticalareas traditionally associated primarily with complex cognitive challenges.

In this thesis, Stroop task performance was investigated (using behavioural, electrophysiological and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques) in late and proficient adult bilinguals currently living in the second language (L2) environment. Monolingual participants, matched for age and handedness, were recruited as controls. The Stroop colour-word task was considered an appropriate tool to test the general hypothesis that bilingualism might influence executive or cognitive control processes. In Study One, a dual-task paradigm was used for assessing the lateralisation of language functions (given the linguistic nature of the Stroop paradigm used here) in the bilinguals (Macedonian-English/M-E). Bilinguals showed a more bilateral hemispheric involvement, for both languages, compared to monolinguals. These findings also provided supporting evidence for the hypothesis of greater right-hemispheric involvement for language in bilinguals. In Study Two, two behavioural Stroop task paradigms (manual and verbal) were used in order to assess the magnitude of the Stroop effect between the groups. Bilinguals (M-E, German-English/G-E) showed a trend of smaller interference scores across both languages compared to monolinguals. In Study Three, manual Stroop task performance with concurrent electroencephalograph (EEG) recording revealed that bilinguals had temporal shifts in the N400 component (of about 30-40 ms) for the interference comparison for both languages compared to monolinguals. Also, relative to monolinguals, M-E bilinguals (for both L1 and L2) and G-E bilinguals (for L2) had fewer electrodes over frontal and central sites with a significant amplitude difference in the interference comparison (i.e., a reduced interference effect). In Study Four, the neural substrates engaged during Stroop task performance were investigated using fMRI. In general, monolinguals showed greater activation in regions such as the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate (regions associated with good executive control). This suggested that relative to bilinguals, monolinguals require more neural resources to accomplish conflict resolution. Taken together, Stroop task performance in late and proficient bilinguals currently living in the L2 environment differed from that of monolinguals across all methods of investigation. It appears that cognitive processing changes at the executive level can be observed as a result of bilingualism. The results also provide some evidence for changes in L1 processing following late L2 acquisition, as similar results across both languages and tasks were observed for the M-E bilinguals. It is also possible that slight modifications to cerebral laterality as a result of the late learning of (and continuous exposure to) a second language could contribute to these differences in executive functioning. The language environment might therefore be a major factor in the lateralisation of language processing and executive functioning in bilinguals. These conclusions, though tentative and require further investigation, have important implications for language and executive processing in general and for theories regarding cognitive flexibility in bilinguals. / Auckland University Doctoral Scholarship

In this thesis, Stroop task performance was investigated (using behavioural, electrophysiological and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques) in late and proficient adult bilinguals currently living in the second language (L2) environment. Monolingual participants, matched for age and handedness, were recruited as controls. The Stroop colour-word task was considered an appropriate tool to test the general hypothesis that bilingualism might influence executive or cognitive control processes. In Study One, a dual-task paradigm was used for assessing the lateralisation of language functions (given the linguistic nature of the Stroop paradigm used here) in the bilinguals (Macedonian-English/M-E). Bilinguals showed a more bilateral hemispheric involvement, for both languages, compared to monolinguals. These findings also provided supporting evidence for the hypothesis of greater right-hemispheric involvement for language in bilinguals. In Study Two, two behavioural Stroop task paradigms (manual and verbal) were used in order to assess the magnitude of the Stroop effect between the groups. Bilinguals (M-E, German-English/G-E) showed a trend of smaller interference scores across both languages compared to monolinguals. In Study Three, manual Stroop task performance with concurrent electroencephalograph (EEG) recording revealed that bilinguals had temporal shifts in the N400 component (of about 30-40 ms) for the interference comparison for both languages compared to monolinguals. Also, relative to monolinguals, M-E bilinguals (for both L1 and L2) and G-E bilinguals (for L2) had fewer electrodes over frontal and central sites with a significant amplitude difference in the interference comparison (i.e., a reduced interference effect). In Study Four, the neural substrates engaged during Stroop task performance were investigated using fMRI. In general, monolinguals showed greater activation in regions such as the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate (regions associated with good executive control). This suggested that relative to bilinguals, monolinguals require more neural resources to accomplish conflict resolution. Taken together, Stroop task performance in late and proficient bilinguals currently living in the L2 environment differed from that of monolinguals across all methods of investigation. It appears that cognitive processing changes at the executive level can be observed as a result of bilingualism. The results also provide some evidence for changes in L1 processing following late L2 acquisition, as similar results across both languages and tasks were observed for the M-E bilinguals. It is also possible that slight modifications to cerebral laterality as a result of the late learning of (and continuous exposure to) a second language could contribute to these differences in executive functioning. The language environment might therefore be a major factor in the lateralisation of language processing and executive functioning in bilinguals. These conclusions, though tentative and require further investigation, have important implications for language and executive processing in general and for theories regarding cognitive flexibility in bilinguals. / Auckland University Doctoral Scholarship

In this thesis, Stroop task performance was investigated (using behavioural, electrophysiological and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques) in late and proficient adult bilinguals currently living in the second language (L2) environment. Monolingual participants, matched for age and handedness, were recruited as controls. The Stroop colour-word task was considered an appropriate tool to test the general hypothesis that bilingualism might influence executive or cognitive control processes. In Study One, a dual-task paradigm was used for assessing the lateralisation of language functions (given the linguistic nature of the Stroop paradigm used here) in the bilinguals (Macedonian-English/M-E). Bilinguals showed a more bilateral hemispheric involvement, for both languages, compared to monolinguals. These findings also provided supporting evidence for the hypothesis of greater right-hemispheric involvement for language in bilinguals. In Study Two, two behavioural Stroop task paradigms (manual and verbal) were used in order to assess the magnitude of the Stroop effect between the groups. Bilinguals (M-E, German-English/G-E) showed a trend of smaller interference scores across both languages compared to monolinguals. In Study Three, manual Stroop task performance with concurrent electroencephalograph (EEG) recording revealed that bilinguals had temporal shifts in the N400 component (of about 30-40 ms) for the interference comparison for both languages compared to monolinguals. Also, relative to monolinguals, M-E bilinguals (for both L1 and L2) and G-E bilinguals (for L2) had fewer electrodes over frontal and central sites with a significant amplitude difference in the interference comparison (i.e., a reduced interference effect). In Study Four, the neural substrates engaged during Stroop task performance were investigated using fMRI. In general, monolinguals showed greater activation in regions such as the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate (regions associated with good executive control). This suggested that relative to bilinguals, monolinguals require more neural resources to accomplish conflict resolution. Taken together, Stroop task performance in late and proficient bilinguals currently living in the L2 environment differed from that of monolinguals across all methods of investigation. It appears that cognitive processing changes at the executive level can be observed as a result of bilingualism. The results also provide some evidence for changes in L1 processing following late L2 acquisition, as similar results across both languages and tasks were observed for the M-E bilinguals. It is also possible that slight modifications to cerebral laterality as a result of the late learning of (and continuous exposure to) a second language could contribute to these differences in executive functioning. The language environment might therefore be a major factor in the lateralisation of language processing and executive functioning in bilinguals. These conclusions, though tentative and require further investigation, have important implications for language and executive processing in general and for theories regarding cognitive flexibility in bilinguals. / Auckland University Doctoral Scholarship

In this thesis, Stroop task performance was investigated (using behavioural, electrophysiological and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques) in late and proficient adult bilinguals currently living in the second language (L2) environment. Monolingual participants, matched for age and handedness, were recruited as controls. The Stroop colour-word task was considered an appropriate tool to test the general hypothesis that bilingualism might influence executive or cognitive control processes. In Study One, a dual-task paradigm was used for assessing the lateralisation of language functions (given the linguistic nature of the Stroop paradigm used here) in the bilinguals (Macedonian-English/M-E). Bilinguals showed a more bilateral hemispheric involvement, for both languages, compared to monolinguals. These findings also provided supporting evidence for the hypothesis of greater right-hemispheric involvement for language in bilinguals. In Study Two, two behavioural Stroop task paradigms (manual and verbal) were used in order to assess the magnitude of the Stroop effect between the groups. Bilinguals (M-E, German-English/G-E) showed a trend of smaller interference scores across both languages compared to monolinguals. In Study Three, manual Stroop task performance with concurrent electroencephalograph (EEG) recording revealed that bilinguals had temporal shifts in the N400 component (of about 30-40 ms) for the interference comparison for both languages compared to monolinguals. Also, relative to monolinguals, M-E bilinguals (for both L1 and L2) and G-E bilinguals (for L2) had fewer electrodes over frontal and central sites with a significant amplitude difference in the interference comparison (i.e., a reduced interference effect). In Study Four, the neural substrates engaged during Stroop task performance were investigated using fMRI. In general, monolinguals showed greater activation in regions such as the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate (regions associated with good executive control). This suggested that relative to bilinguals, monolinguals require more neural resources to accomplish conflict resolution. Taken together, Stroop task performance in late and proficient bilinguals currently living in the L2 environment differed from that of monolinguals across all methods of investigation. It appears that cognitive processing changes at the executive level can be observed as a result of bilingualism. The results also provide some evidence for changes in L1 processing following late L2 acquisition, as similar results across both languages and tasks were observed for the M-E bilinguals. It is also possible that slight modifications to cerebral laterality as a result of the late learning of (and continuous exposure to) a second language could contribute to these differences in executive functioning. The language environment might therefore be a major factor in the lateralisation of language processing and executive functioning in bilinguals. These conclusions, though tentative and require further investigation, have important implications for language and executive processing in general and for theories regarding cognitive flexibility in bilinguals. / Auckland University Doctoral Scholarship

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in English and Afrikaans / The purpose of the study was to determine the contribution Edu-K can make to the way that people are able to actualise themselves. Two literature studies were done. The first literature study dealt with the existing theories on self actualisation. After this study a list was drawn up that consisted of the characteristics of the actualiser. The second literature study dealt with the Seven Dimensions of Intelligence, as described by Edu-K. A connection was drawn between the characteristics of the actualiser and the Seven Dimensions. A clear connection was drawn theoretically between the characteristics of the actualiser and the seven dimensions. The empirical study also shows an improvement in the academical performance as well as the characteristics of the actualiser. / Die doel van hierdie studie is om te bepaal watter bydrae Edu-Kinesiologie (Edu-K) kan lewer tot die bereiking van selfaktualisering, veral op akademiese gebied Vir die verkenning is twee literatuurstudies gedoen. Die eerste literatuurstudie het gehandel oor die teoriee wat bestaan oor selfaktualisering. Na hierdie studie is 'n vraelys oor eienskappe wat kenmerkend van selfaktualiseerders is, saamgestel. Die tweede literatuurstudie het gegaan oor die Sewe Dimensies van lntelligensie wat deur Edu-K beskryf word, en daar is 'n verband getrek tussen die Sewe Dimensies en die eienskappe van selfaktualisering. Daar is teoreties 'n duidelike verband getrek tussen selfaktualisering en die Sewe Dimensies van lntelligensie. Die empiriese studie het ook aan die lig gebring dat daar 'n verbetering in akademiese prestasie, sowel as eienskappe van selfaktualisering is na terapie. / M. Ed.(Guidance and Counselling)

Several studies have focused on the contribution of the right hemisphere brain to the emotional aspects of communication, raising evidence that it is specialized in the emotional processing of faces. Right hemisphere brain damage (RHBD) may cause disturbances in the function mentioned, affecting social interactions since they depend on facial emotion recognition. This research aimed to contribute to the study of the possible impairment in the ability to identify facial expressions in 4 RHBD patients in order to elucidate whether those interfere with the performance of two emotion recognition instruments expressed by faces images. From a comparison between the RHBD group, 4 patients with left hemisphere brain damage (LHBD) and 8 subjects in the control group, we found 22 statistically significant or borderline statistical associations results (p≅0,05) only to the stimuli of the instrument Facial Expression Brazilian Task (FERBT), including the analysis of the emotional valences between LHBD and RHBD groups. Of these, 13 showed superiority of the control group in relation to clinical groups, and 9 showed superiority the LHBD group compared to the RHBD group. From this study, we can infer that FERBT is more congruent in relation to Emotion Recognition Index (ERI) concerning the hypothesis of brain asymmetry in facial expression recognition. The results of FERBT partially agrees with the hypothesis of emotional valence, since significant differences between clinical groups were found, favoring the LHBD group to the sum of emotion scores of negative valence at 500 milliseconds (ms), 1 second (s) and overall score of FERBT, adding up all the emotions in different times. However, it should be noted that borderline statistical associations differences favoring the LHBD group were found only for the emotion of fear (200ms and the total time) and anger (total time) with no significant differences for emotions of positive valence. This study helped to assess neuropsychological deficits after right hemisphere brain damage, since there is a significant gap in this diagnostic area. Through research, we can improve our knowledge about impairments caused by right hemisphere lesion by increasingly developing accurate assessment techniques and rehabilitation methods. / Vários estudos têm enfocado a contribuição do hemisfério cerebral direito para os aspectos emocionais da comunicação, levantando evidências de que o mesmo é especializado no processamento emocional de faces. Lesões de hemisfério direito (LHD) podem acarretar perturbações na função descrita anteriormente, prejudicando as interações sociais, uma vez que estas dependem do reconhecimento de emoções na modalidade facial. A presente pesquisa teve como finalidade contribuir para o estudo dos possíveis comprometimentos na capacidade de identificar expressões faciais em 4 pacientes LHD, buscando elucidar se àqueles acabam interferindo no desempenho de 2 instrumentos de reconhecimento de emoções expressas por imagens de faces. A partir de um comparativo entre o grupo LHD, 4 indivíduos com lesão de hemisfério esquerdo (LHE) e 8 sujeitos controle, foram encontrados 22 resultados com significância estatística ou associações estatísticas limítrofes (p≅0,05) somente para os estímulos do instrumento Facial Expression Brazilian Task (FERBT), incluindo análise da valência emocional entre grupos LHE e LHD. Destes, 13 mostraram superioridade do grupo controle em relação aos grupos clínicos e 9 mostraram superioridade de grupo LHE em relação ao grupo LHD. Infere-se a partir do presente estudo que o FERBT apresenta maior congruência, em relação ao Emotion Recognition Index (ERI), com a hipótese da assimetria cerebral no reconhecimento de expressões faciais. Os resultados do FERBT concordam parcialmente com a hipótese da valência emocional, uma vez que foram encontradas diferenças relevantes entre grupos clínicos, favorecendo o grupo LHE, para o somatório das pontuações de emoções de valência negativa nos tempos de 500 milissegundos (ms), 1 segundo (s) e pontuação geral do FERBT somando-se todas as emoções dos diferentes tempos. Contudo, deve-se ressaltar que associações estatísticas limítrofes, favorecendo o grupo LHE, foram encontradas apenas para a emoção de medo (200ms e total dos tempos) e raiva (total dos tempos), não havendo diferenças significativas para emoções de valência positiva. O presente estudo contribuiu para a avaliação de déficits neuropsicológicos após lesão direita, visto que há importante lacuna nessa área de diagnóstico neuropsicológico. Através da pesquisa, poderemos aprimorar nosso conhecimento sobre as disfunções ocasionadas pela lesão de hemisfério direito, desenvolvendo técnicas cada vez mais precisas de avaliação e métodos de reabilitação.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:19:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3171.pdf: 1824903 bytes, checksum: f8b361fb67df2b6e406968b3ada5b339 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-07-19 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / Manual preference has been regarded as derived from innate performance advantage of one hand over the other. The main purpose of this work was to investigate the relationship between manual preference and intermanual performance asymmetry on a task of reaching for static targets in five-month-old infants. Secondary purposes were to assess the effects of spatial target position and gender on manual preference, and the relationship between the infants&#8223; and the parents&#8223; manual preference. Manual preference was evaluated through frequency of right- and left-handed reaching toward targets at right, midline and left positions, regarding the midsagittal plane of the infant&#8223;s body. Intermanual asymmetry was assessed through kinematic analysis of reaching toward the target at the midline position. Dependent variables were the following: movement time, movement straightness, number of movement units, median velocity, peak velocity, and deceleration time. Analysis of manual preference indicated similar frequency of rightand left-handed reaching at midline and ipsilateral reaching toward lateral targets. Analysis of manual preference regarding toy positions indicated the equivalence between the incidence of infants presenting right and left manual preference. Kinematic analysis showed similar patterns of reaching between the right and left hands, except for deceleration time. Manual preference was not correlated with performance asymmetry. These results suggest that early manual preference in reaching does not derive from a superior capacity of control of one hand over the other. Manual preference was not significantly different between males and females, and it was not correlated with parents&#8223; manual preference. Results are discussed in terms of environmental versus genetic factors associated with formation of manual preference. / A preferência manual tem sido considerada como proveniente da vantagem inata de desempenho motor de uma mão sobre a outra. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal investigar a relação entre preferência manual e assimetrias intermanuais de desempenho na tarefa de alcançar alvos estáticos em bebês aos cinco meses de idade. Como objetivos secundários foram analisados os efeitos da posição espacial do alvo e sexo sobre a preferência manual, e a correlação entre a preferência manual dos bebês e dos respectivos pais. Para a avaliação da preferência manual, foi analisada a frequência de alcances com as mãos direita e esquerda a alvos posicionados na linha média, à direita e à esquerda em relação ao eixo sagital mediano do corpo dos bebês. A avaliação da assimetria intermanual foi feita por meio de análise cinemática de movimentos de alcance a alvos posicionados na linha média. Foram calculados tempo de movimento, índice de retidão, quantidade de unidades de movimento, velocidade média, pico de velocidade e tempo relativo de desaceleração. A análise da preferência manual indicou frequência de alcance semelhante com as mãos direita e esquerda ao alvo medial e alcances predominantemente ipsilaterais aos alvos laterais. Esse resultado revela o efeito da disposição ambiental sobre a preferência manual primária. A análise da preferência manual considerando todas as posições do brinquedo indicou equivalência entre a incidência de bebês apresentando preferência manual direita e esquerda. Não foram encontradas diferenças significantes na preferência manual em função do sexo, e no geral a preferência manual do bebê não apresentou congruência com a preferência manual dos pais. A análise cinemática revelou padrões de alcance predominantemente semelhantes entre as mãos direita e esquerda, exceto para a variável tempo relativo de desaceleração. Esses resultados sugerem que a preferência manual primária no alcançar não deriva de vantagem de desempenho de uma das mãos sobre a outra.Não foi encontrada correlação entre preferência manual e assimetria intermanual de desempenho. Os resultados são discutidos em termos da atuação do ambiente versus a atuação de fatores genéticos sobre a formação da preferência manual.