The purpose of the research presented here was to systematically investigate the role of speech perception on speech production in speakers of different ages and those with PD and hypokinetic dysarthria. For this, the experimental designs of auditory perturbation and mimicry were chosen. The initial research phase established that the magnitude of compensation to auditory vowel perturbation was reduced in 54 speakers of New Zealand English (NZE) when compared to previous studies conducted with speakers of American (AE) and Canadian English (CE). A number of factors were studied to determine possible predictors of compensation and distinguish between potential changes associated with ageing. However, no predictors of compensation were found for the overall group. Post-hoc analyses established an increased variability in response patterns in NZE when compared to previous studies of AE and CE. Subsequent follow-up analyses focused on the response-dependent categories of (1) big compensators, (2) compensators, (3) big followers, and (4) followers. Linear mixed-effect modelling revealed that in big compensators, the magnitude of compensation was greater in speakers who exhibited larger F1 baseline standard deviation and greater F1 vowel distances of HEAD relative to HEED and HAD. F1 baseline standard deviation was found to have a similar predictive value for the group of compensators. No predictors of compensation were found for the other two subgroups. Phase two was set up as a continuation of phase one and examined whether a subset of 16 speakers classified as big compensators adapted to auditory vowel perturbation. Linear mixed-effect modelling revealed that in the absence of auditory feedback alterations, big compensators maintained their revised speech motor commands for a short period of time until a process of de-adaptation was initiated. No predictors of adaptation were found for the group. Due to the unexpected results from the first two research phases indicating a dominant weighting of somatosensory feedback in NZE compared to auditory-perceptual influences, a different experimental paradigm was selected for phase three - mimicry. The purpose of this study was to determine whether eight speakers with PD and dysarthria and eight age-matched healthy controls (HC) are able to effectively integrate speech perception and speech production when attempting to match an acoustic target. Results revealed that all speakers were able to modify their speech production to approximate the model speaker but the acoustic dimensions of their speech did not move significantly closer to the target over the three mimicry attempts. Although speakers with moderate levels of dysarthria exhibited greater acoustic distances (except for the dimension of pitch variation), neither the perceptual nor the acoustic analyses found significant differences in mimicry behaviour across the two groups. Overall, these findings were considered preliminary evidence that speech perception and speech production can at least to some extent be effectively integrated to induce error-correction mechanisms and subsequent speech motor learning in these speakers with PD and dysarthria.

Une lésion corticale hémisphérique peut entrainer des troubles distincts en fonction du côté de la lésion : troubles du langage pour l'atteinte de l'hémisphère gauche ou difficultés à tenir debout lorsque c'est l'hémisphère droit qui est atteint. Nous avons fait l'hypothèse que l'hémisphère droit serait associé à une intégration des informations proprioceptives plus pertinente dans le but de contrôler notre posture bipodale. Nous avons donc perturbé ces informations par l'utilisation de vibrations tendineuses et observé les réactions posturales induites pour différents groupes (sujets jeunes, âgés et patients hémiparétiques). Nos résultats démontrent l'utilisation préférentielle de ces informations sensorielles par l'hémisphère droit, dans la gestion et l'organisation posturale au niveau spatial et multi-segmentaire. L'utilisation de ces stimulations proprioceptives pourrait être un facteur important dans la prise en charge thérapeutique de certaines populations pathologiques. / A cortical injury leads to some distinct trouble depending on the injured side; speech and language troubles when the left brain is damaged or standing difficulties when the right brain is injured. Our hypothesis was that the right brain hemisphere permitted a more pertinent integration of proprioceptive information to control the upright position. We perturbed the proprioceptive information with tendon vibration and we observed the induced postural reactions for several groups (young and senior adults, stroke patients). Our results show that proprioceptive information is better processed by the right hemisphere, reflected by control and postural organization at spatial and multi-segmental levels. Proprioceptive stimulations may be an important tool for the rehabilitation of several pathological populations.

Organismos são capazes de diferenciar estímulos sensoriais gerados independentemente pelo ambiente dos estímulos causados por sua própria ação no mundo. Esse processo depende de mecanismos neurais e cognitivos que unam suas ações às percepções por elas geradas. Objetivo desse trabalho foi investigar a interação da ação com a percepção visual no domínio temporal. Em cinco experimentos psicofísicos, foi estudado o efeito modulatório da ação no efeito flash-lag e em tarefas envolvendo estimativas de intervalos temporais. Nossos resultados mostraram que o planejamento e/ou execução de atos motores voluntários são capazes de reduzir em algumas dezenas de milissegundos as latências com que estímulos visuais são percebidos e também de reduzir as estimativas de intervalos temporais. A redução dessas latências é maior quando a conseqüência sensorial da ação é apresentada na fóvea, assim como quando existe um atraso entre a ação e o estímulo por ela causado. / Organisms are able to distinguish between sensory stimuli from the environment and sensory stimuli they cause. This process depends on neural and cognitive mechanisms that link actions to perceptions generated by these actions. This work aimed to investigate the interaction of action and perception in the temporal domain. In five psychophysical experiments, we have assessed the modulation of action in the flash-lag effect and in tasks involving temporal interval estimations. Our results showed that the planning and execution of a voluntary motor action are capable of reducing both visual perceptual latencies and temporal interval estimations. This reduction increases when the sensory consequences of motor actions are presented on the fovea and when a delay is injected between the action and the stimuli caused by it.

No description available.

Learning readiness is deficient in many first time school-going children. Learning readiness depends on a well-functioning neural network. Research has shown that movement as an early learning experience is necessary for optimal neural development. Presumably it is movement that activates the neural wiring in the brain. It influences neural organisation and stimulates the specific neurological systems required for optimal functioning and development of the brain. Some children are faced with motor proficiency deficits which may influence their learning and their readiness to learn. This study aimed at determining whether movement programmes are a means to promote and achieve learning readiness. A selected group of Grade two learners who participated in a specifically designed movement programme for ten weeks showed improvement in their levels of learning readiness based on their movement proficiency and academic level. Based on these findings, recommendations were made for the inclusion of movement in the school curriculum. / Educational Studies / M Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

L’objectif général de cette thèse est d’étudier dans les mouvements complexes, les propriétés psychophysiques de flexibilité d’un programme moteur suite à une perturbation inattendue et certaines de ses bases neurales. Pour ce faire, trois études comportementales et une étude en imagerie par résonance magnétique fonctionnelles ont été menées. (1)Les principaux résultats de notre première étude démontrent que lors de la réalisation de mouvements complexes, après un déplacement inattendu de la cible visuelle, des corrections motrices peuvent apparaître très rapidement en une centaine de millisecondes dans les muscles de la jambe et du bras. De telles latences pourraient indiquer que les corrections motrices rapides à partir des entrées visuelles pourraient être générées grâce à des boucles corticales de bas niveaux. (2) Lors d’un déplacement imprévu de la cible visuelle pendant l’exécution d’un mouvement complexe dirigé, les temps de correction sont significativement corrélés entre certaines paires de muscles, indépendamment de leur localisation anatomique ou de leur ordre d’apparition dans la séquence temporelle de recrutement musculaire. Ces résultats suggèrent que le système nerveux central est capable d’utiliser des synergies motrices fonctionnelles et complexes lors de la génération de corrections motrices. (3) Lorsque la taille de la cible est modifiée de manière imprévisible pendant l’exécution du plan moteur initial, la durée du mouvement augmente, indépendamment de la variabilité de la précision terminale du mouvement de pointage. Ce résultat suggère que les retours sensori-moteurs et une représentation en (quasi) temps réel de la vitesse de l’effecteur sont utilisés pour générer et contrôler le déplacement de la main. (4) Enfin, lors d’une tâche de rattrapés de balles répétitifs, en manipulant les conditions de prédiction a priori de la masse des balles utilisées, la dernière étude de ce travail expérimental démontre qu’un réseau cérébelleux bilatéral, impliquant les lobules IV, V et VI, est très majoritairement impliqué dans les processus de calcul de l’erreur sensori-motrice. Dans les boucles corticales classiques impliquées dans la flexibilité motrice, le cervelet est engagé dans la génération de l’erreur sensori-motrice. Néanmoins, il semblerait que d’autres boucles de plus bas niveaux puissent être également employées afin de générer des corrections motrices très rapides. La coordination entre ces différentes boucles reste à être étudiée plus précisément. / The main objective of this thesis is to study the motor flexibility in complex movements when an unexpected event makes the initial motor plan inefficient. In this way, three kinematic and electromyographic studies and a fourth with functional magnetic resonance imaging were realized. (1)The main result of the first study clearly demonstrate that during complex movements express motor corrections in the upper and lower limbs, with latency responses of less than 100 ms, were revealed by contrasting electromyographic activities in perturbed and unperturbed trials. Such findings could indicate that visual on-going movement corrections may be accomplished via fast loops at the level of the upper and lower limbs and may not require cortical involvement. (2) When an unexpected target jump occurred, correction times were strongly correlated together for some pairs of muscles independently of their occurrences during the motor sequence and independently of the location of the muscles at the anatomical level. This second study suggests that the CNS re-programs a new motor synergy after the target jumps in order to correct the on going reaching movement. (3) When the target size is varied during the initial motor plan execution, the movement duration can increase independently of the variability of the final endpoint. These results suggests that when the speed-accuracy trade-off is unexpectedly modified, terminal feedbacks based on intermediate representations of the endpoint velocity are used to monitor and control the hand displacement. (4) Finally, when catching a falling ball and the possibility of prediction about the ball weight was manipulated, the last study of this thesis showed that both the right and left cerebellum is engaged in processing sensory–motor errors, and more particularly the lobules IV, V and VI. For classical loops involved in motor flexibility, sensory-motor errors are processed within the cerebellum. However, some shorter sub-cortical loops seem also to be involved for faster motor corrections. The coordination between these different loops needs to be explained more precisely.

Com a frequente utilização de Tecnologias da Informação e da Comunicação (TICs) em contextos educacionais, uma nova configuração de atividades virtuais trouxe à tona novos desafios para profissionais da área de educação ou de treinamento. A partir das contribuições originadas no campo da Realidade Virtual, merecem atenção às soluções que se utilizam de Ambientes Virtuais Interativos 3D como uma alternativa às estratégias de treinamento conduzidas em ambientes reais de aprendizagem. Essas soluções ganham destaque à medida que se observa a utilização de diferentes métodos ou formas de se ensinar e aprender com esses ambientes. Nesse contexto o campo das Habilidades Sensório-Motoras (HSM) constitui-se um desafio no que tange à necessidade de desenvolvimento de métodos para quantificar ou qualificar a habilidade de um aprendiz ou profissional que esteja sob avaliação durante a realização de uma tarefa. Diante desse cenário, apresenta-se a pesquisa em pauta, com o objetivo de definir, implementar e validar um método para avaliação da aquisição de HSM em Ambientes Virtuais Interativos 3D no contexto de treinamento médico. O escopo da presente investigação foi definido mediante a realização de um processo de revisão de literatura sobre os principais fundamentos encontrados na área. Por meio da condução de dois processos de Revisão Sistemática, foi possível recuperar o estado da arte sobre métodos e parâmetros utilizados na avaliação da aquisição de HSM. Para atingir os objetivos da investigação, foram conduzidos experimentos com base em um modelo teórico de avaliação e em um método semiautomatizado. Os resultados dos experimentos indicaram que o método construído foi capaz de avaliar diferentes tarefas virtuais durante a aquisição de Habilidades Sensório-Motoras, assim como verificar o grau de convergência e divergência de processos de discriminação e classificação de HSM observados na avaliação de tarefas virtuais pelo método semiautomatizado e por especialistas. / Along with the frequent use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in educational contexts, a new configuration of virtual activities has brought up new challenges for professionals in the field of education or training. Based on contributions coming from the field of Virtual Reality, solutions used in 3-D Interactive Virtual Environments need to be highlighted as an alternative to training strategies conducted in real learning environments. These solutions gain ground as the use of different methods or ways of teaching and learning are observed in these environments. In this context, the field of Sensory Motor Skills (SMS) becomes a challenge as far as the need for development of methods is concerned in order to quantify or qualify the skills of a learner or a professional who is being evaluated during the performance of a task. This research is set in this scenario aiming to define, implement and validate a method to evaluate the acquisition of SMS in 3-D Interactive Virtual Environments in the context of medical training. The scope of this investigation was defined by means of a literature review on the current major founding principles in the area. Two processes of Systematic Review were conducted which produced the state of the art on methods and parameters used in the evaluation of SMS acquisition. In order to achieve the objectives of the investigation, two experimental studies were conducted based on a theoretical evaluation model and a semi-automated method. The results of the experimental studies showed that the method constructed was able to evaluate different virtual tasks during the acquisition of Sensory Motor Skills, and to verify the convergence or divergence degree of processes of discrimination and classification of SMS observed in the evaluation of virtual tasks by the semi-automated method and by human experts.

O controle postural na doença de Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) está subsidiado em estudos com adultos, nos quais deformidades distais, desequilíbrios musculares e aspectos maturacionais estão bem documentados. Para infância e adolescência, o controle postural permanece por ser explorado e pode contribuir para elucidar como um sistema neuromuscular imaturo lida com a doença em curso. Neste contexto, foi proposto um estudo de desenho transversal (Estudo 1) composto por crianças e adolescentes com CMT (encaminhados ao Ambulatório CMT-Infantil do Centro de Reabilitação do HCFMRP-USP; Grupo CMT) e seus pares saudáveis (Grupo Controle), e outro longitudinal (Estudo 2), composto exclusivamente de crianças e adolescentes com CMT. O Estudo 1 caracterizou a oscilação postural e explorou sua interação com variáveis musculoesqueléticas, a partir da comparação do Grupo CMT e Grupo Controle, sendo composto por 53 participantes de ambos os sexos, idade entre 6 e 18 anos, sendo 24 saudáveis e 29 com CMT. Foram coletados dados de massa, estatura, base de apoio, Índice Postural do Pé (IPP), amplitudes passivas de movimento, força muscular isométrica de membros inferiores, medidas de desempenho (teste de caminhada dos 6 min -T6, teste dos 10 m - T10, salto horizontal - SH) e de equilíbrio (estabilometria, Escala de Equilíbrio Pediátrica - EEP). A força muscular isométrica dos grupos musculares inversores, eversores, dorsiflexores, flexores plantares, flexores e extensores de joelho e extensores de quadril foi medida bilateralmente com um dinamômetro manual (Lafayette, modelo 01163). Para avaliação estabilométrica foi usada uma plataforma de força (Bertec, modelo FP 4060-08), com frequência de amostragem de 100 Hz, tempo de registro de 30 s por tentativa. As 4 condições de teste (olhos abertos/superfície rígida; olhos abertos/superfície deformável; olhos fechados/superfície rígida; olhos fechados/superfície deformável) foram repetidas aleatoriamente por 3 vezes, intervaladas por 30 s, perfazendo 12 tentativas. Foram extraídas a área da elipse de confiança, velocidade (total, mediolateral e anteroposterior), frequência (total, mediolateral e anteroposterior) e o Quociente de Romberg (QRv) por meio do programa MATLAB (R2014a), usando um filtro digital Butterworth passa-baixa de 4a ordem, com frequência de corte de 7 Hz. O programa SPSS (versão 17) foi usado para análise estatística (nível de significância de 5%). No aspecto musculoesquelético (amplitude de dorsiflexão, ângulo poplíteo e força muscular da maioria dos grupos testados) e nos testes de desempenho (T10, T6 e SH), os resultados mostraram que o grupo CMT exibiu valores inferiores ao Controle (p<0,05). Quanto ao controle postural, comparações intragrupo das condições de teste no grupo CMT evidenciaram incremento na área e velocidades do centro de pressão (CP), mas não nas frequências, conforme a complexidade da tarefa. Nas comparações intergrupos, tanto a EEP quanto a estabilometria evidenciaram menor equilíbrio no grupo CMT quando comparado ao Controle (aumento da área de confiança da elipse e das velocidades, associadas a um decréscimo da frequência do CP) (p<0,05). As interações mais relevantes entre fatores musculoesqueléticos e equilíbrio sugerem melhor controle postural para indivíduos com pés são planos e amplitudes de dorsiflexão reduzidas. O Estudo 2 buscou detectar alterações no controle postural nos participantes que foram seguidos por 6 e 12 meses consecutivos, sendo 22 com CMT de ambos os sexos, idade entre 6 e 18 anos. Registros da oscilação postural, das variáveis musculoesqueléticas e de desempenho foram analisados em intervalos de 6 meses (AV1, AV2 e AV3). Os programas SPSS (versão 17) e R Core Team (2016) foram usados para análise estatística. O teste de Wilcoxon foi usado para comparar variáveis estabilométricas do seguimento semestral e anual e para uma análise complementar, considerando os subgrupos de 6 a 9 anos (n=8) e de 10 a 17 anos (n=9). O comportamento das variáveis musculoesqueléticas foi analisado com o modelo linear de efeitos mistos. O teste t de Student para amostras pareadas foi usado para analisar T10, T6 e SH. O IPP e EEP foram analisados com o teste exato de Fisher. Os resultados mostraram que não houve mudanças significativas na estabilometria entre AV1 e AV2 ou AV1 e AV3. Nas comparações entre AV1 e AV2, houve aumento significativo no ângulo poplíteo, na força dos grupos musculares eversores de tornozelo e extensores de quadril, no SH e a força muscular dos extensores de joelho sofreu decréscimo (p<0,05). Nas comparações entre AV1 e AV3, houve aumento significativo da força muscular dos grupos inversores, eversores, dorsiflexores e extensores de joelho (p<0,05). A análise complementar do seguimento anual identificou reduções significativas na amplitude de dorsiflexão, velocidade mediolateral (condições olhos abertos/superfície rígida e olhos fechados/superfície rígida) e velocidade total (condições olhos abertos/superfície rígida e olhos fechados/superfície rígida) no subgrupo de crianças (n=8) (p<0,05). No subgrupo de adolescentes (n=9), houve aumento significativo da força muscular de inversores, dorsiflexores e extensores de joelho (p<0,05) enquanto a estabilometria permaneceu inalterada. Em suma, os resultados do Estudo 1 e 2 permitem concluir que o controle postural ii deficitário de crianças e adolescentes com CMT é mensurável com base nas variáveis estabilométricas extraídas da análise global; é expresso por grandes e rápidas oscilações do CP, nas quais a frequência não distingue as condições de teste quando comparadas aos seus pares saudáveis. A velocidade do CP parece refletir as mudanças na estabilidade postural quando crianças e adolescentes são analisados como subgrupos distintos. Além disso, seguimentos anuais parecem ser suficientes para detectar mudanças no controle postural, nas variáveis musculoesqueléticas e de desempenho. / Postural control in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is supported in studies with adults, in which distal deformities, muscular imbalances and maturational aspects are well documented. For childhood and adolescence, standing balance remains to be explored and may contribute to elucidate how an immature neuromuscular system deals with the ongoing disease. In this context, a crosssectional study (Study 1) composed of children and adolescents with CMT (referred to the CMTInfantile Ambulatory of the HCFMRP-USP Rehabilitation Center, CMT Group) and their healthy peers (Control Group), and another longitudinal (Study 2), composed exclusively of children and adolescents with CMT were proposed. Study 1 characterized the postural oscillations and explored its interaction with musculoskeletal variables from the comparison of the CMT Group and Control Group, being composed of 53 participants of both sexes, age between 6 and 18 years, being 24 healthy and 29 with CMT. Mass, height, base of support, foot postural index (PPI), passive amplitudes of movement, isometric muscle strength of lower limbs, performance measures (6-min walk test -T6, 10- T10, horizontal jump - SH) and balance (stabilometry, Pediatric Balance Scale - EEP) were collected. The isometric muscle strength of the inversion, dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, knee extension, knee flexion and hip extension was measured bilaterally with a manual dynamometer (Lafayette, model 01163). Stabilometric evaluationused a force platform (Bertec, model FP 4060-08), with sampling frequency of 100 Hz, recording time of 30 s per trial. The 4 test conditions (open eyes / hard surface, open eyes / deformable surface, closed eyes / hard surface, closed eyes / deformable surface) were randomly repeated 3 times, intervals for 30 s, making 12 trials. The confidence ellipse area, velocity (total, mediolateral and anteroposterior), frequency (total, mediolateral and anteroposterior) and the Romberg Quotient (QRv) were extracted using MATLAB program (R2014a), adopting a 4th order Butterworth digital low-pass filter and a cut-off frequency of 7 Hz. Statistical analysis used the SPSS program (version 17) and it was adopted level of significance of 5%. In the musculoskeletal aspect (amplitude of dorsiflexion, popliteal angle and muscular strength of most of the groups tested) and performance tests (T10, T6 and SH), CMT group showed values lower than Control (p <0.05). For balance, intragroup comparisons of the test conditions in the CMT group evidenced an increased area and velocities of the pressure center (CP), but not the frequencies, according to the complexity of the task. In the intergroup comparisons, EEP and stabilometry showed less postural control in the CMT group when compared to the Control (increased confidence ellipse area and velocities associated with a decrease in CP frequency) (p <0.05). The most relevant interactions between musculoskeletal and oscillations of CP suggest better postural control for subjects the flat feet and reduced dorsiflexion amplitudes. Study 2 comprised 22 participants with CMT of both sexes, aged between 6 and 18 years and it sought to detect changes in postural oscillations in CMT with 6 and 12 consecutive months of follow-up. Postural oscillations, musculoskeletal and performance variables were analyzed at 6-month intervals (AV1, AV2 and AV3). SPSS (version 17) and R Core Team (2016) programs were used for statistical analysis. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare stabilometric variables of the bi-annual and annual follow-up and to a complementary analysis, considering the subgroups of 6 to 9 years (n = 8) and 10 to 17 years (n = 9). The linear mixed effects model analyzed the musculoskeletal variables. Student\'s t-test for paired samples was used to analyze T10, T6 and SH. The Fisher\'s exact test analyzed the IPP and EEP. The results showed no significant changes in the stabilometry between AV1 and AV2 or AV1 and AV3. Comparisons between AV1 and AV2 showed significant increase in the popliteal angle strength of the ankle evertors and hip extensors SH while the muscle strength of knee extensors decreased (p <0.05). Comparisons between AV1 and AV3, showed a significant increase in the muscular strength for inversion, eversion, dorsiflexion and knee extension groups (p <0.05). The complementary analysis of the annual follow-up identified significant reductions in dorsiflexion amplitude, mediolateral velocity (open eyes / rigid surface and closed eyes / rigid surface) and total velocity (open eyes / rigid surface and closed eyes / rigid surfaces) in the subgroup of children (n = 8) (p <0.05). Subgroup of adolescents (n = 9) showed a significant increase in the muscular strength of inverters, dorsiflexors and knee extensors (p <0.05) while the stabilometry remained unchanged. In summary, the results of Study 1 and 2 allow us to conclude that the poor postural control of children and adolescents with CMT is measurable based on the stabilometric variables extracted from the global analysis; is iv expressed by large and rapid CP oscillations, in which frequency does not distinguish the test conditions when compared to their healthy counterparts. The velocity of CP seems to reflect changes in postural stability when children and adolescents are analyzed as distinct subgroups. In addition, annual follow-up appears to be sufficient to detect changes in postural control, musculoskeletal and performance variables.

A anóxia neonatal decorre da redução de oxigênio no feto ou no recém-nascido e provoca morte e morbidade principalmente nos prematuros. Neste projeto avaliamos se o exercício físico espontâneo em ratas gestantes atenua os problemas no desenvolvimento e na cognição provocados pela anóxia neonatal nos filhotes. Para tanto, avaliamos o desenvolvimento somático e sensorimotor dos filhotes até o desmame e na idade adulta avaliamos a sua memória espacial. Também analisamos a densidade de neurônios e a expressão relativa de sinapsina I no hipocampo de animais jovens e adultos. O exercício materno espontâneo foi capaz de reverter o atraso provocado pela anóxia neonatal no aparecimento de características físicas e reflexos. Em animais jovens, ele também diminuiu a redução, pela anóxia, da densidade neuronal no giro dentado e da expressão relativa de sinapsina I. Os efeitos do exercício materno e da anóxia neonatal aparentemente não persistiram até a vida adulta. Assim, o exercício materno espontâneo atenua os efeitos da anóxia neonatal em jovens. / Neonatal anoxia follows from oxygen reduction in fetus or newborn and causes death and morbidity mainly in premature children. We evaluated if spontaneous maternal exercise in pregnant rats attenuates problems in the development and in the cognition caused by neonatal anoxia in pups. Thereunto, we evaluated the somatic and sensory-motor development of pups until weaning and, at adult age, we evaluated their spatial memory. We also analysed the neuron density and the relative expression of synapsin I in the hippocampus of young and adult animals. The spontaneous maternal exercise was able to reverse the delay caused by neonatal anoxia in the development of physical traits and reflexes. In young animals, maternal exercise also decrease the reduction, by anoxia, of neuronal density in the dentate gyrus and of relative expression. of synapsin I. Maternal exercise and neonatal anoxia effects apparently did not persist until adulthood. Thus, spontaneous maternal exercise attenuates neonatal anoxia effects in Young rats.

Com a frequente utilização de Tecnologias da Informação e da Comunicação (TICs) em contextos educacionais, uma nova configuração de atividades virtuais trouxe à tona novos desafios para profissionais da área de educação ou de treinamento. A partir das contribuições originadas no campo da Realidade Virtual, merecem atenção às soluções que se utilizam de Ambientes Virtuais Interativos 3D como uma alternativa às estratégias de treinamento conduzidas em ambientes reais de aprendizagem. Essas soluções ganham destaque à medida que se observa a utilização de diferentes métodos ou formas de se ensinar e aprender com esses ambientes. Nesse contexto o campo das Habilidades Sensório-Motoras (HSM) constitui-se um desafio no que tange à necessidade de desenvolvimento de métodos para quantificar ou qualificar a habilidade de um aprendiz ou profissional que esteja sob avaliação durante a realização de uma tarefa. Diante desse cenário, apresenta-se a pesquisa em pauta, com o objetivo de definir, implementar e validar um método para avaliação da aquisição de HSM em Ambientes Virtuais Interativos 3D no contexto de treinamento médico. O escopo da presente investigação foi definido mediante a realização de um processo de revisão de literatura sobre os principais fundamentos encontrados na área. Por meio da condução de dois processos de Revisão Sistemática, foi possível recuperar o estado da arte sobre métodos e parâmetros utilizados na avaliação da aquisição de HSM. Para atingir os objetivos da investigação, foram conduzidos experimentos com base em um modelo teórico de avaliação e em um método semiautomatizado. Os resultados dos experimentos indicaram que o método construído foi capaz de avaliar diferentes tarefas virtuais durante a aquisição de Habilidades Sensório-Motoras, assim como verificar o grau de convergência e divergência de processos de discriminação e classificação de HSM observados na avaliação de tarefas virtuais pelo método semiautomatizado e por especialistas. / Along with the frequent use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in educational contexts, a new configuration of virtual activities has brought up new challenges for professionals in the field of education or training. Based on contributions coming from the field of Virtual Reality, solutions used in 3-D Interactive Virtual Environments need to be highlighted as an alternative to training strategies conducted in real learning environments. These solutions gain ground as the use of different methods or ways of teaching and learning are observed in these environments. In this context, the field of Sensory Motor Skills (SMS) becomes a challenge as far as the need for development of methods is concerned in order to quantify or qualify the skills of a learner or a professional who is being evaluated during the performance of a task. This research is set in this scenario aiming to define, implement and validate a method to evaluate the acquisition of SMS in 3-D Interactive Virtual Environments in the context of medical training. The scope of this investigation was defined by means of a literature review on the current major founding principles in the area. Two processes of Systematic Review were conducted which produced the state of the art on methods and parameters used in the evaluation of SMS acquisition. In order to achieve the objectives of the investigation, two experimental studies were conducted based on a theoretical evaluation model and a semi-automated method. The results of the experimental studies showed that the method constructed was able to evaluate different virtual tasks during the acquisition of Sensory Motor Skills, and to verify the convergence or divergence degree of processes of discrimination and classification of SMS observed in the evaluation of virtual tasks by the semi-automated method and by human experts.