Thesis (Honors)--College of William and Mary, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 34-37). Also available via the World Wide Web.

<p>Na uzorku od 485 dece uzrasta od 5 do 7 godina, podeljenih u dve grupe &ndash; eksperimentalnu (259 - 53,4%) i kontrolnu (226 &ndash; 46,6%) sprovedena su morfolo&scaron;ka merenja, te motorička i intelektualna testiranja. Eksperimentalnu grupu sačinjavali su polaznici Sportske &scaron;kolice &bdquo;Luka&rdquo; iz Novog Sada, dok su deca iz Pred&scaron;kolske ustanove &bdquo;Radosno detinjstvo&rdquo;, organizacione jedinice vrtić &bdquo;Petar Pan&rdquo; činila kontrolnu grupu. Prosečni uzrast eksperimentalne grupe na dan inicijalnih merenja, odnosno testiranja iznosio je 5,4&plusmn;0,8 decimalnih godina, dok je prosečan uzrast kontrolne grupe bio 5,6&plusmn;0,6 decimalnih godina.<br />Cilj rada bio je da se ustanove i analiziraju efekti longitudinalne primene različitih modela vežbanja kineziolo&scaron;kih aktivnosti na podizanju nivoa razvoja i pobolj&scaron;anje kognitivnog, posebno intelektualnog, kao i motoričkog i morfolo&scaron;kog razvoja pred&scaron;kolske dece. Stoga je na eksperimentalnoj grupi primenjen kineziolo&scaron;ki program u trajanju od devet meseci, a sve u svrhu pobolj&scaron;anja navedenih karakteristika i sposobnosti. Program je sproveden u &scaron;kolskoj 2013/14. godini, ali i nastavljen na deci koja su i dalje pohađala sportsku &scaron;kolicu i tokom naredne 2014/15. &scaron;kolske godine. Detaljna koncepcija programa data je u samom radu.<br />Baterija za ispitivanje i praćenje promena prouzrokovanih eksperimentalnim tretmanom sastojala se od osam antropometrijskih mera, osam motoričkih testova i dva testa za procenu inteligencije, s tim &scaron;to drugi primenjeni test za procenu inteligencije predstavlja ustvari bateriju testova koja je imala za cilj da proceni vi&scaron;e segmenata intelektualnih sposobnosti i to: planiranje, simultanu pažnju i sukcesiju.<br />Temeljem dobijenih rezultata sprovedene empirijsko-istraživačke studije, dobijene su i detaljno obrazložene sve pojave koje su ishod programiranog i pod stručnim nadzorom sprovedenog eksperimentalnog kineziolo&scaron;kog tretmana. U svetlu toga, moguće je bilo zaključiti da je do&scaron;lo do pobolj&scaron;anja nekih morfolo&scaron;kih karakteristika, te pojedinih motoričkih i intelektualnih sposobnosti dece iz eksperimentalne grupe u odnosu na kontrolnu. Do izvesnih promena do&scaron;lo je i u kvalitativnom, a ne samo kvantitativnom smislu, a predložen je i model varijabli koji bi verovatno u budućnosti mogao ukazati na jo&scaron; bolje rezultate.<br />Osim toga, buduća istraživanja u smislu pouzdanijih rezultata trebala bi biti sprovođena uz primenu preciznijih mernih instrumenata, koji bi, pretpostavlja se, dali za generalizaciju rezultata adekvatnije informacije.</p> / <p>Based on the sample of 485 children of 5 to 7 years of age, divided into two groups &ndash; experimental (259 &ndash; 53.4%) and control group (226 &ndash; 46.6%), morphological measurements, motoric and intellectual testing were done. The experimental group was consisted of the pupils of the Sport School &ldquo;Luka&rdquo; from Novi Sad, while the control group was consisted of the children from the Preschool institution &ldquo;Radosno detinjstvo&rdquo;, and the organisational unit of the nursery &ldquo;Peter Pan&rdquo;. The average age of the experimental group on the day of initial measuring, or testing, was 5.4&plusmn;0.8 decimal years, while the average age of the control group was 5.6&plusmn;0.6 decimal years.<br />The purpose of this paper was to define and analyse the effects of longitudinal application of various models of exercises of kinesiology activity on raising the level of development and improvement of cognitive, in particular of intellectual and motoric and morphological development of preschool children. Therefore, a kinesiology programme was applied to the experimental group for the period of nine months, all in order to improve the stated characteristics and abilities. The programme was implemented in the school year 2013/2014, but it was continued for the children who still attended the sport school in the next school year 2014/2015. The detailed idea of the programme is provided in the paper.<br />Battery for testing and monitoring the changes caused by experimental treatment was consisted of eight anthropometric measurements, eight motoric tests and two tests for intelligence assessment, while the second applied test for assessment of intelligence is actually the battery of tests which aim was to assess several segments of intellectual abilities, including the following: planning, simultaneous attention and succession.<br />Based on the obtained results of the conducted empirical research study, all changes which are the outcome of the programmed and conducted experimental kinesiology treatment under expert surveillance, have been explained in details. In that respect, it is possible to conclude that certain morphological characteristics have improved, and that certain motoric and intellectual abilities of children from the experimental group have also improved in comparison with the control group. Certain changes occurred also in the qualitative, not only in the quantitative aspect, and a model of variables was also proposed, which is likely to indicate even better results in the future.<br />In addition to that, the future research, when it comes to more reliable results, should be conducted with the application of measuring instruments, which would, as assumed, provide more adequate information for the generalization of results.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2005. / Supervisor: Timothy D. Lee. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

We propose a developmental framework that enables the robot to learn affordances through interaction with the environment in an unsupervised way and to use these affordances at different levels of robot control, ranging from reactive response to planning. Inspired from Developmental Psychology, the robot&rsquo / s discovery of action possibilities is realized in two sequential phases. In the first phase, the robot that initially possesses a limited number of basic actions and reflexes discovers new behavior primitives by exercising these actions and by monitoring the changes created in its initially crude perception system. In the second phase, the robot explores a more complicated environment by executing the discovered behavior primitives and using more advanced perception to learn further action possibilities. For this purpose, first, the robot discovers commonalities in action-effect experiences by finding effect categories, and then builds predictors for each behavior to map object features and behavior parameters into effect categories. After learning affordances through self-interaction and self-observation, the robot can make plans to achieve desired goals, emulate end states of demonstrated actions, monitor the plan execution and take corrective actions using the perceptual structures employed or discovered during learning. Mobile and manipulator robots were used to realize the proposed framework. Similar to infants, these robots were able to form behavior repertoires, learn affordances, and gain prediction capabilities. The learned affordances were shown to be relative to the robots, provide perceptual economy and encode general relations. Additionally, the affordance-based planning ability was verified in various tasks such as table cleaning and object transportation.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-17T18:39:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6612.pdf: 4040962 bytes, checksum: d477235c184b0bdc58a0783fa553e5cc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-10-31 / With advancing age, there is a tendency of loss of cognitive aspects such as memory, attention, learning new technologies and motor aspects such as loss of range of motion of the upper limbs. The literature points to investments made to investigate the use of virtual reality in cognitive and motor aspects, however, due to the few researches found on the topic, is one notable gap in terms of describing the training of motor skills of the member and higher cognitive skills using virtual reality applications. This research aimed to evaluate the use of virtual reality application KapMan® for training of motor skills of upper member and cognitive in institutionalized elderly. The research was performed in a long - term institution, located in a midsize city in the state of São Paulo. The participants in this study were six seniors and we used a questionnaire about participants - to make sure about their skills and understanding about the game - measurement of range of motion, heart rate and blood pressure, the DASH questionnaire was used and Mini - mental State Examination. Furthermore, adaptations in the original game KapMan® were made. The results indicated a reduction in execution time of activity between the first and last time, and an increase of the final score (score) obtained, leading to believe that the adjustments made in the game and the training of the proposed activity resulted in better performance of the elderly. There were no observable changes in variables heart rate and blood pressure. The data shows an improvement in pain and upper limb function, and increased range of motion of the upper limb of the elderly. As the cognitive aspects, four elderly have compatibility with cognitive disabilities and two do not have this loss. Nevertheless, the elderly understood, learned and developed motor skills of the upper limb and cognitive training with the proposed activity. Thus, the premise that the deployment of virtual reality applications help the training of motor skills and cognitive upper limb was confirmed. / Com o avançar da idade, há uma tendência de perdas dos aspectos cognitivos como a memória, atenção, na aprendizagem de novas tecnologias e perdas de aspectos motores, como amplitude de movimento dos membros superiores. A revisão de literatura aponta para investimentos realizados para averiguar o uso da realidade virtual nos aspectos cognitivos e motores. No entanto, devido aos poucos trabalhos encontrados sobre a temática, é notável uma lacuna no que se refere a descrever sobre treino de habilidades motoras do membro superior e de habilidades cognitivas utilizando aplicativos de realidade virtual. O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar o uso do aplicativo de realidade virtual KapMan® para treino de habilidades motoras do membro superior e cognitivas em idosos institucionalizados. A pesquisa foi realizada em uma instituição de longa permanência, localizada em uma cidade de médio porte do interior do estado de São Paulo. Os participantes dessa pesquisa foram seis idosos e para a coleta de dados foi utilizado um questionário de caracterização dos participantes, das habilidades e entendimento dos participantes em relação ao jogo, mensuração da amplitude de movimento, da frequência cardíaca e da pressão arterial, questionário DASH e o Mini - exame do estado mental. Além disso, foram realizadas adaptações no jogo KapMan® original. Os resultados apontam para uma diminuição no tempo de execução da atividade entre a primeira e a última vez, e para o aumento da pontuação final (score) obtida, revelando que as adaptações realizadas no jogo e o treinamento da atividade proposta resultaram na melhor atuação dos idosos. Não houve alterações nas variáveis frequência cardíaca e pressão arterial. Os dados apontam para uma melhora na dor e na função do membro superior, além do aumento da amplitude de movimento do membro superior dos idosos. Quanto aos aspectos cognitivos, quatro idosos apresentam compatibilidade com deficiência cognitiva e dois não possuem essa perda. Apesar disso os idosos, compreenderam, aprenderam e desenvolveram habilidades motoras do membro superior e cognitivas com o treinamento da atividade proposta. Dessa forma, a premissa de que a implementação de aplicativos de realidade virtual favorecem o treino de habilidades motoras do membro superior e cognitivas foi confirmada.

Performing goal-directed hand-movements in the presence of obstacles is a task that we usually complete successfully many times a day without much conscious consideration. Yet, little is known about the underlying processes. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the role of perceptual, motor and cognitive constraints on obstacle avoidance during reaching. To do this a tabletop-based obstacle avoidance setup and motiontracking were used. In the first experimental chapter, the previously reported tendency of participants to select movement paths that pass roughly through the mid-point between two obstacles was examined. The starting position of the hand and the availability of visual feedback were manipulated and evidence was found that movement path selection depends on both a collision-avoidance strategy and the associated biomechanical costs; even when visual feedback is unavailable. The second experimental chapter investigated an action-blindsight phenomenon, specifically the ability of cortically blind patients to avoid unseen obstacles. It was found that only two out of the six patients tested potentially showed some residual sensitivity to obstacles in their blind visual field. The final two experimental chapters went further to examine the role of perceptual information and attentional mechanisms respectively. It was found that during obstacle avoidance participants predominantly look at the movement target and rarely towards any obstacles or their moving hand. Furthermore, they tend to move their hand away from obstacles that are fixated. Finally, it was also found that a concurrent attentional task affected movement path selection in a similar way. At present it is unclear whether these perceptual and attentional effects are additive or independent of each other. Overall, these findings suggest that both conscious visual information and attentional mechanisms are crucial factors in determining movement path selection during obstacle avoidance in reaching.

L'objectif général de cette thèse est d'explorer l'impact des lésions du cervelet sur les séquelles motrices et cognitives des enfants traités pour tumeur du cervelet maligne ou bénigne. En nous basant sur trois études cliniques, nos objectifs généraux ont été (1) d'examiner si ces enfant présentaient des déficits dans l'établissement d'automatismes moteurs et cognitifs, (2) de préciser les facteurs associés aux difficultés d'automatisation et (3) d'examiner l'impact de ces difficultés sur la scolarité et le devenir à long terme de ces enfants. La première étude avait pour objectif spécifique d'examiner le devenir à long terme de 46 adultes et de 18 adolescents traités dans l'enfance chirurgicalement pour un astrocytome pilocytique du cervelet. Elle a mis en évidence un devenir à long terme satisfaisant dans l'ensemble, bien que des difficultés cognitives et motrices aient été rapportées, en particulier par les sujets qui ont le plus réussi leurs parcours scolaires. La perte d'autonomie était associée à des complications postopératoires telles que le mutisme cérébelleux et l'invasion du tronc cérébral. La deuxième étude a porté sur une cohorte de 17 enfants et adolescents traités pour un astrocytome pilocytique cérébelleux. Elle a exploré l'automatisation de la lecture et discuté la théorie cérébelleuse de la dyslexie. Les résultats ont mis en évidence une difficulté de suppression des mouvements articulatoires chez la plupart des sujets qui était associée à un faible indice de Mémoire de Travail Verbale. La troisième étude a porté sur 16 enfants traités pour un astrocytome pilocytique du cervelet et 16 enfants traités pour un médulloblastome. Elle avait pour objectifs (1) d'étudier l'apprentissage moteur et différents automatismes cognitifs intervenant notamment dans la lecture et le calcul mental et (2) de préciser les relations entre les différentes mesures de la difficulté d'automatisation motrice et cognitive. Les résultats ont confirmé la difficulté de suppression des mouvements articulatoires et ont montré que les enfants traités pour tumeur du cervelet se différenciaient des enfants sains de âge par un apprentissage moteur moindre, en particulier avec la main non dominante et par une lenteur en lecture, en calcul mental, en dénomination rapide et en double tâche. Par ailleurs, l'atteinte des noyaux dentelés était liée à une baisse de l'efficience intellectuelle, en particulier chez les enfants traités pour un médulloblastome, à un apprentissage moteur moindre avec la main dominante, à une difficulté de suppression des mouvements articulatoires, et à une lenteur de calcul mental. Ce travail de thèse offre des résultats pionniers dans la compréhension de l'impact des lésions cérébelleuses sur les apprentissages chez l'enfant. / The general aim this doctoral dissertation is to explore the impact of cerebellar lesions on motor and cognitive sequelae in children treated for malignant or benign tumor of the cerebellum. In three clinical studies, we in (1) examine whether these children exhibited deficits in motor and cognitive automation, (2) identify factors associated with difficulties in automation and (3) examine the impact of these difficulties on schooling and long-term outcome. The first study examines the long-term outcome of 46 adults and 18 adolescents treated surgically in childhood for cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma. Most subjects showed a positive long-term outcome, despite report of cognitive and motor difficulties, especially by subjects with successful school careers. The loss of autonomy was associated with postoperative complications, post cerebellar mutism, or invasion of the brain stem. The second study in 17 children and adolescents treated for pilocytic cerebellar astrocytoma aimed to examine the automation of reading and to discuss the cerebellar theory of dyslexia. The results highlighted a difficulty of suppressing articulatory movements in most subjects, associated with low index of Verbal Working Memory. The third study concerned 16 children treated for pilocytic astrocytoma of the cerebellum and 16 children treated for medulloblastoma. Its objectives were to (1) investigate motor learning and different cognitive automations involved in particularly in reading and mental calculation (2) clarify the relationship between different measures of motor and cognitive automation. The results confirmed the difficulty to suppress articulatory movements and showed lower motor learning effect, especially with the non-dominant hand, slowness in reading, mental calculation, rapid naming and dual task. Furthermore, dentate nuclei damage was linked to lower intellectual efficiency (IQ), particularly in children treated for medulloblastoma; to a lesser motor learning for the dominant hand, a difficulty to suppress articulatory movements, and slowness in mental calculation. This work offers pioneer results in understanding the impact of cerebellar lesions in children learning.

No description available.

Heutige Roboter sind nur begrenzt in der Lage etwas zu erlernen, sich unerwarteten Umständen anzupassen oder auf diese zu reagieren. Als Antwort auf diese Fragen, develomental robotics setzt sich den Aufbau eines künstlichen Systems zum Ziel, das motorische und kognitive Fähigkeiten analog zur menschlichen Entwicklung durch Interaktion mit der Umgebung entwickeln kann. In dieser Arbeit wird ein ähnlich Ansatz verwendet, mit Hilfe dessen grundlegende Verhaltenskomponenten identifiziert werden sollen, die eine autonome Aneignung motorischer und kognitive Fähigkeiten durch die Roboter ermöglichen könnten. Diese Arbeit untersucht die sensomotorische Interaktion als Mittel zur Schaffung von Erfahrungen. Es werden Experimente zu explorative Verhaltensweisen zur Aneigung von Arbewegungen, der Werkzeugnutzung und von interaktiven Fähigkeiten vorgestellt. In diesem Rahmen wird auch die Entwicklung sozialer Fähigkeiten, insbesondere durch joint attention, behandelt. Dabei werden zwei Vorraussetzugen zu joint attention untersucht: Zeigegesten und Erkennung von visueller Salienz. Dabei wurde das Framework der interen Modelle für die Darstellung von sensomotorischen Erfahrungen angewendet. Insbesondere wurden inverse und Vorwärtsmodelle mit unterschiedlichen Konfigurationen am sensorischen und motorischen Daten, die vom Roboter durch exploratives Verhalten, durch Beobachtung menschliche Vorführern, oder durch kinästhetisches Lehren erzeugt wurden geschult. Die Entscheidung zu Gunsten dieses Framework wurde getroffen, da es in der Lage ist, sensomotorische Zyklen zu simulieren. Diese Arbeit untersucht, wie grundlegende kognitive Fähigkeiten in einen humanoiden Roboter unter Berücksichtigung sensorischer und motorischer Erfahrungen implementiert werden können. Insbesondere wurden interne Simulationsprozesse für die Implementierung von Kognitivenfahigkeiten wie die Aktionsauswahl, die Werkzeugnutzung, die Verhaltenserkennung und die Self-Other distinction, eingesetzt. / State-of-the-art robots are still not properly able to learn from, adapt to, react to unexpected circumstances, and to autonomously and safely operate in uncertain environments. Researchers in developmental robotics address these issues by building artificial systems capable of acquiring motor and cognitive capabilities by interacting with their environment, inspired by human development. This thesis adopts a similar approach in finding some of those basic behavioural components that may allow for the autonomous development of sensorimotor and social skills in robots. Here, sensorimotor interactions are investigated as a mean for the acquisition of experience. Experiments on exploration behaviours for the acquisition of arm movements, tool-use and interactive capabilities are presented. The development of social skills is also addressed, in particular of joint attention, the capability to share the focus of attention between individuals. Two prerequisites of joint attention are investigated: imperative pointing gestures and visual saliency detection. The established framework of the internal models is adopted for coding sensorimotor experience in robots. In particular, inverse and forward models are trained with different configurations of low-level sensory and motor data generated by the robot through exploration behaviours, or observed by human demonstrator, or acquired through kinaesthetic teaching. The internal models framework allows the generation of simulations of sensorimotor cycles. This thesis investigates also how basic cognitive skills can be implemented in a humanoid robot by allowing it to recreate the perceptual and motor experience gathered in past interactions with the external world. In particular, simulation processes are used as a basis for implementing cognitive skills such as action selection, tool-use, behaviour recognition and self-other distinction.