Chen, C.-C.(JJ), Kelsey, A., Mulvey, G.M., & Ringenbach, S.D.R. (in press). Examining the Davidson's Model via an exercise variable in individuals with intellectual disabilities. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the psychological effect of walking exercise as measured by electroencephalogram (EEG) resting frontal asymmetry in persons with ID. Resting EEG frontal asymmetry (F4-F3) was collected from twelve participants to represent affective responsiveness pre and post a 20-minute treadmill walking exercise at moderate intensity. The association between frontal asymmetry and reported RPE is evident. In addition, the decreased frontal asymmetry from pre-exercise to post-exercise indicates their decreased effect to walking exercise.Resting EEG frontal asymmetry was reflective of affective responsivity to exercise in persons with ID. Our finding is not consistent with previous research in the typical population who showed increased frontal brain asymmetry after exercise. The decreased experience of affect pronounced after 20-minute brisk treadmill walking in persons with ID may explain their low motivation to exercise adherence. Therefore, extra motivating factors, such as music or challenging task may be needed to accomplish exercise and its related benefits in persons with ID.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the psychological effect of walking exercise as measured by electroencephalogram (EEG) resting frontal asymmetry in persons with ID. Resting EEG frontal asymmetry (F4-F3) was collected from twelve participants to represent affective responsiveness pre and post a 20-minute treadmill walking exercise at moderate intensity. The association between frontal asymmetry and reported RPE is evident. In addition, the decreased frontal asymmetry from pre-exercise to post-exercise indicates their decreased effect to walking exercise.Resting EEG frontal asymmetry was reflective of affective responsivity to exercise in persons with ID. Our finding is not consistent with previous research in the typical population who showed increased frontal brain asymmetry after exercise. The decreased experience of affect pronounced after 20-minute brisk treadmill walking in persons with ID may explain their low motivation to exercise adherence. Therefore, extra motivating factors, such as music or challenging task may be needed to accomplish exercise and its related benefits in persons with ID.
Chen, C-C., & Ringenbach, S.D.R (2014). The Association between Sleep Disorders and Fine Manual Dexterity in Young Adults with Down syndrome. Journal of Sleep Disorders: Treatment and Care, 3(2), 1-4.
Abstract:
The high prevalence of fine motor deficits in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is well documented. However, only a few studies have focused on individuals with Down syndrome. In particular, given the presence of sleep disorders and fine motor deficits in this population, more work is needed to examine the effect of sleep disorders on the performance of fine motor skills in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Thirty adolescents and young adults with DS participated in the present study. Parents used a validated questionnaire to measure sleep problems in individuals with DS. Fine motor skill, measured by the Purdue Pegboard test (e.g., fine motor dexterity), were also measured in this study. Based on previous studies, we first tested the relationship between chronological age, mental age, and the performance of the Purdue pegboard test. In addition, we tested whether different factors of sleep disorders lead to impaired fine manual dexterity.Participants with DS with higher mental age had increased performance of non-dominant hand and bimanual subtests of the Purdue Pegboard test. Controlling for mental age, individuals with high ratings of sleep related disorders during the day, also showed greater difficulties in non-dominant hand, bimanual, and assembly subtests. These results suggest that mental age and sleep disorders may be associated with fine manual dexterity in adolescent and young adults with DS. However, inconsistent with previous studies, the features of OSA showed less effect on the performance of the Purdue pegboard test. Future work should examine the effect of sleep disorders on other fine motor skills tests (e.g., finger tapping, grooved pegboard tests). Further, highly valid sleep questionnaires for parents are also needed in this population.
Abstract:
The high prevalence of fine motor deficits in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is well documented. However, only a few studies have focused on individuals with Down syndrome. In particular, given the presence of sleep disorders and fine motor deficits in this population, more work is needed to examine the effect of sleep disorders on the performance of fine motor skills in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Thirty adolescents and young adults with DS participated in the present study. Parents used a validated questionnaire to measure sleep problems in individuals with DS. Fine motor skill, measured by the Purdue Pegboard test (e.g., fine motor dexterity), were also measured in this study. Based on previous studies, we first tested the relationship between chronological age, mental age, and the performance of the Purdue pegboard test. In addition, we tested whether different factors of sleep disorders lead to impaired fine manual dexterity.Participants with DS with higher mental age had increased performance of non-dominant hand and bimanual subtests of the Purdue Pegboard test. Controlling for mental age, individuals with high ratings of sleep related disorders during the day, also showed greater difficulties in non-dominant hand, bimanual, and assembly subtests. These results suggest that mental age and sleep disorders may be associated with fine manual dexterity in adolescent and young adults with DS. However, inconsistent with previous studies, the features of OSA showed less effect on the performance of the Purdue pegboard test. Future work should examine the effect of sleep disorders on other fine motor skills tests (e.g., finger tapping, grooved pegboard tests). Further, highly valid sleep questionnaires for parents are also needed in this population.
Ringenbach, S. D. R., Albert, A. R., Chen,J.J., Alberts, J. L. (2014). Acute bouts of assisted cycling improves cognitive and upper extremity movement functions in adolescents with Down syndrome. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 52(5), 124-135.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of 2 modes of exercise on cognitive and upper extremity movement functioning in adolescents with Down syndrome (DS). Nine participants randomly completed 3 interventions over 3 consecutive weeks. The interventions were: (a) voluntary cycling (VC), in which participants cycled at their self-selected pedaling rate; (b) assisted cycling (AC), in which the participants' voluntary pedaling rates were augmented with a motor to ensure the maintenance of 80 rpm; and (c) no cycling (NC), in which the participants sat and listened to music. Manual dexterity improved after AC, but not after VC or NC. Measures of cognitive function, including reaction time and cognitive planning, also improved after AC, but not after the other interventions. Future research will try to uncover the mechanisms involved in the behavioral improvements found after an acute bout of assisted cycling in adolescents with DS.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of 2 modes of exercise on cognitive and upper extremity movement functioning in adolescents with Down syndrome (DS). Nine participants randomly completed 3 interventions over 3 consecutive weeks. The interventions were: (a) voluntary cycling (VC), in which participants cycled at their self-selected pedaling rate; (b) assisted cycling (AC), in which the participants' voluntary pedaling rates were augmented with a motor to ensure the maintenance of 80 rpm; and (c) no cycling (NC), in which the participants sat and listened to music. Manual dexterity improved after AC, but not after VC or NC. Measures of cognitive function, including reaction time and cognitive planning, also improved after AC, but not after the other interventions. Future research will try to uncover the mechanisms involved in the behavioral improvements found after an acute bout of assisted cycling in adolescents with DS.
Chen, C.-C., Ringenbach, S. D. R., Crews, D., Kulinna, P. H., & Amazeen, E. L. (2014). The association between a single bout of moderate physical activity and executive function in young adults with Down syndrome: A Preliminary study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, DOI: 10.1111/jir.12163
Abstract:
This study was aimed at investigating the impact of a single exercise intervention on executive function in young adults with Down syndrome (DS). Considering the relations among executive function, physical and mental health and early onset of Alzheimer's disease in this population, we tested three components of executive function (e.g. choice–response time, attention shifting and inhibition) that have been shown to be impaired in previous studies. Ten persons with DS were assigned to an exercise group, who walked on a treadmill for 20 min at moderate intensity and ten additional persons with DS were assigned to an attentional control group, who watched a video. Measures of executive function were tested pre and post interventions. These results showed non-significant improvements in choice–response time (P = 0.32) and attention shifting (P = 0.13) but a statistically significant improvement in inhibition (P = 0.03) after the exercise intervention.Given the improved inhibition ability, exercise may be an effective intervention, even in a signal session. However, only a few studies have focused on this topic. Based on theoretical models linking exercise to executive function, we proposed that exercise may increase arousal status or enhance neural transmission. Hence, future work is needed to examine the exact mechanism in the relationship between exercise and executive function for individuals with DS.
Abstract:
This study was aimed at investigating the impact of a single exercise intervention on executive function in young adults with Down syndrome (DS). Considering the relations among executive function, physical and mental health and early onset of Alzheimer's disease in this population, we tested three components of executive function (e.g. choice–response time, attention shifting and inhibition) that have been shown to be impaired in previous studies. Ten persons with DS were assigned to an exercise group, who walked on a treadmill for 20 min at moderate intensity and ten additional persons with DS were assigned to an attentional control group, who watched a video. Measures of executive function were tested pre and post interventions. These results showed non-significant improvements in choice–response time (P = 0.32) and attention shifting (P = 0.13) but a statistically significant improvement in inhibition (P = 0.03) after the exercise intervention.Given the improved inhibition ability, exercise may be an effective intervention, even in a signal session. However, only a few studies have focused on this topic. Based on theoretical models linking exercise to executive function, we proposed that exercise may increase arousal status or enhance neural transmission. Hence, future work is needed to examine the exact mechanism in the relationship between exercise and executive function for individuals with DS.
Chen, C-C., Ringenbach, S.D.R, & Snow, M. (2014). Treadmill walking effects on grip strength in young men with Down syndrome. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 35(2), 288-293.
Abstract:
This study was aimed at investigating the relation between grip strength and anthropometric factors and the impact of an aerobic exercise on grip strength in young men with Down syndrome (DS). This study was a pre-post design. Twelve males with DS were assigned to an exercise group, who walked using an incremental protocol on a treadmill for 20 min at aerobic levels. Eight additional persons with DS were assigned to an attentional control group, who watched a video. Measure of grip strength was tested pre- and post-interventions. The results showed positively significant relationship among grip strength and age (r = .74, p < .01), weight (r = .52, p = .02), body mass index (r = .61, p = .01) and waist circumference (r = .54, p = .02). In addition, Grip strength was slightly improved after exercise (p = .03) but decreased after control condition. The results showed that anthropometric factors, such as age, weight, body mass index and waist circumference, were positively correlated with grip strength in young men with DS. Further, improvement in grip strength can be found even after a single exercise session. This finding emphasizes the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle in persons with DS for performing activities of daily living.
Abstract:
This study was aimed at investigating the relation between grip strength and anthropometric factors and the impact of an aerobic exercise on grip strength in young men with Down syndrome (DS). This study was a pre-post design. Twelve males with DS were assigned to an exercise group, who walked using an incremental protocol on a treadmill for 20 min at aerobic levels. Eight additional persons with DS were assigned to an attentional control group, who watched a video. Measure of grip strength was tested pre- and post-interventions. The results showed positively significant relationship among grip strength and age (r = .74, p < .01), weight (r = .52, p = .02), body mass index (r = .61, p = .01) and waist circumference (r = .54, p = .02). In addition, Grip strength was slightly improved after exercise (p = .03) but decreased after control condition. The results showed that anthropometric factors, such as age, weight, body mass index and waist circumference, were positively correlated with grip strength in young men with DS. Further, improvement in grip strength can be found even after a single exercise session. This finding emphasizes the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle in persons with DS for performing activities of daily living.
Chen CC, Ringenbach SD, Albert AR. (2014). Assisted cycling exercise improves fine manual dexterity in persons with Down syndrome. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 27(3), 264-272.
Abstract:
This study was aimed at investigating the impact of assisted cycling therapy (ACT) on fine manual dexterity in adults with Down's syndrome (DS). Nine persons with DS completed four different interventions: voluntary exercise (VE), voluntary with music (VEM), assisted exercise (AE) and no exercise (NE). Fine manual dexterity (e.g., Purdue Pegboard) was tested pre and post interventions. The results showed dominant and bimanual hands were improved after AE but no evident in either subtest after VE. The assembly subtest, processed by spatial-temporal ability, was only improved after VEM and NE. It is speculated that AE stimulated more peripheral sensory input to the motor cortex and neurotransmitters than the other interventions. In addition, the involvement of music may enhance spatial intelligence during VEM. Even though the exact mechanisms are still unknown, the implication of our results showed that AE and VEM can improve fine manual dexterity in persons with DS.
Abstract:
This study was aimed at investigating the impact of assisted cycling therapy (ACT) on fine manual dexterity in adults with Down's syndrome (DS). Nine persons with DS completed four different interventions: voluntary exercise (VE), voluntary with music (VEM), assisted exercise (AE) and no exercise (NE). Fine manual dexterity (e.g., Purdue Pegboard) was tested pre and post interventions. The results showed dominant and bimanual hands were improved after AE but no evident in either subtest after VE. The assembly subtest, processed by spatial-temporal ability, was only improved after VEM and NE. It is speculated that AE stimulated more peripheral sensory input to the motor cortex and neurotransmitters than the other interventions. In addition, the involvement of music may enhance spatial intelligence during VEM. Even though the exact mechanisms are still unknown, the implication of our results showed that AE and VEM can improve fine manual dexterity in persons with DS.
Chen, C-C (JJ) , Ringenbach, S.D.R., Albert, A., & Semken, K. (2014). Fine motor control is related to cognitive control in adolescents with Down syndrome, International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 61(1), 6-15.
Abstract:
The connection between human cognitive development and motor functioning has been systematically examined in many typical and atypical populations; however, only a few studies focus on people with Down syndrome (DS). Twelve adolescents with DS participated and their cognitive control, measured by the Corsi-Block tapping test (e.g., visual working memory), the Auditory Memory span test (e.g., verbal working memory) and the Tower of London test (e.g., cognitive planning), and motor control, measured by the Purdue Pegboard (e.g., fine motor control), were measured in this study. Results indicate that if people with DS have better performance in fine manual dexterity, they will have better performance in cognitive planning and verbal working memory abilities. The co-activation hypothesis of the prefrontal area and the cerebellum may support this positive relationship. Hence, it is suggested people with DS will obtain benefits in cognitive control by participating in further motor intervention.
Abstract:
The connection between human cognitive development and motor functioning has been systematically examined in many typical and atypical populations; however, only a few studies focus on people with Down syndrome (DS). Twelve adolescents with DS participated and their cognitive control, measured by the Corsi-Block tapping test (e.g., visual working memory), the Auditory Memory span test (e.g., verbal working memory) and the Tower of London test (e.g., cognitive planning), and motor control, measured by the Purdue Pegboard (e.g., fine motor control), were measured in this study. Results indicate that if people with DS have better performance in fine manual dexterity, they will have better performance in cognitive planning and verbal working memory abilities. The co-activation hypothesis of the prefrontal area and the cerebellum may support this positive relationship. Hence, it is suggested people with DS will obtain benefits in cognitive control by participating in further motor intervention.
