School of Public Health
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/1633
The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.
Note: Prior to July 1, 2007, the School of Public Health was named the College of Health & Human Performance.
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Item HACKING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: PROMOTION OF PSYCHOMOTOR EFFICIENCY THROUGH VAGUS NEUROMODULATION(2021) Lu, Calvin; Hatfield, Bradley D; Kinesiology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Research in performance optimization aims to improve cognitive-motor performance under arduous conditions. From a kinesiology perspective, effectiveness in performance optimization can be quantified through the neurophysiological economy of goal-directed motor behavior. Derived from the psychomotor efficiency hypothesis, the cognitive-affective-motor (CAM) model discusses the brain's complex intersections of cognitive-motor and cognitive-affective processes. The CAM model subscribes to the principle that superior performance is achieved by minimizing nonessential motoric processes, such as mental stress management. When stress response becomes unmanageable, there will be an elevation in nonessential motoric processes and negatively impact motor preparation. The resulting disfluency within the central nervous system will ultimately manifest in the motor and autonomic sections of the peripheral nervous system. To combat the disruptive effects of mental stress, employing autonomic regulation techniques such as Vagus nerve neuromodulation can remedy the inefficiencies of the nervous systems and promote an adaptive state for performance. This dissertation aimed to assess the CAM model empirically by investigating the integrative model of the cortical, autonomic, and motor nervous systems during a precision motor task (i.e., dart-throwing). A thorough examination was conducted on preserving the nervous system’s efficiency and positive impacts on the quality of motor performance through Vagus nerve neuromodulations. Specifically, the study focused on varying levels of mental stress to determine inoculation capabilities. Twenty-three participants were enrolled in a repeated-measures within-subjects design. Neurophysiological measures of nervous system activity were captured before motor execution to determine the amalgamated influence of Vagus nerve neuromodulation and mental stress. The observed results revealed an elevation in psychomotor efficiency through the Vagus nerve neuromodulations. Participants exhibited improved performance, as seen through a reduction of accuracy variability. This was accompanied by nervous system alterations of increased left temporal alpha power, reduced motor unit engagements, and reduced mental workload during the preparation of motor execution. In summary, the observed effects of Vagus nerve neuromodulation techniques successfully promoted nervous system efficiency and an adaptive state for goal-directed motor behavior. The dissertation outcomes provide evidence on the benefits of ergonomic aids such as Vagus nerve neuromodulation on facilitating an adaptive nervous system to enhance cognitive-motor performance.Item THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF VENTILATORY TRAINING ON HEART RATE VARIABILITY AND BRAIN DYNAMICS, DURING TRAINING AND CHALLENGE(2018) Lu, Calvin; Hatfield, Bradley D; Kinesiology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)A Guided Ventilatory Maneuver (GVM) can lead to changes in the central and autonomic nervous systems. Chronic effects of GVM have been reported in the literature to enhance physical and mental health. Purpose: To investigate the immediate effects of GVM on cortical activity and cardiovascular activity. Method: Twenty healthy participants (age 18-30) were recruited. Eligibility for the study required no experience in any mindfulness training. Results: Measures of the study utilized electroencephalography and electrocardiogram to measure cortical and cardiovascular changes. The study provided support for acute effects of GVM on cortical dynamics and heart rate variability. Cortical activity exhibited an increase in cortical relaxation during GVM. And cardiovascular activity exhibited an increase in parasympathetic activity. Conclusion: The psychophysiological measures of this study provided evidence for GVM as a relaxation technique. Specifically, during GVM, participant’s cortical dynamics reflect an increase in relaxation.