Experiments were carried out on blindfolded human subjects to study the contribution of proprioceptive inputs from both arms in a forearm position matching task. Blindfolded matching accuracy was compared with accuracy when the subject could see their indicator (matching) arm, when they used a dummy arm for matching, and when they looked at a mirror image of the matching arm. The position of the mirror had been arranged so that the image of the indicator arm coincided with the position of the reference arm. None of these conditions significantly altered the matching errors. When reference elbow flexors were vibrated at 70-80 Hz, the illusion of extension of the vibrated arm reported by blindfolded subjects was significantly reduced by vision of the mirror image of the indicator arm or when using the dummy arm. It was concluded that visual information about the position of the indicator arm, or the apparent position of the reference arm, could reduce the size of the kinaesthetic illusion from vibration, but not abolish it. In a second experiment, subjects indicated, by tracking with their vibrated arm, the illusion of forearm extension evoked by elbow flexor vibration. It was found that the perceived speed of extension could be reduced by moving the indicator into extension and increased by moving it into flexion. These experiments demonstrate the importance for the matching process of the input provided by the indicator arm. Such a conclusion may help to explain some apparent discrepancies between observations made on position sense using one-arm and two-arm tasks. More broadly, this paper provides support for the idea that aspects of proprioceptive inputs from both arms are processed conjointly, as part of a strategy for use of the two hands as a single instrument in certain skilled tasks.

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: Respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics RMSG are designed to decrease chest wall stiffness, reduce dyspnea at rest and improve the quality of life. The focus of this study was to determine whether a RMSG program affects the psychological state of healthy subjects. A previous study showed that there is a positive correlation between anxiety level and respiratory rate RR . We hypothesize that RMSG will decrease the RR related to alterations in anxiety or other factors that are associated with the quality of life in healthy children. Forty-four primary school children living in Tokyo participated in the study and were randomly assigned to either gymnastics or control groups. Baseline assessment of both groups included completion of the Questionnaire for Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life in Children Kid-KINDL and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventories for Children STAI-C . RRs were recorded initially and the children in the gymnastics group were instructed on how to perform RMSG. The RR was measured again and the participants completed the state anxiety scale. The gymnastics group was told to perform the gymnastics once a day for one week, whereupon posttesting using the testing protocol used for the baseline measurement was performed again on both groups. RR and anxiety level significantly decreased while Kid-KINDL increased after one week of RMSG in high trait anxiety subjects of the gymnastics group. We suggest that the decrease in RR after RMSG reduces anxiety levels in children, and contributes to an improvement in their Kid-KINDL score.

The objective of this study was to explore characteristics of breathing pattern and anxiety levels of athletes involved in women's rhythmic gymnastics. We tested 13 college level female rhythmic gymnasts (GG) from the same team, and compared their results with those of 26 non-athlete medical students (RG). Subjects were tested by a CO(2) rebreathing method using a gas mixture of 5% CO(2) and 95% O(2). The trait and state anxiety levels of the subjects were tested using the Spielberger's trait and state anxiety inventory (STAI). GG was significantly higher in both trait and state anxiety levels and, in comparison with RG, they also exhibited significantly less variance in the % contribution of change in frequency to the overall increase in minute ventilation during CO(2) rebreathing when compared to RG. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between both trait and state anxiety and % contribution of frequency change in the RG.

: Cerebral palsy CP is a developmental disorder associated with lifelong motor impairment and disability. Several studies have investigated the effects of CP on sensory responses, but there has been no research on olfactory function in CP. This study had two specific aims. First, by observing respiratory responses which serve as an index for the ability to detect and recognize odors, we aimed to estimate the patients ability to distinguish pleasant from unpleasant odors. These responses can also indicate the capacity for an emotional response to pleasant or unpleasant stimuli. Second, we aimed to investigate the psychological response in the parents as they observed the respiratory response in their children during the odor test. Parents were assessed with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory STAI to measure their state anxiety levels before and after they had observed their children being tested. In patients with CP, respiratory rate RR significantly decreased during pleasant odor stimuli P 0.05 . There was a significant increase in RR during the presentation of the unpleasant odor P 0.05 . All the CP patients showed respiratory changes in response to both pleasant and unpleasant smells, and we found that the parents anxiety levels decreased after the test. We intend to develop this olfactory test technique to contribute to the neurological rehabilitation for CP patients and to reduce anxiety of their parents.