Quadriceps EMG in open and closed kinetic chain tasks in women with patellofemoral pain

The authors investigated whether the discrepancy noted in the literature regarding delayed and decreased activity in vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) in people with patellofemoral pain (PFP) depends on the nature of the open kinetic chain (OKC) and the closed kinetic chain (CKC) in the experimental task. They hypothesized that activity in VMO would be more delayed and decreased in CKC tasks than in OKC tasks. Women with PFP (n = 17) and healthy controls (n = 17) performed isometric quadriceps contractions in CKC and OKC tasks. The authors manipulated only the application of resistance. Electromyographs (EMGs) showed that participants with PFP reacted later and activated the quadriceps more in the CKC task but had intramuscular quadriceps coordination similar to that of controls. The nature of the OKC task or the CKC task does not seem to explain contradictory findings regarding VMO activation.     

Who Benefits from Couple Relationship Education? Findings from the Largest German CRE Study

In evaluation studies on couple relationship enhancement (CRE) programs, researchers are encouraged to also investigate which couples benefit from program participation. The authors qualified 104 university students to offer an evidence-based CRE program. Up to a 15-month follow-up, the participating couples (N = 234) reported a significant decrease in unsolved relationship conflicts. A 2-day-long intensive training led to better results compared with a weekly format regarding dropouts. Couples with lower pretest satisfaction ratings reported significant improvements over time, whereas couples with initial higher ratings reported no change or a deterioration. Further predictors were identified. The findings should be taken into account in future research.     

The Effect of Mindfulness-based Programs on Cognitive Function in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Neuropsychology Review - Mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) are increasingly utilized to improve mental health. Interest in the putative effects of MBPs on cognitive function is also growing. This...     

When self-prioritization crosses the senses: Crossmodal self-prioritization demonstrated between vision and touch

The investigation of self-prioritization via a simple matching paradigm represents a new way of enhancing our knowledge about the processing of self-relevant content and also increases our understanding of the self-concept itself. By associating formerly neutral material with the self, and assessing the resulting prioritization of these newly formed self-associations, conclusions can be drawn concerning the effects of self-relevance without the burden of highly overlearned materials such as one’s own name. This approach was used to gain further insights into the structure and complexity of self-associations: a tactile pattern was associated with the self and thereafter, the prioritization of the exact same visual pattern was assessed – enabling the investigation of crossmodal self-associations. The results demonstrate a prioritization of self-associated material that rapidly extends beyond the borders of a sensory modality in which it was first established.