Life Sciences Commons^™

Mrna, Rrna And Dna Quantitative Stable Isotope Probing With H218o Indicates Use Of Old Rrna Among Soil Thaumarchaeota, Katrina Papp, Bruce A. Hungate, Egbert Schwartz

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

RNA is considered to be a short-lived molecule, indicative of cellular metabolic activity, whereas DNA is thoughtto turn over more slowly because living cells do not always grow and divide. To explore differences in the ratesof synthesis of these nucleic acids, we used H218O quantitative stable isotope probing (qSIP) to measure theincorporation of18O into 16S rRNA, the 16S rDNA,amoAmRNA and theamoAgene of soil Thaumarchaeota.Incorporation of18O into the thaumarchaealamoAmRNA pool was faster than into the 16S rRNA pool,suggesting that Thaumarchaea were metabolically active while using rRNA molecules that were likely synthe-tized prior to H218O addition. Assimilation rates of18O into 16S rDNA …

Investigating Multiple Streams Of Consciousness: Using Descriptive Experience Sampling To Explore Internally And Externally Directed Streams Of Thought, Charles Fernyhough, Ben Alderson-Day, Russel T. Hurlburt, Simone Kühn

Psychology Faculty Research

Research into resting-state cognition has often struggled with the challenge of assessing inner experience in the resting state. We employed Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES), a method aimed at generating detailed and high-fidelity descriptions of experience, to investigate how experience in the resting state can vary between internal, external, and multiple simultaneous streams. Using a large body of experiential and brain activation data acquired from five DES participants, independent raters classified sampled moments of experience according to whether they were internally directed, externally directed, or contained elements of both at the same time. In line with existing models, comparison of internal …

Functional Eubacteria Species Along With Trans-Domain Gut Inhabitants Favour Dysgenic Diversity In Oxalate Stone Disease, Mangesh V. Suryavanshi, Shrikant S. Bhute, Rahul P. Gune, Yogesh S. Shouche

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Analyses across all three domains of life are necessary to advance our understanding of taxonomic dysbiosis in human diseases. In the present study, we assessed gut microbiota (eubacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes) of recurrent oxalate kidney stone suffers to explore the extent of trans-domain and functional species dysbiosis inside the gut. Trans-domain taxonomic composition, active oxalate metabolizer and butyrate-producing diversity were explored by utilizing frc-, but-, and buk- functional gene amplicon analysis. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) level analyses confound with the observation that dysbiosis in gut microbiota is not just limited to eubacteria species, but also to other domains like archaea …

Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia Coli From Retail Poultry Meat With Different Antibiotic Use Claims, Gregg S. Davis, Kara Waits, Lora Nordstrom, Heidi Grande, Brett Weaver, Katerina Papp, Joseph Horwinski, Benjamin Koch, Bruce A. Hungate, Cindy M. Liu, Lance B. Price

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

Background We sought to determine if the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli differed across retail poultry products and among major production categories, including organic, “raised without antibiotics”, and conventional. Results We collected all available brands of retail chicken and turkey—including conventional, “raised without antibiotic”, and organic products—every two weeks from January to December 2012. In total, E. coli was recovered from 91% of 546 turkey products tested and 88% of 1367 chicken products tested. The proportion of samples contaminated with E. coli was similar across all three production categories. Resistance prevalence varied by meat type and was highest among E. …

Extreme Physiological Plasticity In A Hibernating Basoendothermic Mammal, Tenrec Ecaudatus, Michael D. Treat, Lori Scholer, Brandon Barrett, Artur Khachatryan, Austin J. Mckenna, Tabitha Reyes, Alhan Rezazadeh, Charles F. Ronkon, Dan Samora, Jeremy F. Santamaria, Claudia Silva Rubio, Evan Sutherland, Jeffrey Richardson, John R. B. Lighton, Frank Van Breukelen

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Physiological plasticity allows organisms to respond to diverse conditions. However, can being too plastic actually be detrimental? Malagasy common tenrecs, Tenrec ecaudatus, have many plesiomorphic traits and may represent a basal placental mammal. We established a laboratory population of T. ecaudatus and found extreme plasticity in thermoregulation and metabolism, a novel hibernation form, variable annual timing, and remarkable growth and reproductive biology. For instance, tenrec body temperature (Tb) may approximate ambient temperature to as low as 12°C even when tenrecs are fully active. Conversely, tenrecs can hibernate with Tb of 28°C. During the active season, oxygen consumption may vary 25-fold …

Linking Gait Dynamics To Mechanical Cost Of Legged Locomotion, David V. Lee, Sarah L. Harris

Life Sciences Faculty Research

For millenia, legged locomotion has been of central importance to humans for hunting, agriculture, transportation, sport, and warfare. Today, the same principal considerations of locomotor performance and economy apply to legged systems designed to serve, assist, or be worn by humans in urban and natural environments. Energy comes at a premium not only for animals, wherein suitably fast and economical gaits are selected through organic evolution, but also for legged robots that must carry sufficient energy in their batteries. Although a robot's energy is spent at many levels, from control systems to actuators, we suggest that the mechanical cost of …

Quality Of High-Protein Diet Bar Plus Chia (Salvia Hispanica L.) Grain Evaluated Sensorially By Untrained Tasters, Natalie Veggi, Fabrício Azevedo Voltarelli, Jeann Marcos Nascimento Pereira, Wanessa Costa Silva, James Wilfred Navalta, Daniela Fernanda Lima De Carvalho Cavenaghi, Wander Miguel De Barros

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to develop, analyze composition and evaluate the microbiological and sensory characteristics of high-protein diet bars (PB) with the addition of chia grain (Salvia hispanica L.), partially replacing isolated soy protein and concentrated whey protein, in proportions of 0, 10, 15 and 20%. The proximate composition was analyzed of PB, for microbiological quality of Bacillus cereus, Filamentous fungi and yeast count, total fecal coliforms, and Salmonella ssp. search. Sensory analysis was performed utilizing acceptance testing of characteristics on a nine-point hedonic scale for various attributes, including purchasing intention of the tested PB. Bars showed 20% …

Vancomycin Delays Clindamycin-Induced Fatality In The Hamster Model Of Clostridioides [Clostridium] Difficile Infection, Amelia E. Fox-King, Chrisabelle Mefferd, Jacqueline R. Phan, Nancy O. Nou, Ernesto Abel-Santos, Brian P. Hedlund

LSAMP Poster Presentations

Antibiotics can leave the host gut microbiome susceptible to Clostridioides [Clostridium] difficile colonization and lethal toxin production. For instance, clindamycin-induced susceptibility to C. difficile infection (CDI) results in rapid fatality in hamster models, yet vancomycin has been shown to offer increased survival in hamsters challenged with C. difficile. We aim to develop an antibiotic treatment that will facilitate CDI susceptibility without prompt fatality in hamster models. An antibiotic regimen starting with a continuous vancomycin treatment along with a single clindamycin dosage is thought to reduce the major disruption in the indigenous gut microbiome and prevent clindamycin-induced death. …

Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Interacts With The Crl4 Ubiquitin Ligase Subunit Cdt2 In Dna Synthesis-Induced Degradation Of Cdt1, Feng Leng, Lovely Saxena, Nam Hoang, Chunxiao Zhang, Logan Lee, Wenjing Li, Xiaoshan Gong, Fei Lu, Hong Sun, Hui Zhang

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

During DNA replication or repair, the DNA polymerase cofactor, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), homotrimerizes and encircles the replicating DNA, thereby acting as a DNA clamp that promotes DNA polymerase processivity. The formation of the PCNA trimer is also essential for targeting the replication-licensing protein, chromatin-licensing, and DNA replication factor 1 (CDT1), for ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis to prevent chromosomal DNA re-replication. CDT1 uses its PCNA-interacting peptide box (PIP box) to interact with PCNA, and the CRL4 E3 ubiquitin ligase subunit CDT2 is recruited through the formation of PCNA–CDT1 complexes. However, it remains unclear how CDT1 and many other PIP box–containing proteins …

Complete Genome Sequences Of 18 Paenibacillus Larvae Phages From The Western United States, Bryan D. Merrill, Christopher P. Fajardo, Jared A. Hilton, Ashley M. Payne, Andy T. Ward, Jamison K. Walker, Aziza Dhalai, Cameron Imahara, James Mangohig, Josh Monk, Cristian Pascacio, Padmani Rai, Alicia Salisbury, Kathie Velez, Travis J. Bloomfield, Brett Buhler, Steven G. Duncan, David A. Fuhriman, Josil George, Kiel Graves, Karli Graves, Hunter L. Hill, Michelle Kim, Bradley K. Knabe, Devin B. Ririe, Spencer L. Rogers, Casey Stamereilers, Michael B. Stephenson, Brittian K. Usher, Colton S. Ward, Jacob M. Withers

Life Sciences Faculty Research

We present here the complete genomes of 18 phages that infect Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood in honeybees. The phages were isolated between 2014 and 2016 as part of an undergraduate phage discovery course at Brigham Young University. The phages were isolated primarily from bee debris and lysogens.

Identification Of Chst9 As A Candidate Gene For Schizophrenia From Whole Genome Sequencing, Christopher Sharp, Jingchun Chen, Marvi Moreno, Mahtab Hamid, Francisco Servin, Bita Bashy, Travis Mize

LSAMP Poster Presentations

Recent results imply that rare variants contribute to the risk of schizophrenia. We conducted whole genome sequencing for 99 subjects from 20 Chinese families (parents and at least two siblings with a schizophrenia diagnosis and one unaffected sibling). Of the 9 frameshift mutations identified in more than 2 families, one was at chromosome 10:125780762 on the Carbohydrate Sulfotransferase 15 (CHST15) gene and another at chromosome 18:24722723 on the Carbohydrate Sulfotransferase 9 (CHST9) gene. We observed these deletions in 4 affected persons of two families from whole. At least two types of mutations (one or three bases insertion) have been identified …

Complete Genome Sequences Of Paenibacillus Larvae Phages Halcyone, Heath, Scottie, And Unity From Las Vegas, Nevada, Diane G. Yost, Carolyn Chang, Lucy Leblanc, Erin Cassin, Ceara Peterman, Padmani Rai, Alicia Salisbury, Nicolas Barroga, Ramiro Cisneros, Joseph Fersini, Jonathan Juste, Juvie Ines, Gabriel Leyva, Dyanne Macalinao, Spencer Muscelli, Gustavo S. Reyes, Heather Rhoden, Rodney Tan, Erika Torres, Krystal Tran, Georgette Uriarte-Valle, Christopher Wallace, Simon Wong, Kevin Ayala-Pineda, Vanessa Cadiz, Tiffany Jeanite, Sophia Nhan, Julianne H. Grose, Christy Strong, Penny S. Amy, Philippos K. Tsourkas

Life Sciences Faculty Research

We present the complete genome sequences of four phages that infect Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood disease in honeybees. The phages were isolated from beehives and beeswax products from Las Vegas, Nevada. The genomes are 50 to 55 kbp long and use the “direct terminal repeats” DNA-packaging strategy.

Upper Extremity Muscle Activity While Wearing Different Triathlon Wetsuits, Andy Do, John Mercer Dr., Cordero Roche, Andrew Craig-Jones

AANAPISI Poster Presentations

No abstract provided.

Applications Of Magnetotactic Bacteria, Magnetosomes And Magnetosome Crystals In Biotechnology And Nanotechnology: Mini-Review, Gabriele Vargas, Jefferson Cypriano, Tarcisio Correa, Pedro Leão, Dennis A. Bazylinski, Fernanda Abreu

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) biomineralize magnetosomes, which are defined as intracellular nanocrystals of the magnetic minerals magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) enveloped by a phospholipid bilayer membrane. The synthesis of magnetosomes is controlled by a specific set of genes that encode proteins, some of which are exclusively found in the magnetosome membrane in the cell. Over the past several decades, interest in nanoscale technology (nanotechnology) and biotechnology has increased significantly due to the development and establishment of new commercial, medical and scientific processes and applications that utilize nanomaterials, some of which are biologically derived. One excellent example of a biological nanomaterial …

Effect Of The Synthetic Bile Salt Analog Camsa On The Hamster Model Of Clostridium Difficile Infection, Amber Howerton, Cale O. Seymour, Senthil K. Murugapiran, Zhenlin Liao, Jacqueline R. Phan, Alan Estrada, Adam J. Wagner, Chrisabelle C. Mefferd, Brian P. Hedlund, Ernesto Abel-Santos

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and has gained worldwide notoriety due to emerging hypervirulent strains and the high incidence of recurrence. We previously reported protection of mice from CDI using the antigerminant bile salt analog CamSA. Here we describe the effects of CamSA in the hamster model of CDI. CamSA treatment of hamsters showed no toxicity and did not affect the richness or diversity of gut microbiota; however, minor changes in community composition were observed. Treatment of C. difficile-challenged hamsters with CamSA doubled the mean time to death, compared to control hamsters. However, CamSA …

Effect Of Larval Starvation On Lipid Content Of Drosophila Melanogaster Over 15 Days, Fabian Leija, Allen Gibbs

LSAMP Poster Presentations

Starvation-resistant Drosophila melanogaster, common fruit flies, deriving from 121 generations of starvation selection, have resulted in genetically, behaviorally, and physiologically different individuals compared to non-resistant counterparts. Starvation-resistant Drosophila are more obese, containing twice as much lipids as control flies.This is a result of starvation-resistant fly larva feeding for 5 days and then entering the pupa stage while non-resistant flies only feed for 4 days.

In this experiment, we hope to answer the question of whether the starvation-resistant flies are genetically predisposed to be substantially more obese than wild populations or if it is a result of this alternate behavior …

Comparison Of Bacteriophage Annotation Methods, Alicia Salisbury, Philippos Tsourkas

McNair Poster Presentations

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has increased interest in bacteriophages (viruses that kill bacteria) in recent years. Due to the decreasing cost of genome sequencing, the number of sequenced phage genomes is growing at a geometric rate. Sequencing is followed by annotation, in which genes, start codons, and putative protein functions are identified. Most phage genomes are auto-annotated with programs designed for prokaryotes. Accuracy metrics for these programs with regard to phage genomes are not available. The genome of Escherichia coli phage Lambda was used to benchmark the accuracy of several genome annotation methods and programs. Discovered in 1951, Lambda …

Justice Served Fresh: Associations Between Food Insecurity, Community Gardening, And Property Value, Micajah Daniels, Courtney Coughenour Ph.D

McNair Poster Presentations

Numerous stakeholders in Nevada have used a variety of efforts to combat the growth of food insecurity facing Nevadans. The purpose of this research project is to understand the association between food insecurity, community gardens, and property value. Following the wealth of scholarship on these topics and data collected from community garden agencies in Southern Nevada, the research questions for this project include: (1) Where are community gardens located in SNV? (2) What efforts community gardens agencies are doing to address food insecurity (most interested in their efforts using community gardens)? (3) What are the perceptions of supports and barriers …

Systematic Review On The Effects Of Climate On Auditory Bullae Size In Geographically Overlapping Perognathus Species, Sirima Lavangnananda, Sean Neiswenter

LSAMP Poster Presentations

The purpose of our summer research is to compile results and trends observed in previous studies to better understand the function of auditory bullae, the variations in size and shape throughout the overlapping geographic distribution of Perognathus species, and the relationship between bullar size and climatic patterns. Our research found that there is a negative correlation between auditory bullae size and the amount of moisture in the habitat. Large and inflated auditory bullae are observed in arid and open habitats. Although there are conflicting evidence on whether or not auditory bullae inflation is directly driven by the lack of precipitation, …

Developmental Dependence For Functional Eye Regrowth In Xenopus Laevis, Cindy X. Kha, Kelly Ai-Sun Tseng

Life Sciences Faculty Research

A key challenge in designing tissue repair strategies is knowing whether and how developmental mechanisms are used for successful repair of mature/adult tissues. Although it is known that developmental components are used in repair, it remains mostly unclear which ones are required and whether they act similarly as during development. This issue is further complicated by the fact that it is difficult to assess the similarities and differences between development and the repair of mature tissues, since the two contexts are highly dissimilar. A potentially useful yet underutilized approach is to understand developmental regrowth (defined here as the ability to …

Cougar Dispersal And Natal Homing In A Desert Environment, David M. Choate, Kathleen M. Longshore, Daniel B. Thompson

Life Sciences Faculty Research

We present a review of cougar dispersal literature and the first evidence of natural (i.e., unmanipulated) homing behavior by a dispersing male cougar (Puma concolor) that sustained severe injuries crossing the northern Mojave Desert. Based on Global Positioning System and ground tracking data, the male traveled a total distance of 981.1 km at 5.03 km/d, including 170.31 km from the Desert National Wildlife Refuge to the northwestern Grand Canyon, where he sustained severe injuries. The interkill interval increased from 7.1 ± 2.7 d while he was in his natal range to 17.5 ± 4.9 d during dispersal. While homing, the …

Ultrafast Laser Filament-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy Of Uranyl Fluoride, P. J. Skrodzki, M. Burger, L. A. Finney, F. Poineau, S. M. Balasekaran, J. Nees, K. R. Czerwinski, I. Jovanovic

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

Uranyl fluoride (UO2F2) is a compound which forms in the reaction between water and uranium hexafluoride, a uranium containing gas widely used for uranium enrichment. Uranyl fluoride exhibits negligible natural background in atmosphere; as a result, its observation implies the presence and active operation of nearby enrichment facilities and could be used as a tracer for treaty verification technologies. Additionally, detection of UO2F2 has a potential application in guiding remediation efforts around enrichment facilities. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) has been proposed in the past as a viable technique for the detection and tracking of UO2F2. We demonstrate that ultrafast laser filamentation …

Dietary Polyphenols And Periodontitis—A Mini-Review Of Literature, Arpita Basu, Emily Masek, Jeffrey L. Ebersole

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

Periodontitis, which is a chronic infection and disease of the periodontium, is a significant global health burden and is linked to other chronic health conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Dietary polyphenols present in a wide variety of plant-based foods, herbs, and botanicals have been shown to exert antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and reduced osteoclast and alveolar bone loss activities in animal models of periodontitis. Polyphenol-containing beverages and foods especially green tea and its active catechin epigallocatechin-3-gallate, cranberries, pomegranates, and fruit and vegetable extracts have reported bacteriostatic/bactericidal activity against microbial species such as P. gingivalis and shown total bacterial burden in …

Genomic Inference Of The Metabolism And Evolution Of The Archaeal Phylum Aigarchaeota, Zheng-Shuang Hua, Yan-Ni Qu, Qiyun Zhu, En-Min Zhou, Yan-Ling Qi, Yi-Rui Yin, Yang-Zhi Rao, Ye Tian, Yu-Xian Li, Lan Liu, Cindy J. Castelle, Brian P. Hedlund, Wen-Sheng Shu, Rob Knight, Wen-Jun Li

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Microbes of the phylum Aigarchaeota are widely distributed in geothermal environments, but their physiological and ecological roles are poorly understood. Here we analyze six Aigarchaeota metagenomic bins from two circumneutral hot springs in Tengchong, China, to reveal that they are either strict or facultative anaerobes, and most are chemolithotrophs that can perform sulfide oxidation. Applying comparative genomics to the Thaumarchaeota and Aigarchaeota, we find that they both originated from thermal habitats, sharing 1154 genes with their common ancestor. Horizontal gene transfer played a crucial role in shaping genetic diversity of Aigarchaeota and led to functional partitioning and ecological divergence among …

Genomic Analysis Of 48 Paenibacillus Larvae Bacteriophages, Casey Stamereilers, Christopher P. Fajardo, Jamison K. Walker, Katterinne N. Mendez, Eduardo Castro-Nallar, Julianne H. Grose, Sandra Hope, Philippos K. Tsourkas

Life Sciences Faculty Research

The antibiotic-resistant bacterium Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB), currently the most destructive bacterial disease in honeybees. Phages that infect P. larvae were isolated as early as the 1950s, but it is only in recent years that P. larvae phage genomes have been sequenced and annotated. In this study we analyze the genomes of all 48 currently sequenced P. larvae phage genomes and classify them into four clusters and a singleton. The majority of P. larvaephage genomes are in the 38–45 kbp range and use the cohesive ends (cos) DNA-packaging strategy, while a minority have genomes …

Leaf Micromorphology Aids Taxonomic Delineation Within The Hypervariable Genus Metrosideros (Myrtaceae) On O'Ahu, Gary L. Sur, Richard Keating, Elizabeth Stacy

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Variation in leaf micromorphology can aid delimitation of taxonomically difficult groups. The woody genus Metrosideros (Myrtaceae) dominates Hawai'i's native forests and comprises striking, predominantly infraspecific, macromorphological variation, including many forms unrecognized in current taxonomic treatments. On taxonomically rich O'ahu, 10 taxa (varieties or unnamed morphotypes of M. polymorpha and other species) occur in a predictable sequence with overlapping ranges from low to high elevation along the numerous leeward ridges of the Ko'olau Range. We used scanning electron and light microscopy to examine mature, nonsenescing sun leaves from each of these 10 taxa. Parametric and nonparametric tests were used to compare …

Variation In Airborne Pollen Concentrations Among Five Monitoring Locations In A Desert Urban Environment, Tanviben Y. Patel, Mark P. Buttner, David Rivas, Chad L. Cross, Dennis A. Bazylinski, Joram S. Seggev

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

The urbanization of the Las Vegas Valley has transformed this part of the Mohave Desert into a green oasis by introducing many non-native plant species, some of which are allergenic. Typically, one monitoring station is established per city to obtain pollen counts for an entire metropolitan area. However, variations in pollen concentrations could occur among different microenvironments. The objective of this study is to measure and compare pollen concentrations in five locations in Las Vegas to determine if there are significant differences between microenvironments within the city. Air samples were collected from five sites across the Las Vegas Valley over …

Knee Joint Kinematics And Kinetics During Walking And Running After Surgical Achilles Tendon Repair, Daniel Jandacka, Jan Plesek, Jiri Skypala, Jaroslav Uchytil, Julia Freedman Silvernail, Joseph Hamill

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Despite the increasing incidence of Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures, there is a lack of information on the possible risks associated with regular running and walking for exercise after an injury. There are some known kinematic gait changes after an AT rupture, especially at the knee. However, it is not clear whether runners with AT ruptures may be at risk for secondary knee injuries during shod or barefoot running/walking. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematics and kinetics of barefoot walking and barefoot and shod running between athletes with a history of AT ruptures and a …

Complete Genome Sequences Of Paenibacillus Larvae Phages Bn12, Dragolir, Kiel007, Leyra, Likha, Pagassa, Pbl1c, And Tadhana, Jamison K. Walker, Bryan D. Merrill, Jordan A. Berg, Aziza Dhalai, Douglas W. Dingman, Chris P. Fajardo, Kiel Graves, Hunter L. Hill, Jared A. Hilton, Cameron Imahara, Bradley K. Knabe, James Mangohig, Josh Monk, Heejin Mun, Ashley M. Payne, Alicia Salisbury, Casey Stamereilers, Kathie Velez, Andy T. Ward, Donald P. Breakwell, Julianne H. Grose, Sandra Hope, Philippos K. Tsourkas

Life Sciences Faculty Research

We present here the complete genomes of eight phages that infect Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood in honeybees. Phage PBL1c was originally isolated in 1984 from a P. larvae lysogen, while the remaining phages were isolated in 2014 from bee debris, honeycomb, and lysogens from three states in the USA.

Onward And Upward: Optimizing Motor Performance, Lee-Kuen Chua, Gabriele Wulf, Rebecca Lewthwaite

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

In the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning (Wulf & Lewthwaite, 2016), three factors are postulated to facilitate motor performance and learning: Enhanced expectancies (EE) for performance, autonomy support (AS), and an external focus (EF) of attention. We examined whether EE, AS, and EF would have immediate performance benefits and whether implementing these factors consecutively would lead to incremental performance increases. Participants were assigned to the optimized or control groups and performed a maximal jump. After the first trial block (baseline), optimized group participants were provided different conditions on each of the following 3 blocks: (a) Positive social-comparative feedback (EE); (b) …