Asthma is common among athletes, particularly in winter sports, and can affect both health and performance. Ice hockey players are exposed to cold, dry air and high-intensity exertion, all recognized as triggers for asthma symptoms. However, the prevalence of asthma among female ice hockey players remains largely unknown. In this cross-sectional study, all 224 players in the 2023-2024 season of the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) were invited to an online questionnaire that included self-reported asthma, allergy, and medication use. A total of 154 players (69%) (mean age 23.3, standard deviation 4.4 years) participated. Of these, 26 (17%) had self-reported asthma, and 43 (28%) had a first-degree relative with asthma. Among players with self-reported asthma, 7 (27%) used regular medication, including corticosteroids and short-acting (SABA) and long-acting beta-agonists (LABA). Allergies were self-reported by 44 players (29%). SDHL players had 1.7 times higher odds of self-reported asthma than age-matched females in the Swedish general population (p = 0.008). Female elite ice hockey players reported a higher prevalence of asthma compared with age-matched females in the Swedish general population. These findings highlight the importance of increased awareness, appropriate screening, and continued monitoring of respiratory health in female ice hockey players, while also providing a basis for future longitudinal research as women's ice hockey continues to grow and remains underrepresented in sports medicine research.
Empirical research demonstrates elevated neurodegenerative mortality among individuals with repetitive head impact (RHI) exposure, including National Football League (NFL) players. This investigation addressed prior methodological limitations, including selection bias, subjective diagnoses, and retrospective reporting, by analyzing the relationship between RHI exposure and neurodegenerative mortality in a fully enumerated, 5.8-fold larger cohort of NFL players. A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted comprising all current and former NFL athletes who debuted between 1960 and 2019 and played at least one regular or postseason NFL game, with National Death Index records (1979-2023) matched to Sports Reference, LLC data. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated from National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health data compared to an age-, sex-, race-, and calendar-year-standardized general population. Sensitivity analysis assessed whether the observed excess neurodegenerative mortality could be attributed to competing risks using a cause-specific hazard simulation. A total of 19,824 athletes had a cumulative 518,833 person-years (mean = 26.2 years, SD = 16.2), with 1994 decedents. NFL players exhibited lower all-cause mortality (SMR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.67-0.74) but higher neurodegenerative mortality (SMR = 3.94; 95% CI: 3.38-4.56), including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SMR = 4.55; 95% CI = 3.13-6.38), all-cause dementia (SMR = 3.80; 95% CI = 3.11-4.60), and Parkinson's disease (SMR = 3.88; 95% CI: 2.76-5.30). Cause-specific hazard simulation indicated that competing risks alone would inflate the expected NDD SMR by a factor of 1.30, yielding a residual neurodegenerative SMR of 3.04 (95% CI: 2.63-3.50). Neurodegenerative mortality was nearly four times higher in NFL players compared to the general population and remained threefold higher after accounting for competing risks. Together, these findings strengthen the evidence for RHI exposure-related neurodegenerative mortality in NFL players that cannot be explained by differential survivorship. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [U54NS115266; U01NS086659], the National Institute on Aging [P30AG13846; P30AG072978], and the Maloney/Carpenter Trauma-Related Neurodegenerative Disease Research Fund.
Balance, postural control, and core function are critical for basketball performance and may be affected during adolescence due to rapid growth-related neuromuscular changes. This study examined the effects of a six-week core stabilization training program on postural alignment, balance, and core stability in 12-14-year-old male basketball players. Twenty-four male basketball players were randomly assigned to a core stabilization plus traditional strength training group (CST+TST; n = 12) or a traditional strength training group (TST; n = 12). Postural alignment was assessed using the APECS-AI system, static balance with the Balance Error Scoring System, dynamic balance with the Y Balance Test, and core stability with the plank test. Outcomes were measured before and after the intervention. Group × Time effects were analyzed using 2 × 2 mixed-design ANOVA. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups (p > 0.05). Significant Group × Time interactions were found for static balance (F(1,22) = 26.83, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.549) and Y Balance Test-Left performance (F(1,22) = 6.10, p = 0.022, ηp² = 0.217), favoring the CST+TST group. No significant Group × Time interactions were observed for Y Balance Test-Right, plank test, or total postural alignment score (p > 0.05). Six weeks of core stabilization training combined with traditional strength training improved static balance and selected dynamic balance outcomes in adolescent male basketball players. However, it did not provide superior effects on core stability or overall postural alignment. Given that resistance training is already a standard component of preparation for competitive youth basketball players this age, core stabilization exercises may therefore be considered a complementary addition to, rather than a substitute for, an existing traditional strength training program, to enhance balance performance in young basketball players.
Mechanical loading can be beneficial or consequential, and it is typically measured through accelerometry in the time-domain. This prevents frequency-specific characteristics underpinning musculoskeletal adaptation and injury risk, from being identified. This study aimed to (1) characterise the frequency-domain loading profile (loading rate, band power and transmissibility) of high-performance youth badminton players across four frequency bands, and (2) determine whether limb symmetry within these bands differs between players with and without a history of injury. Accelerometer data from 90 min of simulated matchplay were collected from 30 players (13 female, 17 male) wearing inertial measurement units on the trunk and bilateral shanks. Data were transformed into four bands using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT; B1: 0 ≤ f < 2 Hz, B2: 2 ≤ f < 5 Hz, B3: 5 ≤ f < 10 Hz, B4: 10 ≤ f < 20 Hz). Loading rate, band power and band RMS were greater at the shanks than the trunk, with the dominant shank demonstrating greater loading and attenuation than the non-dominant shank across all bands. Descriptive patterns suggested that players with bilateral injury history demonstrated the largest asymmetry for loading rate and band power (-11.6 to -28.7%), favouring the dominant limb, while players with unilateral injury history showed a 0.6-10.4% limb symmetry index favouring the non-injured limb and reduced attenuation on the injured limb, most prominently in B4 (10 ≤ f < 20 Hz). These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the small subgroup sizes and absence of statistical significance and are considered exploratory. Such methods offer novel insights into sport-specific loading demands, injury risk and rehabilitation.
Music performance anxiety (MPA) represents a prevalent challenge among musicians, yet the specific relationships between respiratory patterns, anxiety, and cognitive function in wind instrumentalists remain underexplored. This cross-sectional study investigated these relationships in bassoon players, a population facing unique respiratory demands due to the instrument's double reed mechanism and sustained breath support requirements. A total of 118 bassoon players (48 professional, 70 amateur) completed an online questionnaire comprising the Self-Evaluation of Breathing Questionnaire (SEBQ), Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory-Revised (K-MPAI-R), Attentional Control Scale (ACS), and self-rated performance measures. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that dysfunctional breathing was positively associated with performance anxiety (r = 0.52, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with attentional control (r = -0.39, p < 0.001). Hierarchical regression indicated that dysfunctional breathing explained 23.1% of variance in performance anxiety beyond demographic covariates. Mediation analysis using bootstrapping demonstrated that performance anxiety partially mediated the relationship between dysfunctional breathing and attentional control, with the indirect effect accounting for 59.4% of the total effect (ab = -0.19, 95% CI [-0.30, -0.10]). Independent samples t-tests showed that professional players exhibited lower dysfunctional breathing scores (d = 0.58), higher attentional control (d = 0.54), and better performance outcomes compared to amateur players; however, performance anxiety levels did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.448). These findings support the application of Attentional Control Theory to wind instrument performance contexts and highlight respiratory patterns as a potential intervention target for managing MPA. The results suggest that breathing-focused training may benefit bassoon players by reducing anxiety and enhancing cognitive function, though longitudinal research is needed to establish causal relationships.
The yips is a psychoneuromuscular disorder characterized by context-dependent disruption of fine motor control, with baseball players often struggling more during low-effort than maximal-effort throws. This study investigated effort-dependent alterations in the spatiotemporal organization of muscle synergies in baseball players with the throwing yips. Twenty-two collegiate players (12 with yips, 10 controls) performed throws at low, moderate, and maximum-effort levels. Using nonnegative matrix factorization, electromyographic activity from 13 upper-limb muscles was decomposed into spatial and temporal synergy components, which were classified using k-means clustering. Within-player consistency across effort levels and between-group similarity were evaluated using cosine similarity for spatial components and zero-lag cross-correlation for temporal components. Self-reported symptom severity in the yips group was highest at the low-effort level. The number of muscle synergies did not differ between groups or effort levels (3.5-3.7 synergies), and no yips-specific synergies were identified. The variance accounted for by the first muscle synergy was higher in the yips group than in the control group under low-effort (0.66 vs. 0.62, p = 0.012) and moderate-effort (0.67 vs. 0.63, p = 0.001) conditions. Reduced consistency and similarity of muscle synergy patterns were observed specifically at the low-effort level in clusters associated with the arm cocking motion. These findings indicate that effort-dependent yips symptoms reflect subtle spatiotemporal disruptions of shared muscle synergies rather than the loss or emergence of specific synergies.
Soccer is an open-skill sport in which players must rapidly process visual cues and transform them into appropriate motor actions under changing contextual constraints. Stroboscopic vision training has been proposed as a method for enhancing visuomotor processing and sport-related performance, but its value as an embedded visual constraint within regular soccer-specific training remains unclear. This single-site, two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled intervention study examined whether a 6-week stroboscopic vision training program combined with soccer-specific practice could improve visuomotor reaction performance and soccer-specific reactive agility in male collegiate soccer players. Thirty-six players were randomly assigned to either a stroboscopic training group or a non-stroboscopic group, with 18 participants in each group. Both groups completed the same soccer-specific training tasks three times per week. The stroboscopic training group wore Senaptec Strobe eyewear with the stroboscopic mode activated, whereas the non-stroboscopic group wore visually similar clear non-stroboscopic eyewear that did not produce visual occlusion or stroboscopic restriction. Outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation during pre- and post-intervention testing. Simple motor time, simple lower-limb visuomotor reaction time, complex reaction speed, with-ball reactive agility time, and without-ball reactive agility time were assessed before and after the intervention. Intervention effects were primarily evaluated using linear mixed-effects models with group, time, and group × time interaction as fixed effects and participant ID as a random intercept. Training experience and weekly training time were included as covariates. ANCOVA was also conducted as an adjusted analysis, with post-test values as dependent variables and corresponding pre-test values and training-related variables as covariates. The linear mixed-effects models showed significant group × time interactions for all five outcomes, indicating greater pre-to-post improvements in the stroboscopic training group than in the non-stroboscopic group. Compared with the non-stroboscopic group, the stroboscopic training group showed larger reductions in simple motor time, simple lower-limb visuomotor reaction time, complex reaction speed, with-ball reactive agility time, and without-ball reactive agility time. The ANCOVA results were consistent with the primary analysis, showing significantly lower adjusted post-intervention values in the stroboscopic training group across all outcomes after controlling for baseline performance, training experience, and weekly training time. These findings suggest that adding stroboscopic vision training to soccer-specific practice may provide additional short-term benefits in visuomotor reaction efficiency and soccer-specific reactive agility. Compared with the same soccer-specific training performed with visually similar clear non-stroboscopic eyewear, adding stroboscopic vision training may further improve visuomotor reaction efficiency and soccer-specific reactive agility in male collegiate soccer players. This approach may be used as an auxiliary strategy for developing soccer-specific reactive ability, although further studies are required to determine whether these gains are retained over time and transferred to match play.
This study investigated the effects of different small-sided game (SSG) formats and pitch sizes on GPS-derived acceleration and deceleration event counts as indicators of external movement demands in elite youth soccer players. Twenty male elite youth soccer players (age: 19 ± 1.24 years) performed 4v1 and 6v2 SSG formats across multiple pitch dimensions (4v1: 5×5, 6×6, 7×7, and 8×8 m; 6v2: 6×6, 7×7, 8×8, 9×9, and 10×10 m). Movement data were collected from players positioned in the middle using 10 Hz GPS devices (MinimaxX v4.0, Catapult Innovations, Melbourne, Australia). Acceleration and deceleration counts were analyzed according to game format, pitch size, and bout duration (15 s and 30 s) using repeated-measures ANOVA and Holm-adjusted post-hoc comparisons. Significant main effects of game format were observed across all acceleration and deceleration event-count variables (p < 0.001), with large effect sizes (partial η² = 0.632-0.837). In common pitch dimensions (6×6-8×8 m), the 4v1 format consistently elicited higher event counts than the 6v2 format. For example, during the 30 s condition at 6×6 m, 4v1 produced higher acceleration Zone 1 event counts than 6v2 (mean difference = 1.80; p < 0.001; Cohen's dz = 2.24). Within the 4v1 format, the smallest pitch size (5×5 m) generated the highest acceleration and deceleration event counts, whereas in the 6v2 format the largest pitch size (10×10 m) elicited the greatest event counts. These findings suggest that the interaction between player configuration and spatial constraints substantially influences GPS-derived acceleration and deceleration event counts during SSGs. From a practical perspective, 4v1 SSGs performed in reduced spaces may provide an effective training stimulus for increasing acceleration and deceleration event counts. However, these outcomes should be interpreted as external movement-demand indicators and not as direct measures of quickness, agility, or perceptual-cognitive performance.
This study aimed to compare the effects of time-based (TB) and distance-based (DB) repeated-sprint training (RST) on athletic performance adaptations in collegiate basketball players during preseason and to examine whether the 2 training prescriptions produce different levels of homogeneity in the magnitude of individual adaptations. Thirty young male basketball players (age = 21.3 [1.4] y) were randomly and equally assigned to 3 groups (n = 10): DB-RST, TB-RST, and an active control group. Participants completed a 7-week RST program performed 3 times per week, consisting of 4 sets of 4 to 9 repetitions per session. The DB-RST group completed each sprint by covering a fixed 35-m distance, whereas the TB-RST group performed each sprint maximally for a fixed 5-second duration. Performance assessments including countermovement vertical jump, 20-m sprint, Illinois change-of-direction speed, reactive strength index, Wingate anaerobic power, and cardiorespiratory fitness were conducted before and after the 7-week training period. Both training groups demonstrated significant performance improvements over the 7-week intervention and relative to the control group (P < .05). Similar gains were observed in the magnitude of adaptations in the countermovement vertical jump, 20-m sprint, Illinois change-of-direction speed, and reactive strength index for the DB-RST and TB-RST groups. Interestingly, the TB-RST group showed more gains than the DB-RST in the magnitude of adaptations in the peak and mean power outputs, as well as cardiorespiratory fitness. Moreover, the TB-RST group showed lower intersubject variability in adaptive responses across the measured performance outcomes following the training intervention. Our findings indicate that RST effectively enhances the performance of basketball players, and that implementing a TB-RST protocol is more effective than a DB-RST approach for producing greater adaptations in physiological variables-specifically anaerobic power output and cardiorespiratory fitness-over the 7-week preseason period.
The negative impact of excess adipose tissue on aerobic capacity in endurance athletes is now considered well-established. However, there is a lack of research examining this relationship in team sport athletes. Thirty-eight soccer players (mean age 23.60±4.22 years) from a leading Russian Premier League team participated in the study. On the first day of the pre-season training camp, participants underwent skinfold measurements according to the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry standards and a treadmill test with gas analysis. Correlation analysis showed moderate inverse associations between adiposity markers and VO<inf>2</inf>-derived outcomes. Higher body fat percentage was associated with lower relative VO<inf>2</inf>max and vVO<inf>2</inf>max, while the sum of eight skinfolds showed a similar direction of association. However, after FDR correction, these associations should be interpreted cautiously. In prespecified HC3-robust regression models, each 1 percentage point higher body fat was associated with -1.93 mL·kg-1·min-1 lower relative VO<inf>2</inf>max and -0.49 km·h-1 lower vVO<inf>2</inf>max. Each 10 mm higher sum of eight skinfolds was associated with -1.77 mL·kg-1·min-1 lower relative VO<inf>2</inf>max and -0.38 km·h-1 lower vVO<inf>2</inf>max. Model performance under leave-one-out cross-validation was limited, indicating weak individual-level predictive accuracy. Higher adiposity markers were directionally associated with lower relative VO<inf>2</inf>max and vVO<inf>2</inf>max in elite adult male soccer players. However, the cross-sectional design, modest sample size, high FDR-adjusted q-values, and limited cross-validated performance indicate that the findings should be interpreted as exploratory group-level associations rather than robust individual-level prediction.
"T-Junction" or distal musculotendinous junction (DMTJ) hamstring injuries have become a true enigma for clinicians as demonstrated by the high recurrence rate. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can sometimes fail to provide an accurate assessment of these injuries, probably because of the dynamic function that this structure provides to offer stability at the synchronous movement of the two heads of biceps femoris. The aim of the present case report was to describe a novel method for dynamic ultrasound evaluation of the DMTJ performed during functional loading exercises and to explore its potential role in return-to-play (RTP) decision-making. Case Report. A 23-year-old male elite football player sustained a DMTJ injury. MRI revealed a complete rupture of the superficial portion (myotendinous) and the deep portion (myoaponeurotic) of the T-Junction. The injury occurred initially during high speed non-linear running action.The initial diagnosis was made using a 3T MRI scan. Subsequently, three dynamic ultrasound evaluations were performed at weeks 3, 6 and 9 during two different gym-based exercises: the single-leg barbell Romanian deadlift and the single-leg hamstrings slider with ipsilateral trunk rotation. Additional 3Tesla MRIs were conducted to assess healing and structural changes at weeks 5,8 and 14. The player returned to competitive activity 10 weeks after the injury and experienced no re-injury during the subsequent 4-month follow-up period. Improvements in the synchronous movement between BFlh and BFsh were seen on the progressive evaluations as well as the scar healing progression. Dynamic ultrasound assessment during the SL-RDL appeared to provide clearer visualization of interhead hamstring movement than during the slider exercise. Further investigation in larger cohorts is warranted to establish the reliability, validity, and prognostic utility of this novel assessment modality for athletes with this injury. In this single case, dynamic ultrasound of the DMTJ provided valuable information regarding interhead synchrony of the biceps femoris. This approach may complement MRI and support informed return to play decision-making following T-Junction hamstring injuries. 5.
To assess the effectiveness of two different neck strengthening protocols at increasing isometric neck strength in male and female rugby players. Cluster randomised controlled trial. The team training facility of 3 amateur clubs. 142 male and female amateur rugby players were recruited to take part in the study. Isometric neck strength in flexion, extension, left and right side flexion, left and right rotation and sum of strength scores. Changes in neck strength were analysed for within-group and between group differences. Relative to the control group the male Band resisted group recorded the largest strength gain with statistically significant increases in sum of strength scores (p = 0.002), extension (p = 0.034), right flexion (p = 0.004), left rotation (p < 0.001) and right rotation scores (p < 0.001). The male Partner resisted group recorded improvements in left rotation (p < 0.001) and right rotation (p = 0.006). In the female band resisted group significant improvements in neck strength were recorded for sum of strength scores (p = 0.042), right rotation (p = 0.003) and left rotation (p = 0.005) however in the Partner resisted group significant improvements were recorded in right rotation only (p = 0.015). We have developed two time efficient and low cost neck strengthening protocols that demonstrate efficacy at enhancing neck strengthen in a team setting.
This study investigated the effects of different velocity loss (VL) thresholds during squat exercise at 80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) on post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) in basketball players. Nineteen male collegiate basketball players completed three familiarization sessions and four randomized crossover experimental sessions: control (passive rest), 5% VL, 10% VL, and 20% VL. Countermovement jump height (JH), peak power output (PPO), and reactive strength index modified (RSIm) were measured pre-test and at 3-min and 8-min post-squat. Linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) evaluated the effects of time, condition, and mean-centered relative strength on the outcome variables and repetition counts. To identify responders who exhibited meaningful improvements in jump height, the smallest worthwhile change (SWC) was calculated. At the group level, no significant condition × time interactions or main effects of condition were observed for JH, PPO, or RSIm (p > 0.05), indicating no uniform PAPE effect across protocols. Furthermore, no statistically significant strength × time × condition interaction effects were observed. Repetition counts did not differ between the 5% and 10% VL conditions but were significantly lower in both conditions compared to the 20% VL condition (p < 0.01). Individual analysis showed the 20% VL condition yielded the highest number of responders (n = 11; 58%). Squat protocols using 5-20% VL at 80% 1RM did not produce significant group-level CMJ performance improvements, suggesting that a comprehensive warm-up may create a performance ceiling. Furthermore, these responses were not moderated by relative strength. However, the high inter-individual variability and responder rates at higher VL thresholds highlight the importance of individualized PAPE programming.
Athletes pursuing a professional basketball career are routinely evaluated by sports physicians using laboratory testing, electrocardiography, and exercise stress assessment. However, such screening may not detect certain cardiovascular or connective tissue disorders. This limitation is particularly relevant in basketball, where tall stature is advantageous but may also signal underlying conditions such as cardiomyopathies, which can predispose athletes to life-threatening events during intense physical exertion, including sudden cardiac death. This study aimed to investigate the phenotypic, endocrine, cardiac, and genetic characteristics of adolescent basketball players to identify possible causes of tall stature and associated health risks. We examined 55 youth basketball players (30 females, median age 17 years and height +2.4 standard deviations). Each underwent detailed endocrine and anthropometric examinations, echocardiography, and genetic testing (number of X and Y chromosomes, SHOX gene dosage analysis, and a custom next-generation sequencing panel of 786 genes related to growth). Echocardiographic abnormalities were observed in 4/55 (7%) athletes, while an additional 5/55 (9%) probands displayed echocardiographic findings resembling physiological adaptation to extensive physical activities. Clinically relevant dysmorphic features were identified in 26/55 (47%), and mild dysmorphia was present in 21/55 (38%) participants. No endocrine dysfunctions were detected. One proband (1.8%) was diagnosed with a monogenic cause of tall stature carrying a pathogenic variant in the FBN1 gene, causing Marfan syndrome. Echocardiographic abnormalities were observed in a small proportion of probands, as were monogenic causes of tall stature. However, targeted evaluation, including echocardiography, anthropometry, and genetic testing, should be considered in selected individuals.
Football coaches commonly provide verbal encouragement and exercise end-point feedback to sustain players' effort by enhancing motivation during fitness training such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT). However, the influence of such cues on the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region involved in exercise cessation decisions, remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effect of motivational cues on PFC activation during HIIT using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, alongside physiological and perceptual responses. Twenty-two male elite footballers completed two randomised crossover HIIT sessions on a cycle ergometer, with and without motivational cues. Each session consisted of 12 repetitions of 30-s high-intensity bouts, each interspersed with a 30-s active recovery bout. Heart rate, lactate concentration, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), motivation-related questionnaires and oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO2) concentration in the PFC were measured throughout HIIT. Although physiological responses were similar between conditions, perceived difficulty, assessed every three HIIT bouts, was significantly lower under the motivational condition, with lower RPE (p = 0.038) and higher motivation (p = 0.049), engagement (p = 0.038) and mood (p = 0.009) scores, particularly after the 9th repetition. From the 10th to 12th repetition of HIIT, the HbO2 concentrations of the orbitofrontal cortex and frontopolar PFC were significantly lower under the motivational condition (p = 0.040 and p = 0.036, respectively), whereas the dorsolateral and ventrolateral PFC showed no significant difference between conditions. In conclusion, motivational cues reduce central PFC activity during the most fatiguing phases of HIIT, reflecting enhanced neural efficiency under motivation despite equivalent physical workloads.
This data article describes an open EEG hyperscanning dataset acquired during an iterated 3-player Prisoner's Dilemma (PD) task, designed to support reproducible research on triadic social decision-making. EEG was recorded simultaneously from three participants per group (11 groups; 33 subjects) using synchronized acquisition, with decision-locked and feedback-locked epochs provided for 40 task trials per subject and three 60-s resting-state runs per group. The released BIDS format contain 19-channel EEG arrays sampled at 300 Hz, with explicit epoch definitions for decision (-1000 to 4000 ms) and feedback (-1000 to 2000 ms) periods, as well as trial-wise behavioral choice labels (1=cooperate, 2=defect) enabling reconstruction of dyad- and triad-level outcomes. Questionnaire metadata (personal information and pre/mid/post state measures) Yare also provided as supplementary spreadsheets. To facilitate reuse and benchmarking, we release Python code that reproduces the preprocessing pipeline (average reference, FIR filtering, ICA + ICLabel for task EEG), ERP summaries, and inter-brain synchrony measures (PLV and coherence) with window-matched resting baselines and cluster-permutation statistics. The dataset is intended for method development and benchmarking in ERP analysis, inter-brain synchrony estimation, and modeling of dynamic group interaction states in triadic games.
Pokémon GO (PoGo) is a global, location-based augmented reality game integrating virtual play with real-world exploration and social interaction. Its mass adoption and evolving physical and social mechanics make it a salient case to assess whether gamified apps can drive sustained behavior change and deliver health benefits. PoGo's effects over the years on physical activity (PA), mental and social well-being, and societal impacts remain unexplored by previous reviews. This study aimed to map PoGo's impacts over the years on PA and health, mental well-being, social connectivity, and broader societal outcomes; synthesize motivational factors for initiation, continuance, and disengagement; and assess whether gaps noted in early launch-era reviews are addressed by more recent studies. This scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's 5-stage framework and was reported according to PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Eligible studies and gray literature examined PoGo's impacts on physical and mental health and well-being, social and community outcomes, player motivations and notable in-game features, public health applications, and risks. Exclusions included reviews and studies focused solely on technological or augmented reality potential without health or social outcomes. Searches covered August 2016 to December 2025 across Web of Science, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest Theses and Dissertations. Eligible papers were screened by multiple reviewers with consensus resolution. The extracted data were charted in Microsoft Excel and synthesized thematically. A total of 186 sources were included. Twenty-nine studies reported increases in steps, walking or running distances, and outdoor time. The effects were often short-lived, with more sustained gains among older adults and sedentary or overweight young adults. PoGo play was associated with higher life satisfaction, positive affect, reduced distress and loneliness, and a stronger sense of community. Some cognitive benefits were found in adolescents. Social outcomes were reinforced by PoGo-related interactions, as found in 25 studies. PoGo initiation was driven by nostalgia and novelty. Continuance was supported by the satisfaction of needs and regular content updates. Maladaptive drivers were linked to gaming disorder risk and physical strain. Safety concerns in public spaces were found in 17 studies. Data privacy concerns were also identified. Stationary playing may attenuate PA. Societal impacts included suggested public health applications, tourism and mobility effects, and economic benefits tied to existing and potential events and partnerships. This scoping review assessed PoGo's impacts through a novel synthesis of PA, mental well-being, and social connectivity research. PoGo is associated with increased walking and reduced loneliness for some demographics, although long-term effects remain unclear. While successful gamified features motivate outdoor activity, concerns exist regarding the associated risks. PoGo demonstrates value for encouraging sedentary individuals toward light PA and social engagement.
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Stroke has long been a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide. In recent years, more and more research has revealed that microglial responses to ischemic injury are highly heterogeneous and exhibit dynamic evolution over time, across brain regions, and under different metabolic states. This endows microglia with a dual regulatory role in both neurotoxicity and neuroprotection after ischemia: on one hand, they drive inflammatory responses, exacerbating secondary neuronal damage, blood-brain barrier disruption, and synaptic loss; on the other hand, they orchestrate debris clearance, vascular rebuilding, and neural repair. The traditional pro-inflammatory versus anti-inflammatory dichotomy is no longer sufficient to fully describe their complex functions. In this review we summarize recent advances in understanding the dual regulatory roles of microglia after ischemic stroke, with a focus on key mechanisms such as metabolic reprogramming, lipid metabolism regulation, inflammasome activation, and epigenetic modification. Furthermore, emerging therapeutic strategies targeting microglia and the challenges they face are discussed.
Mucin-type O-glycosylation (O-GalNAcylation) is a structurally diverse post-translational modification (PTM) that serves as a critical molecular interface at the cell surface. Unlike well-characterized PTMs such as phosphorylation or N-glycosylation, the specific roles of O-GalNAcylation in the mammalian brain have long remained poorly understood. Recent studies have begun to reposition this modification as an important regulator of brain architecture and homeostasis. Emerging evidence suggests that it contributes to neuronal organization, neurovascular integrity, synaptic function, and stress-related behavioral phenotypes, and that its dysregulation may be associated with neurological and psychiatric phenotypes. This perspective synthesizes recent advances to highlight the potential importance of a "brain O-glycan code" in brain health and disease. We discuss how remodeling of this glycan landscape may intersect with aging, neuroinflammation, and synaptic plasticity, and propose that glyco-neurobiology provides an additional conceptual layer for understanding brain vulnerability and resilience. Finally, we consider how targeting O-glycosylation pathways may open new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disease.