A body of psychoeducational data were gathered on 11 children (ages 8-14) who were gifted and learning disabled. Results from brain imaging and vision testing for hyperacuity and contrast sensitivity suggest that the interaction of high ability and learning disability results in brain and vision patterns unique to the learning-disabled/gifted…

Study tested the effect of exercise programs on bone mineral content (BMC) and BMC/bone width in 31 postmenopausal women. Subjects were placed in groups with aerobic exercise, aerobics plus upper-body weight training, or no exercise. Results indicate that regular exercise programs positively affect bone mineral maintenance in postmenopausal women.…

A cheap and simple model that can be made and used by pupils to study the human breathing mechanism is presented. A list of needed materials, procedures for construction, possible refinements, and method of use are included. (KR)

Human and electronic sensors that can indicate the presence of light, sound, temperature, pressure, and movement are discussed. Activities that investigate the human senses are described. Directions for making an electronic touch sensor are provided. (KR)

A multiphasic plan to improve lecture effectiveness which centers on teaching behaviors that can facilitate the learning process is described. Lectures were evaluated based on the inclusion of behaviors such as objectives, advance organizers, questioning, wait-time, and use of teaching aids. Included are the results and a discussion. (KR)

Examines 539 undergraduate course catalogs to determine the percentage of institutions offering courses in physiological psychology, biological psychology, both, or neither. Finds 64.1 percent of the institutions studied offered physiological psychology, and 11.3 percent offer biological psychology. Finds catalog descriptions reveal confusion over…

Rapid-cycling brassicas can be used in the classroom to teach concepts such as plant growth, tropisms, floral reproduction, pollination, embryonic development, and plant genetics. Directions on how to obtain them for classroom use and how they may be grown are included. Practical physiology and genetics exercises are listed. (KR)

Discusses chronic fatigue syndrome as it affects elite athletes, noting that overtraining may mimic it. In some cases, athletes who have it perform exceedingly well in the face of debilitating fatigue. Among athletes and nonathletes, the cause and the mind-body connection are areas of controversy and research. (Author/SM)

Examines whether prepubescents are trainable in competitive sports, noting trainability differences between prepubescents and older groups. Changes in maximal aerobic power, metabolic cost of walking and running, muscle strength and power, and local muscle endurance are examined. Strength training is recommended only for rehabilitation or…

Discusses management of common overuse disorders, which are often a result of repetitive stress. Reducing inflammation through icing, rest, and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents is the primary treatment goal. Patients taking anti-inflammatories must be cautioned against returning to activity too soon because the medication's analgesic…

Almost 70 years of scientific research leaves many unanswered questions concerning diabetes mellitus. This disease can be viewed as an illustration of the complexity of biological systems. Textbooks stress normal rather than abnormal physiology and rarely share the difficulties encountered in understanding those abnormal conditions (PR)

Describes an assessment of a peer-tutoring system developed for an advanced physiology course. Finds that peer tutoring was effective in enhancing student performance and was perceived as beneficial by students. Contains 15 references. (Author/WRM)

To illustrate the possible relationships between metabolic disorders and autism, this commentary reviews findings from studies on the characteristics of individuals with Rett syndrome that indicate the genetic mechanism of transcriptional dysregulation can produce pathologic phenotypes which resemble metabolic disorders that stunt axonodendritic…

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the use of a diagnostic test to assess the preparedness of level one students for a sports biomechanics module. During their first week at university, a cohort of 108 students completed a diagnostic test at the end of their first lecture in sports biomechanics, with no prior notice. Upon…

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of an acute bout of aerobic exercise on state anxiety of women while controlling for iron status (hemoglobin and serum ferritin). Participants were 24 active women, ages 18-20 years (n=12) and 35-45 years (n=12). In addition to a nonexercise control condition, participants completed one…