La Problématique D’intégration Des Migrants Ressortissants Du Rwanda Et Du Burundi En République Démocratique Du Congo

This article critically diagnoses the integration difficulties encountered by Rwandan and Burundian immigrants in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1960. Main treatments, xenophobic, and discriminatory practices used against the nationals of these two countries by indigenous Congolese people were analyzed in terms of obstacles to integration. The article also scrutinizes the derogatory, hegemonic, and disdainful behavior and attitudes of these immigrants towards the host society. The problems that these immigrants have to face from the authorities of the host country in the application of national migration policies were analyzed. Also, the way they were led into a clandestine life into the host country was also studied. The article, however, aims to reveal socio-cultural, political, and legal challenges which plague the daily life of Rwandan and Burundian nationals who have chosen the DRC as their second homeland

Measuring motor imagery using psychometric, behavioural, and psychophysiological tools

Measuring motor imagery using psychometric, behavioral, and psychophysiological tools. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev., Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 85Y92, 2011. This review examines the measurement of motor imagery (MI) processes. First, self-report measures of MI are evaluated. Next, mental chronometry measures are considered. Then, we explain how physiological indices of the autonomic nervous system can measure MI. Finally, we show how these indices may be combined to produce a measure of MI quality called the Motor Imagery Index. Key Words: motor imagery, mental imagery, psychometric measures, mental chronometry, autonomic nervous system, electrodermal and cardiac activities. MOTOR IMAGERY Motor imagery (MI), or the mental simulation of motor movement, is the cognitive rehearsal of an action without actually executing it (9,26). As the mental representation of a movement without the concomitant production of the muscle activity necessary for its implementation, MI has attracted increasing interest from researchers in sport science, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience During the past 15 years or so, we have conducted a number of studies on theoretical, practical, and rehabilitation issues involving MI. First, we have investigated the brain mechanisms underlying motor skill rehearsal and movement planning (11). Second, we have shown with others that the MI technique of mental practice (''seeing'' and ''feeling'' a movement in one's imagination before executing it) can increase physical strength performance (30) and enhance skill learning (3) and technical performance in athletes (4,32). Finally, we confirmed that MI training can facilitate rehabilitation from physical injury or neurological damage ((5) see (22) for a review). Elsewhere, we have provided a detailed account of research findings on MI (12). Considering that MI is a multidimensional construct (see model developed by Guillot and Collet (10)), we have measured its underlying processes using a combination of psychometric tests (18), qualitative procedures (19,25), chronometric methods in which MI processes are investigated by comparing the duration required to execute real and imagined actions (8), and psychophysiological techniques (1). Although these approaches have each yielded some interesting results (12), they have not yet been combined adequately to provide an aggregate index of MI quality. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to propose a rationale for our novel hypothesis that it is possible to calculate an index of MI quality by quantitatively combining psychometric, qualitative, chronometric, and psychophysiological measures. Our proposed Motor Imagery Index (MII) has significant implications for researchers and practitioners because it can be used to understand individual differences in MI and to assess the efficacy of MI interventions. PSYCHOMETRIC APPROACH For more than a century, researchers have used standardized self-report questionnaires to measure individual differences in imagery dimensions such as vividness (i.e., the clarity or sensory richness of an image) and controllability (i.e., the ease and accuracy with which an image can be manipulated mentally, see (24)). We have investigated both of these dimensions of imagery in sport settings. For example, we found that elite canoe-slalom competitors reported significantly greater use of MI than did less proficient counterparts when preparing for races (17). We investigated the effects of MI on the learning (through both physical and mental practice) of volleyball technique among intermediate performers of this sport (32). We found that a combination of MI and physical practice produced the most efficien

Embedding mental rehearsal in surgery: a comprehensive review of the evidence

BackgroundMental rehearsal (MR), the deliberate practice of skills specific to a procedure, has been successfully used in sports and music training for decades, but has not been adopted in surgery. This narrative review explores MR's role in surgical training and clinical practice, evaluating its effectiveness in motor skill acquisition, technical and non-technical skill development, and real world clinical implementation. Our aim was to assess MR's impact on both surgical education and clinical performance, while identifying the barriers to its routine adoption in surgical training.MethodsWe searched for relevant studies on the topic and impacts of MR in surgery using the Medline database up to December 2024. A range of studies were included covering mental rehearsal, surgical education, surgical training, and surgical outcomes. The primary outcomes were to provide insights into the mechanisms and implementation of MR in surgery and to assess the potential impact of MR on surgical outcomes.ResultsThe narrative review provides scientific insights into the mechanisms of MR in surgery and describes in detail the implementation methodology. The majority of evidence demonstrates that MR is beneficial when used as an adjunct approach to other forms of training. Moreover, there is evidence to support MR as a low-cost and valuable learning technique. Many questions remain regarding training schedules including the optimal duration and nature of the MR sessions, accommodating the surgeon's prior experience, optimal number of repetitions, and addressing the abilities of the participants to perform mental imagery. Most studies have heterogenous methods, diffuse aims and poor descriptions of the specific intervention components. Several studies applied MR in demanding real-life surgical environments and demonstrated feasibility in surgery.ConclusionsThe preliminary findings suggest that MR may improve the performance of operators and operating teams as an efficient adjuvant to traditional surgical skills training methods. More work is needed to better understand how MR interventions can best be implemented to improve training, practice, and outcomes in routine surgical practice

Task-Dependent Interaction between Parietal and Contralateral Primary Motor Cortex during Explicit versus Implicit Motor Imagery

Both mental rotation (MR) and motor imagery (MI) involve an internalization of movement within motor and parietal cortex. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) techniques allow for a task-dependent investigation of the interhemispheric interaction between these areas. We used image-guided dual-coil TMS to investigate interactions between right inferior parietal lobe (rIPL) and left primary motor cortex (M1) in 11 healthy participants. They performed MI (right index-thumb pinching in time with a 1 Hz metronome) or hand MR tasks, while motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from right first dorsal interosseous. At rest, rIPL conditioning 6 ms prior to M1 stimulation facilitated MEPs in all participants, whereas this facilitation was abolished during MR. While rIPL conditioning 12 ms prior to M1 stimulation had no effect on MEPs at rest, it suppressed corticomotor excitability during MI. These results support the idea that rIPL forms part of a distinct inhibitory network that may prevent unwanted movement during imagery tasks

Efficience du travail mental sur le développement et le recouvrement des capacités motrices : force musculaire et imagerie motrice

Analyzing the electromyographic (EMG) activity accompanying motor imagery (MI) as well as the imagery‐related effects on strength enhancement contributes to a better understanding of the neural mechanisms of MI. Accordingly, the subliminal EMG activity recorded during MI supports the hypothesis of an incomplete inhibition of the motor command during mental rehearsal. Interestingly, the pattern of EMG response was modulated by the mental effort and the imagined contraction type, in the same way as during physical movement. Furthermore, the data provided evidence that MI contributed both to increase muscle strength, though strength gains were not observed in all muscles. Finally, MI was found to facilitate motor recovery following anterior cruciate ligament tear as well as in burned patients. These results confirm that MI should be considered a reliable and costeffective technique to improve motor recovery and motor performance.L’analyse de l’activité électromyographique (EMG) corrélative de l’imagerie motrice (IM) et l’effet de l’entraînement mental sur l’amélioration et le recouvrement de la force musculaire permettent de mieux comprendre les mécanismes nerveux de l’IM et l’importance du contenu de l’image mentale. Une activité EMG subliminale a en effet été enregistrée lors de l’IM, validant l’hypothèse d’une inhibition incomplète de la commande motrice. Elle était modulée selon l’intensité de l’effort mental et le régime de contraction, comme lors d’une contraction physique. Ces données renforcent l’équivalence physiologique entre IM et exécution réelle. Les programmes d’entraînement et de réhabilitation intégrant l’IM s’appuient sur ces données théoriques. L’amélioration de la force musculaire était significativement plus importante suite à un entraînement combinant répétitions physiques et mentales, comparativement à une pratique physique seule, même si l’effet ne concernait que certains groupes musculaires. Ce travail démontre également l’efficacité d’un entraînement par IM, lorsqu’il est associé à des soins de kinésithérapie, après rupture du ligament croisé antérieur ou brûlure de la main. L’IM jouerait un rôle prépondérant dans l’activation des programmes moteurs et faciliterait la récupération fonctionnelle. L’IM peut donc être considérée comme un complément bénéfique aux programmes d’entraînement et de réhabilitation dans le développement et le recouvrement des fonctions motrice