Wacław Petryński - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Wacław Petryński
Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, Feb 27, 2023
One of the most highly developed skills in contemporary Western civilization is dissection: the s... more One of the most highly developed skills in contemporary Western civilization is dissection: the split-up of problems into their smallest possible components. We are good at it. So good, we often forget to put the pieces back together again.
Journal of Biosensors and Bioelectronics Research
The authors elaborate on the subject of time perception raised by R. Gruber, R. Block and C. Mont... more The authors elaborate on the subject of time perception raised by R. Gruber, R. Block and C. Montemayor. Time is probably the most enigmatic and multifaceted notion, both in physics and psychology. It does not have one, clear or concise definition. Formulating such a definition seems to be hardly probable, for each definition may include only a few selected aspects of a definiendum. In this paper, the authors present physical and psychological perspectives of time. The former includes the mathematically describable concepts of time proposed by I. Newton and A. Einstein. The latter introduces a systemic outlook on motor operation construction in humans. Its ‘backbone’ is the modalities’ ladder, derived from N. Bernstein’s theory and the fact that movement is the only manifestation of all human mental activity. Each of the particular modalities of information processing – proprioceptive, contactceptive, teleceptive, verbal and symbolic – includes its specific, respective perception of...
Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, 2017
The author emphasises the constructivist nature of science and the specific role of abduction in ... more The author emphasises the constructivist nature of science and the specific role of abduction in creation of theories. He points out to eclectic nature of science and theory creation and compares scientists’ strategy to that of Foraminifera, as described by E. Heron-Allen. To build tests around their uni-cellular organisms they use any suitable grain of sand. The only mechanism for theory building is the abduction, eclectic by its nature. Basing on that, the author presents language not as a passive tool for reality description, but as an active instrument for science creation. He illustrates it with the specific interplay between notions “certainty” and “reliability”. Such an interplay unveils specific mechanisms underlying creation, development and improvement of theories (and science as a whole, as well). He points to the fact that certainty belongs to the sphere of abstraction, and reliability – to the sphere of practice. The relations between theory and practice are quite tight...
Frontiers in Psychology
The authors present the conceptual and system-theoretical model of human motor behaviour. The mai... more The authors present the conceptual and system-theoretical model of human motor behaviour. The main assumption is that movement is the only observable manifestation of all psychical processes, thus, it is the only phenomenon enabling the creation of hypotheses concerning the psychological conditioning of human behaviour. They pointed to the fact that in the field of biology, and all the more, in psychology, mathematical descriptions are hardly eligible. In this respect, a system-theoretical approach seems to be appropriate. The authors present two systems: information processing modalities in the human mind, based on Nikolai Bernstein’s theory, and the series of processes from stimuli reception to motor response execution. Both these sub-systems make up a super-system. Its simplified graphical representation may be termed “Column Diagram.” The authors analyse the functioning of this super-system in various intellectual-motor purposeful operations. The system-theoretical perspective e...
Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, Oct 31, 2017
<jats:p>Author compares various models of relation between stress and efficiency of a motor... more <jats:p>Author compares various models of relation between stress and efficiency of a motor operation, described with the Inverted-U Principle (IUP), Multidimensional Theory of Anxiety (MTA) and Catastrophe Model of Anxiety (CMA). He presents the "classical" theory, invented by R.M. Yerkes and J.D. Dodson in 1908, and modified significantly by D.O. Hebb in 1955. The latter is commonly known as the Inverted-U Principle (IUP). Author focuses his analyses on two factors determining the efficiency of a motor operation: cognitive factor (depth of information processing) and temporal factor (speed of information processing). Stress, of multimodal nature, may either stimulate, or deteriorate the efficiency of a motor operation just being performed. One of the possible descriptions of the structure of a motor operation bases on the theory invented by N.A. Bernstein (Brain Skyscraper – BS). Its continuation enabled creation of two other scientific models, the Modalities' Ladder (ML) and the Movements' Management Matrix (MMM). They make a specific perspective enabling joining the theories concerning stress-efficiency relation. This perspective unveils two mechanisms of efficiency deterioration: hypervigilance and hypovigilance, and, consequently, their different products: mistake, proper execution, choking and collapse. Finally, author remarks that the already long known theories may still include great resources of scientific explainability, and that the main task of science is not absolutely true mirroring of reality, but creation of its simplified models. They should be comprehensible enough to be useful in practice. This concerns also the issues of rather complex relation between stress and efficiency in a motor operation. </jats:p>
The authors discuss the problem of human movement science terminology and point out the fact that... more The authors discuss the problem of human movement science terminology and point out the fact that terminology is (together with the field of research, subject of research, methods and methodology) one of the basic epistemological assumptions of any scientific discipline. Building the abstract models of reality, which is the fundamental task of science, seems to be impossible without the proper terminology, because the words are the main building material of theoretical models. Here lies the great responsibility of scientists, especially the English-speaking ones because English is the most commonly used language in contemporary science, in order to avoid ambiguous words and use clear terminology. Unfortunately, the scientists often seem not to be aware of this problem, and consequently some terms used in the science of human movement seem to be used inconsistently. This phenomenon is especially dangerous in translation from one natural language into another, because an improperly us...
The main task of the Science (with great “S”) probably most consciously has been expressed by Aug... more The main task of the Science (with great “S”) probably most consciously has been expressed by Auguste Comte in the words “To know in order to predict; to predict in order to can”.
Kinesiology: international journal of fundamental and applied kinesiology, 2007
International Journal of Physical Education, Fitness and Sports
The starting point to the analyzes presented in this paper is the fact that the primary task for ... more The starting point to the analyzes presented in this paper is the fact that the primary task for the nervous system – both central and peripheral – of living creatures is the control of movements. The only result of any mental process, the only way to influence the environment, aimed at producing desired results in environment, is the movement. These issues make the subject of the discipline of science termed motor control. In this field, the efficiency of mathematics is highly disputable. On the other hand, the promising tool for knowledge ordering seems to be the systems theory. For its invention Ludwig von Bertalanffy is credited (1968). However, already in late 1940s such an approach has been presented by Nikolai A. Bernstein. His theory is commonly regarded as a cornerstone of modern motor control. Basing on evolutionary and neurophysiological knowledge, he invented a systemic model termed “brain skyscraper”, structural in its essence. It was possible to invent the slightly sim...
International Journal of Physical Education, Fitness and Sports, Jun 30, 2018
The starting point to the analyzes presented in this paper is the fact that the primary task for ... more The starting point to the analyzes presented in this paper is the fact that the primary task for the nervous system-both central and peripheral-of living creatures is the control of movements. The only result of any mental process, the only way to influence the environment, aimed at producing desired results in environment, is the movement. These issues make the subject of the discipline of science termed motor control. In this field, the efficiency of mathematics is highly disputable. On the other hand, the promising tool for knowledge ordering seems to be the systems theory. For its invention Ludwig von Bertalanffy is credited (1968). However, already in late 1940s such an approach has been presented by Nikolai A. Bernstein. His theory is commonly regarded as a cornerstone of modern motor control. Basing on evolutionary and neurophysiological knowledge, he invented a systemic model termed "brain skyscraper", structural in its essence. It was possible to invent the slightly simplified, parallel model of functional nature, termed "modalities' ladder", founding upon information processing. The practical application of the ladder in teaching of motor operations, presented in this paper, is termed "one level higher" principle. An important outcome of the modalities' ladder is also its specific, function oriented, systemic ordering of motor control terminology.
International Journal of Physical Education, Fitness and Sports
The aims of the present study were: (1) identify and compare the biological maturity in Portugues... more The aims of the present study were: (1) identify and compare the biological maturity in Portuguese gymnasts across competitive levels of performance; (2) investigate how morphological variables and training volume behave in the different status and indicators of maturity and (3) determinate if the maturity status influences the competitive performance. The sample (n=164) consisted of three competition levels (Base, 1st division and Elite) from Portugal. Anthropometric measurements and body composition were performed. For analysis of biological maturation, the sexual and somatic maturation were evaluated. For the statistical analyses, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Linear Regression were used. In total, 63.4% of gymnasts had not yet reached menarche and the higher competition level, lower the number of gymnasts with menarche. On mean, all groups had reached the age at peak height velocity. The higher the competition level, higher the chronological age and age at peak heig...
Journal of Physical Fitness, Medicine & Treatment in Sports
The author presents and substantiates the opinion that in contemporary science exists a clear bia... more The author presents and substantiates the opinion that in contemporary science exists a clear bias towards experimental researches, which do not entail a theory creation. On the other hand, just the theories, and not "new, original experimental data" make the "main body" of science. Modern technological devices make the collecting of such data easy, and simple statistical processing endows them with a "scientificity", often only apparent. Especially science on human motor behavior, which is of systemic nature, needs more interpretations and cannot be created by direct connections with the easily available results of experiments. Hence, the necessity of building strong "theoretical leg" in this discipline of science becomes more and more evident.
Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, Feb 27, 2023
One of the most highly developed skills in contemporary Western civilization is dissection: the s... more One of the most highly developed skills in contemporary Western civilization is dissection: the split-up of problems into their smallest possible components. We are good at it. So good, we often forget to put the pieces back together again.
Journal of Biosensors and Bioelectronics Research
The authors elaborate on the subject of time perception raised by R. Gruber, R. Block and C. Mont... more The authors elaborate on the subject of time perception raised by R. Gruber, R. Block and C. Montemayor. Time is probably the most enigmatic and multifaceted notion, both in physics and psychology. It does not have one, clear or concise definition. Formulating such a definition seems to be hardly probable, for each definition may include only a few selected aspects of a definiendum. In this paper, the authors present physical and psychological perspectives of time. The former includes the mathematically describable concepts of time proposed by I. Newton and A. Einstein. The latter introduces a systemic outlook on motor operation construction in humans. Its ‘backbone’ is the modalities’ ladder, derived from N. Bernstein’s theory and the fact that movement is the only manifestation of all human mental activity. Each of the particular modalities of information processing – proprioceptive, contactceptive, teleceptive, verbal and symbolic – includes its specific, respective perception of...
Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, 2017
The author emphasises the constructivist nature of science and the specific role of abduction in ... more The author emphasises the constructivist nature of science and the specific role of abduction in creation of theories. He points out to eclectic nature of science and theory creation and compares scientists’ strategy to that of Foraminifera, as described by E. Heron-Allen. To build tests around their uni-cellular organisms they use any suitable grain of sand. The only mechanism for theory building is the abduction, eclectic by its nature. Basing on that, the author presents language not as a passive tool for reality description, but as an active instrument for science creation. He illustrates it with the specific interplay between notions “certainty” and “reliability”. Such an interplay unveils specific mechanisms underlying creation, development and improvement of theories (and science as a whole, as well). He points to the fact that certainty belongs to the sphere of abstraction, and reliability – to the sphere of practice. The relations between theory and practice are quite tight...
Frontiers in Psychology
The authors present the conceptual and system-theoretical model of human motor behaviour. The mai... more The authors present the conceptual and system-theoretical model of human motor behaviour. The main assumption is that movement is the only observable manifestation of all psychical processes, thus, it is the only phenomenon enabling the creation of hypotheses concerning the psychological conditioning of human behaviour. They pointed to the fact that in the field of biology, and all the more, in psychology, mathematical descriptions are hardly eligible. In this respect, a system-theoretical approach seems to be appropriate. The authors present two systems: information processing modalities in the human mind, based on Nikolai Bernstein’s theory, and the series of processes from stimuli reception to motor response execution. Both these sub-systems make up a super-system. Its simplified graphical representation may be termed “Column Diagram.” The authors analyse the functioning of this super-system in various intellectual-motor purposeful operations. The system-theoretical perspective e...
Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, Oct 31, 2017
<jats:p>Author compares various models of relation between stress and efficiency of a motor... more <jats:p>Author compares various models of relation between stress and efficiency of a motor operation, described with the Inverted-U Principle (IUP), Multidimensional Theory of Anxiety (MTA) and Catastrophe Model of Anxiety (CMA). He presents the "classical" theory, invented by R.M. Yerkes and J.D. Dodson in 1908, and modified significantly by D.O. Hebb in 1955. The latter is commonly known as the Inverted-U Principle (IUP). Author focuses his analyses on two factors determining the efficiency of a motor operation: cognitive factor (depth of information processing) and temporal factor (speed of information processing). Stress, of multimodal nature, may either stimulate, or deteriorate the efficiency of a motor operation just being performed. One of the possible descriptions of the structure of a motor operation bases on the theory invented by N.A. Bernstein (Brain Skyscraper – BS). Its continuation enabled creation of two other scientific models, the Modalities' Ladder (ML) and the Movements' Management Matrix (MMM). They make a specific perspective enabling joining the theories concerning stress-efficiency relation. This perspective unveils two mechanisms of efficiency deterioration: hypervigilance and hypovigilance, and, consequently, their different products: mistake, proper execution, choking and collapse. Finally, author remarks that the already long known theories may still include great resources of scientific explainability, and that the main task of science is not absolutely true mirroring of reality, but creation of its simplified models. They should be comprehensible enough to be useful in practice. This concerns also the issues of rather complex relation between stress and efficiency in a motor operation. </jats:p>
The authors discuss the problem of human movement science terminology and point out the fact that... more The authors discuss the problem of human movement science terminology and point out the fact that terminology is (together with the field of research, subject of research, methods and methodology) one of the basic epistemological assumptions of any scientific discipline. Building the abstract models of reality, which is the fundamental task of science, seems to be impossible without the proper terminology, because the words are the main building material of theoretical models. Here lies the great responsibility of scientists, especially the English-speaking ones because English is the most commonly used language in contemporary science, in order to avoid ambiguous words and use clear terminology. Unfortunately, the scientists often seem not to be aware of this problem, and consequently some terms used in the science of human movement seem to be used inconsistently. This phenomenon is especially dangerous in translation from one natural language into another, because an improperly us...
The main task of the Science (with great “S”) probably most consciously has been expressed by Aug... more The main task of the Science (with great “S”) probably most consciously has been expressed by Auguste Comte in the words “To know in order to predict; to predict in order to can”.
Kinesiology: international journal of fundamental and applied kinesiology, 2007
International Journal of Physical Education, Fitness and Sports
The starting point to the analyzes presented in this paper is the fact that the primary task for ... more The starting point to the analyzes presented in this paper is the fact that the primary task for the nervous system – both central and peripheral – of living creatures is the control of movements. The only result of any mental process, the only way to influence the environment, aimed at producing desired results in environment, is the movement. These issues make the subject of the discipline of science termed motor control. In this field, the efficiency of mathematics is highly disputable. On the other hand, the promising tool for knowledge ordering seems to be the systems theory. For its invention Ludwig von Bertalanffy is credited (1968). However, already in late 1940s such an approach has been presented by Nikolai A. Bernstein. His theory is commonly regarded as a cornerstone of modern motor control. Basing on evolutionary and neurophysiological knowledge, he invented a systemic model termed “brain skyscraper”, structural in its essence. It was possible to invent the slightly sim...
International Journal of Physical Education, Fitness and Sports, Jun 30, 2018
The starting point to the analyzes presented in this paper is the fact that the primary task for ... more The starting point to the analyzes presented in this paper is the fact that the primary task for the nervous system-both central and peripheral-of living creatures is the control of movements. The only result of any mental process, the only way to influence the environment, aimed at producing desired results in environment, is the movement. These issues make the subject of the discipline of science termed motor control. In this field, the efficiency of mathematics is highly disputable. On the other hand, the promising tool for knowledge ordering seems to be the systems theory. For its invention Ludwig von Bertalanffy is credited (1968). However, already in late 1940s such an approach has been presented by Nikolai A. Bernstein. His theory is commonly regarded as a cornerstone of modern motor control. Basing on evolutionary and neurophysiological knowledge, he invented a systemic model termed "brain skyscraper", structural in its essence. It was possible to invent the slightly simplified, parallel model of functional nature, termed "modalities' ladder", founding upon information processing. The practical application of the ladder in teaching of motor operations, presented in this paper, is termed "one level higher" principle. An important outcome of the modalities' ladder is also its specific, function oriented, systemic ordering of motor control terminology.
International Journal of Physical Education, Fitness and Sports
The aims of the present study were: (1) identify and compare the biological maturity in Portugues... more The aims of the present study were: (1) identify and compare the biological maturity in Portuguese gymnasts across competitive levels of performance; (2) investigate how morphological variables and training volume behave in the different status and indicators of maturity and (3) determinate if the maturity status influences the competitive performance. The sample (n=164) consisted of three competition levels (Base, 1st division and Elite) from Portugal. Anthropometric measurements and body composition were performed. For analysis of biological maturation, the sexual and somatic maturation were evaluated. For the statistical analyses, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Linear Regression were used. In total, 63.4% of gymnasts had not yet reached menarche and the higher competition level, lower the number of gymnasts with menarche. On mean, all groups had reached the age at peak height velocity. The higher the competition level, higher the chronological age and age at peak heig...
Journal of Physical Fitness, Medicine & Treatment in Sports
The author presents and substantiates the opinion that in contemporary science exists a clear bia... more The author presents and substantiates the opinion that in contemporary science exists a clear bias towards experimental researches, which do not entail a theory creation. On the other hand, just the theories, and not "new, original experimental data" make the "main body" of science. Modern technological devices make the collecting of such data easy, and simple statistical processing endows them with a "scientificity", often only apparent. Especially science on human motor behavior, which is of systemic nature, needs more interpretations and cannot be created by direct connections with the easily available results of experiments. Hence, the necessity of building strong "theoretical leg" in this discipline of science becomes more and more evident.