The Bavarian-Czech Higher Academic Agency, based at the University of Regensburg, supports the development of academic networks in research and teaching between Bavarian and Czech universities. In order to re-intensify a contact that had been reduced due to corona-related travel restrictions, Dr. Arash Mirifar from the AG Sportpsychologie applied for funding this summer with a project entitled "Effects of Working Memory on Decision Making and Performance", ultimately successful. The project was carried out together with Dr. Reza Abdollahipour from Palacký University Olomouc and PD Dr. Felix Ehrlenspiel.
A central part of the project application was the mutual visit of the departments to plan and evaluate a pilot study on the topic of working memory, as well as to explore future joint projects. At the beginning of the winter semester, Dr. Abdollahipour visited the AG Sportpsychologie. He visited the laboratory, examined the data collection in the context of a pilot study and was able to discuss initial results with the other project members. In addition, he presented his research to doctoral students of the faculty during the sensorimotor colloquium and gave a lecture in the seminar "Psychophysiology of Stress" in the M.Sc. Sport and Exercise Science".
Regarding the current status of the project, Arash Mirifar summarized, "From a practical perspective, the results of our pilot project will benefit various groups, such as athletes whose optimal performance is highly dependent on effective self-regulation and decision-making, and older adults whose attention is impaired by distractions and who consequently experience difficulties in decision-making and task performance. However, the data so far are preliminary, but we intend to follow up."
Unfortunately, he himself was unable to attend the 20th International Teaching Week of the Faculty of Physical Culture at Palacký University Olomouc in person, as planned, because he received a visa for an extended research stay at the University of Florida in Gainesville only on somewhat short notice. However, the new times enabled him to give the lecture at least online via streaming to the international students and professors primarily from Eastern Europe.
The connections made in the course of the project, also with externals, will now be used to explore paths towards a larger research proposal.
Links:
Zur Bayerisch-Tschechischen Hochschulagentur:
Zum Profil Dr. Abdollahipour:
https://ftk.upol.cz/nc/en/contacts/profile/empid/80067026/
zur International Teaching Week