Call for Abstracts (Poster Presentations) Sports Neuroscience 2025 Abstract Deadline:
January 24th 2025.
Rules to Follow: 1) the Abstract must be original unpublished data.
There is a 400 word limit for the abstract body.
You will be notified of acceptance or rejection within 7 days or less after we receive your Abstract. 1) We accept original investigations only. 2) You must be present at your Poster on Friday, Feb 21. 3) You can submit multiple posters as long as the PI (or one of his/her students/assistants) is present at the Poster.
Deadline: January 24 2025
Please Note: You still need to pay the conference registration fee if you are presenting a poster; this includes individuals who are also exhibiting at the event. This fee is waived only for those who give oral presentations. Please follow the format for Abstracts (see below).
All expenses are to be covered by the presenting author(s).
Please limit the word count to 400 words or less. This refers to the body of the text.
Poster must be written and presented in lucid English.
If you have any conflicts of interest, please denote that in the acknowledgements.
Please email your abstract to neurosportsresearch@gmail.com
Example - Abstract format
Perceptions of Overhand Throwing Ability from Faces
Andrew C. Gallup1,2 and Omar Tonsi Eldakar2
1Psychology and Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences Programs, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Utica, NY, USA; 2Department of Biological Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL, USA
*Corresponding author – Andrew C. Gallup, PhD
Email: a.c.gallup@gmail.com
Abstract
Background
Overhand throwing was a key feature of hominid evolution, as humans possess unmatched power and accuracy when throwing projectiles compared to other species. Due to large sex differences in overhand throwing ability, however, research suggests that superior overhand throwing gave men advantages in fighting and hunting. Based on previous research showing that facial appearance is often correlated with measures of physical prowess, we investigated perceptions of overhand throwing ability from faces. We also examined the relationship between perceptions of overhand throwing and other ratings of athleticism and formidability, as well as ratings of facial attractiveness, dominance, and masculinity.
Materials and Methods
One-hundred and forty-one participants (66 female; age: 20.4±3.76) rated a total 30 male and 30 female faces (rated age: 26.1±3.76; 20 White, 20 Black, 10 Asian, 10 Latino) from the Chicago Face Database (CFD) on perceived overhand throwing speed and accuracy (7-point Likert scale). Participants also provided ratings of perceived running speed, vertical jump, agility, health, overall physical strength, and formidability. First, inter-rater reliabilities were calculated for overhand throwing assessments. Next, correlations were run to examine the relationship between perceptions of overhand throwing and the other measures, as well existing data based on ratings of facial attractiveness, dominance, and masculinity from the CFD. These subsequent analyses were run separately between men and women.
Results
Findings reveal high inter-rater reliability in perceptions of overhand throwing ability from faces (speed: α = 0.964; accuracy: α = 0:957). Moreover, there were strong correlations between perceptions of overhand throwing and assessments of physical strength and formidability in both sexes (ps < 0.001), while perceptions of overhand throwing were predictive of other ratings of athleticism and health among males only (ps < 0.001). Similarly, ratings of facial attractiveness, dominance, and masculinity were significantly correlated with perceptions of overhand throwing among males but not females (ps < 0.01).
Conclusions
This study shows remarkably high inter-rater reliability in the perceived overhand throwing speed and accuracy of people when viewing just their faces. Consistent with these traits being highly sexually dimorphic, perceptions of overhand throwing ability were predictive of overall athleticism and health as well as facial attractiveness, dominance, and masculinity among males only. These findings corroborate previous research suggesting that, due to both survival and reproductive advantages, overhand throwing power and accuracy have been under positive directional selection in men.
Conflict of Interest Declaration: None to declare
