Neuromuscular Analysis Of Various Release Mechanisms In Archery: A Study Of The Preparatory Response Between Trigger And Back-Tension Releases

Archery was originally a tool for hunting but since has been transformed into a sport. Archery technology has evolved with little focus as to its effect on humans. Archery requires high levels of concentration and static muscle activity, which has not been analyzed to be successful. By observing the muscle activity in the bow arm and measuring the vibration effects from the bow, it was determined a presence of an impact to the human arm, which the human then creates anticipation for and braces against. To mitigate this anticipation, another technology was introduced to create a surprise factor in the shooting. To reduce the frequency of archers bracing up for the shot, knowledge of when the shot is going off was taken away. It was observed that the new technology did introduce a surprise factor, but it did not reduce the occurrences of preparatory muscle activation in the human arm.

Preference for Signal-Shock vs Shock-Signal

Sixteen rats were run in a tilt box for 11 hr. on each of three successive days, and then three more days with conditions reversed. On one side, Ss received 3 sec. light followed immediately by .5 sec. shock. On the other side, they received the same stimuli in reverse order. Six shocks were presented each half hour regardless of Ss' behavior. A reliable preference for signal-shock was acquired during pre-reversal training. There was some tendency for Ss to shift their preference to the new signal-shock side during reversal, but this did not differ reliably from chance at the end of the reversal training. The results are interpreted as supporting a preparatory response interpretation of classical conditioning and of the acquisition of observing responses in the absence of differential external reinforcement.