Motor related cortical potentials (MRCP) produced self-paced movement of the left and right index fingers were recorded in high-level rifle shooter and in a group of control subjects. Four MRCP components were considered :Bereitschaftspotential (BP), the negative slope (NS"), the motor potential (MP), and the rafferent positivity (RAP). The BP and NS" components associated with the preparation for voluntary movements were generated in supplementary motor area and promotor area, respectively. Differences between groups were found for amplitude and latency of these componenets. For right finger flexion, shooters onset latencies of BP and NS" were later than those of control and amplitude were smaller . For left finger flexion, no significant difference was found between groups. No diffence was found between groups as it regards MP and RAP amplitude and latency. Results are discussed in terms of "economy" of motor preparation (not on execution phase) due to specific practice involved in shooting .

High Altitude hypoxia impaires the cognitive functionality. The Authors investigate on the effects of High Altitude on fine and gross manual dexterity, comparing the performance of two balanced groups of subjects: sea level group and high altitude group. Both groups, underwent 6 tasks of manual dexterity differing in motor components and complexity. Results show that, at High Altitude, gross motor dexterity seems to be preserved while the fine dexterity is compromised, especially in terms of velocity vs accuracy; besides complex tasks suffer more than simple ones. These results are probably due to the decrease of cognitive resources because the High Altitude hypoxia.

The always increasing attention toward the influence that mental abilities have on performance, has favoured the construction and validation of new instruments specific for the sport settings. The athletic coping skill is the ability of maintain the emotional control in the most difficult moments of competition and it could represents a factor of success in sport. The aim of this research was to study the psychometric properties of the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI-28) of Smith, Schutz, Smoll and Pacek (1995). The questionnaire measure both the athletic coping abilities and different mental skills ( for esample, Concentration and Confidence). This Italian version of the ACSI-28 was administered during a sport-medical visit to a sample of athletes of different sports, particularly sports team. An exploratory analysis has been made by principal component method. The results have shown a partial confirmation of the structure to seven dimensions, with a sufficient internal consistence and an adequate ability of discriminate the athle3tes according to age, gender and level of competition. The questionnaire has some interesting potentiality that claim for additional confirmation

In thisstudy the Authors hypotesize that acousti feedback that represents the timeing of athletes'action, can be applied to skiers in giant and special slalom in order to improve and standadize their performance. Acoustic stimulation can be used as a training technique since it helps to strenghten skiers' sensitivity to the timing of their athletic performance These strategies based on acoustic feedback can then be easilyintegrated with other kinds of sport psychology intervention.