Lower left temporal-frontal connectivity characterizes expert and accurate performance: High-alpha T7-Fz connectivity as a marker of conscious processing during movement.

Abstract

The Theory of Reinvestment argues that conscious processing can impair motor performance. The present study tested the utility of left temporal-frontal cortical connectivity as a neurophysiological marker of movement specific conscious processing. Expert and novice golfers completed putts while temporal-frontal connectivity was computed using high alpha Inter Site Phase Clustering (ISPC) and then analyzed as a function of experience (experts versus novices), performance (holed versus missed putts), and pressure (low versus high). Existing evidence shows that left temporal to frontal connectivity is related to dispositional conscious processing and is sensitive to the amount of declarative knowledge acquired during learning. We found that T7-Fz ISPC, but not T8-Fz ISPC, was lower in experts than novices, and lower when putts were holed than missed. Accordingly, our findings provide additional evidence that communication between verbal/language and motor areas of the brain during preparation for action and its execution is associated with poor motor performance. Our findings validate high-alpha left temporal-frontal connectivity as a neurophysiological correlate of movement specific conscious processing. Key wordsconscious processing; Inter Site Phase Clustering (ISPC); motor control; Reinvestment Theory; temporal-frontal connectivity 3 Classic theories of motor learning (e.g., Fitts & Posner, 1967) suggest that early in the learning process novices control movements deliberately and consciously, whereas following extensive practice they can learn to control movements automatically with reduced conscious awareness (i.e., they can evolve into experts). Thus, learning represents a transition from deliberate and explicit to automatic and implicit control of movement. This notion has been supported by research using electroencephalography (EEG) to assess cortical activity during movement tasks (for reviews see Cooke, 2013;Hatfield et al., 2004;Requin, Brener, & Ring, 1991). For instance, EEG research has indicated that experts display greater cortical efficiency (e.g., Babiloni et al., 2010), while also being more sensitive to errors (e.g., Cooke et al., 2015) when planning and executing movements.Grounded on classic theories of motor learning and control, the Theory of Reinvestment (Masters, 1992;Masters & Maxwell, 2008) proposes that automated motor processes can be disrupted when task-relevant declarative knowledge is used to consciously control movements. Specifically, reinvestment of declarative knowledge de-chunks automatic motor programs into separate components that require conscious control, causing a regression on the skill acquisition continuum to an earlier, more primitive and less effective stage of movement control (MacMahon & Masters, 1999). Importantly, the theory argues that contingencies such as movement errors, or increases in pressure, can create the conditions for reinvestment to occur (Lam, Masters, & Maxwell, 2010).For instance, pressure -defined as "the presence of situational incentive...

Visual attention, EEG alpha power and T7-Fz connectivity are implicated in prosthetic hand control and can be optimized through gaze training

“…Finally, in these studies we limited our EEG analysis to the alpha frequency band in order to contextualise our findings with previous research on alpha gating [31] and connectivity during movement execution [20,49]. In future, more exploratory research could benefit from investigating multi-scale interactions across different frequencies in order to acknowledge the fact that changes in specific frequency bands do not occur in isolation [65].…”

“…Increased conscious movement control can be reflected by increased high-alpha (10-12 Hz) connectivity between the motor planning (Fz) and verbal-analytical (T7) regions of the brain [48]. For example, T7-Fz connectivity has been shown to reduce as a function of expertise [14,20], and increase in individuals who are exposed to explicit rather than implicit training instructions [48,49], whereas connectivity between motor planning (Fz) and visuo-spatial (T8) regions are not as susceptible to change [50]. Indeed, these disparate connectivity patterns have been shown in various skills, including surgery [49], postural control [51], rifle shooting [14], and golf putting [20,50].…”

“…Using this gating model, research has shown that enhanced performance in motor tasks can be characterised by more efficient topographical alpha power distributions. For example, Gallicchio and colleagues have shown that lower central alpha power and higher temporal alpha power preceded improved performance in a biathlon shooting task [19] and were evident following a training period in golf-putting [20,21]. Indeed, higher alpha power over the left-temporal region has been generally associated with improvements in motor learning and performance [22,23], as conscious, verbal-analytical processes diminish as a function of automaticity and expertise [14,[24][25][26][27].…”

Don’t look, don’t think, just do it! Toward an understanding of alpha gating in a discrete aiming task

“…Previous investigations have observed greater alpha power (i.e., stronger inhibition) in the left temporal region as a function of expertise (Haufler, Spalding, Santa Maria, & Hatfield, 2000), performance (Gallicchio, Finkenzeller, et al, 2016), and training (Gallicchio et al, 2017;Kerick, Douglass, & Hatfield, 2004;Landers et al, 1994). Past studies have also found increased functional disconnection between the left temporal region and other regions involved with movement as a function of expertise (Deeny, Hillman, Janelle, & Hatfield, 2003), performance (Gallicchio, Cooke, & Ring, 2016), and training (Gallicchio et al, 2017;Zhu, Poolton, Wilson, Maxwell, & Masters, 2011). Left temporal activity in a movement task has been interpreted as cognitive/verbal interference during motor preparation (Deeny et al, 2003) and reinvestment of declarative knowledge to consciously monitor and control movements (Zhu et al, 2011).…”

“…Finally, due to the compelling body of literature implicating the left temporal region in motor control and learning (Deeny et al, 2003;Gallicchio, Cooke, et al, 2016, 2017Gallicchio, Finkenzeller, et al, 2016;Haufler et al, 2000;Kerick et al, 2004;Landers et al, 1994;Zhu et al, 2011), we recommend that researchers address the pressing issue of explaining the functional role being played by this region in movement tasks. For example, if inhibition of the left temporal region is linked to decreased verbal activity (e.g., Zhu et al, 2011), then future studies could manipulate self-talk and look for associated changes in neurophysiology.…”