Neural Correlates of Expert Visuomotor Performance in Badminton Players

Hülsdünker, Thorben; Strüder, Heiko K.; Mierau, Andreas

doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000001010

Cited by 34 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…We identified a theta peak during the most difficult balance period of the tightrope crossing. This corroborates a 2016 report by Hülsdünker et al 42 , showing increased theta power in the frontal, central, and parietal regions when a balance task became more challenging. This finding is also compatible with evidence that the vestibular system can modulate theta oscillation 43 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

EEG dynamics and neural generators of psychological flow during one tightrope performance

Leroy

Chéron

2020

Sci Rep

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Psychological "flow" emerges from a goal requiring action, and a match between skills and challenge. Using high-density electroencephalographic (EEG) recording, we quantified the neural generators characterizing psychological "flow" compared to a mindful "stress" state during a professional tightrope performance. Applying swLORETA based on self-reported mental states revealed the right superior temporal gyrus (BA38), right globus pallidus, and putamen as generators of delta, alpha, and beta oscillations, respectively, when comparing "flow" versus "stress". Comparison of "stress" versus "flow" identified the middle temporal gyrus (BA39) as the delta generator, and the medial frontal gyrus (BA10) as the alpha and beta generator. These results support that "flow" emergence required transient hypo-frontality. Applying swLORETA on the motor command represented by the tibialis anterior EMG burst identified the ipsilateral cerebellum and contralateral sensorimotor cortex in association with on-line control exerted during both "flow" and "stress", while the basal ganglia was identified only during "flow". Over 40 years ago, Csikszentmihalyi 1 first introduced the concept of psychological "flow", defined as a singular mental state accompanying exceptional performance, which was later popularized as being "in the zone" 2. It is generally accepted that this exceptional state emerges from a clear goal that requires action, and a perfect match between specific skills and challenges 3-5. It is a unique sensation, accompanied by a transformation of time, which most commonly occurs in persons engaged in high-skill motor practices, such as champion athletes 6,7 and musicians 8-11. Psychological "flow" may also be considered a specific state of consciousness requiring involvement of the cortical areas participating in the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC). The NCC was initially defined by Crick and Koch 12 in 1990 as the minimal neuronal mechanisms jointly sufficient for any specific conscious experience, and the full NCC is considered the union of all content-specific NCCs 13,14. We hypothesized that flow identity may be an emergent conscious experience involving specific recruitment among the neural network of the NCC. This notion is supported by the idea that some brain functions necessitate an efficient network of connections and once such coordinated complexity is attained, the emergent properties of consciousness happen, producing the flow sensation. As this sensation goes along with or follows movement, a functional tradeoff between external and internal force must be continuously controlled. The sensation of flow would emerge in a particular physiological state where (1) an appropriate central resting state, including memorized items and motivation is present, (2) the initial intention must be translated by the descending motor commands to the muscles in order to generate forces and displacements, and (3) the ascending somesthetic signals must produce ideal feedback sensations closing the loop between action and sen...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

EEG dynamics and neural generators of psychological flow during one tightrope performance

Leroy

Chéron

2020

Sci Rep

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“…The issue of whether faster VRT’s arise because of earlier processing of visual signals or from accelerated motor processes continues to be the subject of considerable research interest. A number of recent studies have featured VRT measures in participants in whom electrophysiological data have simultaneously been gathered 28 , 30 . For example, in a study of elite badminton players versus non-athletic controls 28 , faster VRT were found amongst the elites, and the origin of this superior performance was primarily associated with faster visual perception, with differences in motor-related processing time playing a comparatively minor role.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Faster visual reaction times in elite athletes are not linked to better gaze stability

Barrett

Cruickshank

Flavell

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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The issue of whether visually-mediated, simple reaction time (VRT) is faster in elite athletes is contentious. Here, we examined if and how VRT is affected by gaze stability in groups of international cricketers (16 females, 28 males), professional rugby-league players (21 males), and non-sporting controls (20 females, 30 males). VRT was recorded via a button-press response to the sudden appearance of a stimulus (circular target—diameter 0.8°), that was presented centrally, or 7.5° to the left or right of fixation. The incidence and timing of saccades and blinks occurring from 450 ms before stimulus onset to 225 ms after onset were measured to quantify gaze stability. Our results show that (1) cricketers have faster VRT than controls; (2) blinks and, in particular, saccades are associated with slower VRT regardless of the level of sporting ability; (3) elite female cricketers had steadier gaze (fewer saccades and blinks) compared to female controls; (4) when we accounted for the presence of blinks and saccades, our group comparisons of VRT were virtually unchanged. The stability of gaze is not a factor that explains the difference between elite and control groups in VRT. Thus we conclude that better gaze stability cannot explain faster VRT in elite sports players.

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“…From a comparison between skilled players and age-matched nonathletic controls it was concluded that visual motion processing sub serves faster visuomotor reaction in badminton players [ 29 ]. The neurophysiological process contributing to expert visuomotor performance in badminton players has been investigated as well, underlining the importance of fast visuomotor transformation in the premotor and supplementary motor cortical regions [ 30 ]. During training sessions, players may rehearse pre-determined patterns extensively.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Higher-level cognitive functions in Dutch elite and sub-elite table tennis players

et al. 2018

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This study aimed to investigate the higher-level cognitive functions (i.e. metacognition and executive functions) of Dutch competitive table tennis players to better understand its relevance for performance in this fast and complex sport. Thirty elite (age 16 ± 4) and thirty age and sex-matched sub-elite peers (age 16 ± 5) were assessed on metacognition and executive functions (working memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility) using D-KEFS tests. Compared to norm scores, both the Dutch competitive elite and sub-elite table tennis players scored above average on all tests (p < 0.05). MANOVA showed a main effect for performance level (elites outscored sub-elites; p < 0.05). T-tests revealed that elite players make less mistakes on tests for inhibitory control (CWI-3: 0.9 ± 0.9; CWI-4: 1.1 ± 1.2) than sub-elite players (CWI-3: 1.8 ± 1.1; CWI-4: 2.6 ± 1.5) (p < 0.05). When controlling for training hours in a MANCOVA, no significant main effect of performance level remained (p > 0.05). In conclusion, Dutch elite and sub-elite table tennis players are characterized by above-average scores on higher-level cognitive functions compared to norm scores. A relation with performance level has been shown, which may be explained by the greater exposure to table tennis for elite compared to sub-elite players. However, longitudinal research is needed to indicate the direction of this association.

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Neural Correlates of Expert Visuomotor Performance in Badminton Players

Abstract: The results of this study indicate that superior visuomotor performance in athletes originates from faster visuomotor transformation in the premotor and supplementary motor cortical regions rather than from earlier perception of visual signals in the visual cortex.

Cited by 34 publications

References 26 publications

EEG dynamics and neural generators of psychological flow during one tightrope performance

EEG dynamics and neural generators of psychological flow during one tightrope performance

Faster visual reaction times in elite athletes are not linked to better gaze stability

Higher-level cognitive functions in Dutch elite and sub-elite table tennis players

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