Brain mechanisms for eye-hand coordination: Experience- and sex-related differences

这项研究的主要目的是了解控制自主运动的基本神经机制。目的是描述在熟练的视觉引导肢体运动中，大脑活动和行为的性别和经验相关的差异。三个相关但不同的项目构成了这条一般的研究路线。项目一将着眼于大量视频游戏体验后大脑网络改变的性别相关差异。之前我们已经证明了在手眼协调的大脑活动模式上存在显著的性别差异。我们还发现，在男性中，长时间玩电子游戏可以改变处理复杂技能的基本皮层网络。我们将在这些发现的基础上，研究女性运动相关的大脑网络的活动如何受到长时间玩电子游戏的影响。这个项目将提供关于大脑如何根据性别和经验对熟练动作进行不同控制的基本信息。另外两个项目将使用更深入的运动心理物理学方法，深入了解专家运动控制的本质，以及这些人群中与性别相关的差异。项目2将通过比较非运动员与精英水平的男女运动员（以精英曲棍球运动员作为我们的专家组），研究构成高级手眼协调水平的神经过程中与性别和经验相关的差异。在项目3中，我们将研究精英（远程机器人外科医生）和非精英表演者的眼睛和手臂运动空间方向解耦行为后果的神经机制。执行解耦运动的能力是驾驶或使用电脑鼠标等技能的基础，这些技能对我们的日常功能至关重要。这项研究的重要性在于，它推动了我们对专业知识和性别对大脑控制我们如何与周围事物互动的影响的认识。这些研究还将向一些高度合格的人员提供可转移的科学和技术技能培训。

The broad aim of this research is to understand the fundamental neural mechanisms for controlling voluntary movement. The objectives are to characterize the sex- and experience-related differences in both brain activity and behavior for skilled visually-guided limb movements. Three related but distinct projects comprise this general line of inquiry. Project 1 will look at sex-related differences in brain-network alteration following extensive video game experience. Previously we have demonstrated significant sex-related differences in patterns of brain activity for eye-hand coordination. We have also found that in males, extensive video-game play can alter the basic cortical network for processing complex skill. We will build upon these findings by examining how the activity in female movement-related brain networks is affected by extensive video-game play. This project will provide fundamental information about how the brain controls skilled movement differently as a function of sex and experience. Two further projects will provide insight into the nature of movement control in experts, as well as sex-related differences within these populations, using a more in-depth motor psychophysical approach. Project 2 will look at sex- and experience-related differences in the neural processes that underlie advanced levels of eye-hand coordination by comparing non-athletes to elite-level male and female athletes (using elite hockey players as our expert group). In Project 3, we will study the neural mechanisms underlying the behavioral consequences of decoupling the spatial directions of eye and arm movements in elite (telerobotic surgeons) and non-elite performers. The ability to perform decoupled movements underlies skills such as driving or using a computer mouse, skills essential to our everyday function. The importance of this research is its advancement of our knowledge about the effects of expertise and sex on the brain's control over how we interact with objects in the world around us. These studies will also provide transferable scientific and technical skills-training to a number of highly qualified personnel.