Understanding the mechanisms subserving expertise: transference of domain-specific skill to domain-general cognitive ability

人们对研究精英表现的神经基础越来越感兴趣。对运动专业知识的调查，正如在熟练运动员中观察到的那样，提出了一个问题，即优越的认知知觉技能（即，特定领域的技能）是否可以转移到更普遍的领域认知任务（例如，注意力，执行功能）。有证据表明，运动员在处理速度、注意力和执行功能方面的领域一般认知测试中表现优于新手/非运动员。然而，由于对照组的可变性，缺乏运动专业知识的客观测量，以及所选结果测量的敏感性，研究结果是混合的和有限的。研究计划的主要目标是：1。确定认知运动整合专业知识（通过认知运动整合的客观测量）是否会随着运动需求的增加而增加（研究1）2。确定认知运动整合专业知识是否与需要注意力和执行控制的领域一般任务的更好表现有关（研究1）。研究认知运动整合专业知识是否与促进领域一般认知表现的脑功能网络的静息状态改变有关（研究2）。该研究项目将填补我们对以下方面的理解中的关键知识空白：(1)与运动员体育训练相关的潜在神经和认知相关；以及（ii）特定领域训练对一般领域认知功能的推广。这项工作将为运动相关认知神经科学领域提供基础的机制知识。它将为未来的认知和运动训练项目的发展提供信息，这些项目旨在提高精英运动员和健康的非运动员人群的表现。

There is a growing interest in examining the neural underpinning of elite performance. Investigations into motor expertise, as observed in skilled athletes, have raised questions of whether superior cognitive-perceptual skills (i.e., a domain-specific skill) can transfer to more domain-general cognitive tasks (e.g., attention, executive function). There is some evidence that athletes outperform novice/non-athletes on domain-general cognitive tests of processing speed, aspects of attention, and executive function. However, findings have been mixed and limited by the variability in comparison groups, the lack of objective measures of motor expertise, and the sensitivity of the outcome measurements selected. The main objectives of the research program are: 1.To determine whether cognitive motor integration expertise (as measured by objective measures of cognitive motor integration) increases depending on sport demands (Study 1) 2.To determine whether cognitive motor integration expertise relates to better performance on domain-general tasks requiring attention and executive control (Study 1). 3.To examine whether cognitive motor integration expertise is associated with altered resting-state across functional brain networks that facilitate domain-general cognitive performance (Study 2). This research program will fill key knowledge gaps in our understanding of (i) the underlying neural and cognitive correlates associated with physical training in athletes; and (ii) the generalizability of domain-specific training to domain-general cognitive functioning. This work will provide foundational mechanistic knowledge in the field of sport-related cognitive neuroscience. It would inform the development of future cognitive and motor training programs targeting improved performance in elite athletes, and healthy non-athlete populations.