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。在熟练运动员身上观察到的对运动技能的研究提出了这样的问题：优越的认知-知觉技能(即特定领域的技能)是否可以转移到更一般的认知任务(例如注意力、执行功能)上。有一些证据表明，运动员在处理速度、注意力和执行功能的领域一般认知测试中的表现优于新手/非运动员。然而，由于对照组的可变性、缺乏运动专长的客观测量以及所选择的结果测量的敏感性，结果是喜忧参半的，而且受到限制。该研究计划的主要目标是：1.确定认知运动整合专长(以认知运动整合的客观测量来衡量)是否随运动需求而增加(研究1)2.确定认知运动整合专长是否与在需要注意和执行控制的一般领域任务中的更好表现有关(研究1)。3.检验认知运动整合专业知识是否与大脑功能网络中改变的休息状态有关，从而促进领域一般认知表现(研究2)。这项研究计划将填补我们在以下方面的关键知识空白：(I)与运动员体能训练相关的潜在神经和认知关联；(Ii)特定领域训练对一般领域认知功能的概括性。这项工作将提供与运动相关的认知神经科学领域的基础机制知识。它将为未来认知和运动训练计划的发展提供信息，旨在提高精英运动员和健康的非运动员群体的表现。

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.