Neural signature of the (in)ability to turn physical activity intentions into actions

将体育活动意图转化为行动的（不）能力的神经特征

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-03153
• 负责人: Boisgontier, Matthieu
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: University of Ottawa
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=757073
• 关键词: Neural; signature; ability; turn; physical

What if a fundamental principle of evolution that leads us to minimize effort had been neglected in the neuropsychology of physical activity behavior? While the rewarding value of physical activity has been widely studied, behaviors minimizing physical effort have been neglected in this regard. Yet, effort minimization has been critical during evolution. Moreover, this principle has been evidenced in multiple domains such as motor control, biomechanics, and evolutionary biology. Therefore, it is difficult to conceive of physical effort minimization differently than as an essential factor in the regulation of physical activity behavior. Within the scope of my program, theoretical and experimental work has already been initiated and supports the automatic attraction to effort minimization in physical activity. To further test this hypothesis, the objectives of this grant cycle are to investigate i) whether reward-related brain activity is associated with the automatic attraction towards physical effort minimization, ii) whether neural processes counteract this automatic attraction, and iii) which factors influence the aforementioned association and processes (e.g., sex, age, reward sensitivity, recent and real-time energy expenditure). To ensure that the constructs under investigation are exclusively related to physical effort variations, an associative conditioning paradigm will be conducted to systematically associate neutral geometrical figures with different effort patterns: increasing, decreasing, and constant. The resulting conditioned stimuli will be used in neurobehavioral paradigms crossing neuroimaging and neurostimulation techniques with behavioral tasks assessing the automatic evaluation of effort-related cues. Findings from this grant cycle will contribute to the long-term objectives of the program aiming at modifying the mechanisms supporting the automatic attraction towards effort minimization through training. During this grant cycle, a diverse and inclusive group of undergraduate and graduate highly qualified personnel will be trained to i) conceive robust neurobehavioral experimental paradigms, ii) generate knowledge and develop expertise in behavioral methods related to the psychology of physical activity and the physiology of exercise, iii) collect and analyze neuroimaging and neurophysiological data (electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation), iv) conduct and understand advanced statistics (e.g., mixed effects models), and v) gain advanced scientific writing skills. Knowledge that will emerge from the conceptual and methodological innovations of this program merging neuroscience, psychology, and physiology will significantly enhance our understanding of the brain processes governing the automatic evaluation of effort-related stimuli, which will ultimately lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the (in)ability to turn physical activity intentions into actions.

如果在研究身体活动行为的神经心理学中，一个导致我们尽量减少努力的基本进化原则被忽视了呢？虽然体育活动的奖励价值已被广泛研究，但在这方面，将体力劳动最小化的行为却被忽视了。然而，努力最小化在进化过程中是至关重要的。此外，这一原理已在运动控制、生物力学和进化生物学等多个领域得到证实。因此，很难将体力劳动最小化看作是调节体力活动行为的一个重要因素。在我的项目范围内，理论和实验工作已经开始，并支持体力活动中对努力最小化的自动吸引。为了进一步验证这一假设，本资助周期的目标是调查i)与奖励相关的大脑活动是否与对体力努力最小化的自动吸引有关，ii)神经过程是否抵消了这种自动吸引，以及iii)哪些因素影响了上述关联和过程（例如，性别、年龄、奖励敏感性、最近和实时的能量消耗）。为了确保所研究的构念只与体力变化有关，我们将采用联想条件反射范式系统地将中性几何图形与不同的体力模式（增加、减少和恒定）联系起来。由此产生的条件刺激将用于神经行为范式，包括神经成像和神经刺激技术，以及评估努力相关线索自动评估的行为任务。这个赠款周期的调查结果将有助于该方案的长期目标，即修改支持通过培训自动吸引努力最小化的机制。在这一资助周期内，将培养一群多样化和包容性的本科生和研究生高素质人才，以：(1)构思健全的神经行为实验范式；(2)在与体育活动心理学和运动生理学相关的行为方法方面产生知识和发展专业知识；(3)收集和分析神经成像和神经生理学数据（脑电图、磁共振成像、经颅磁刺激）；Iv)进行和理解高级统计（例如，混合效应模型），v)获得高级科学写作技能。该项目融合了神经科学、心理学和生理学的概念和方法创新，将大大提高我们对控制努力相关刺激的自动评估的大脑过程的理解，这将最终使我们更好地理解将身体活动意图转化为行动的能力背后的机制。