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。我们的目标是描述熟练的视觉引导肢体运动在大脑活动和行为方面与性别和经验相关的差异。三个相关但不同的项目构成了这一调查的总路线。项目1将在广泛的视频游戏经验之后，研究大脑网络变化中与性别相关的差异。在此之前，我们已经证明了眼-手协调的大脑活动模式与性别有关的显著差异。我们还发现，在男性中，大量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，研究大量玩电子游戏对女性运动相关大脑网络活动的影响。这个项目将提供大脑如何根据性别和经验以不同方式控制熟练运动的基本信息。另外两个项目将使用更深入的运动心理物理方法，深入了解专家行动控制的性质，以及这些人群中与性别有关的差异。项目2将通过将非运动员与精英水平的男性和女性运动员(使用精英曲棍球运动员作为我们的专家组)进行比较，来研究与性别和经验相关的神经过程中的差异，这些神经过程是高级眼手协调的基础。在项目3中，我们将研究精英(远程机器人外科医生)和非精英表演者眼睛和手臂运动空间方向分离的行为后果背后的神经机制。执行分离动作的能力是驾驶或使用计算机鼠标等技能的基础，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促进了我们对专业知识和性别对大脑控制我们如何与周围世界的物体互动的影响的了解。这些研究还将为一些高素质人员提供可转让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.