Functional MRI reveals expert-novice differences during sport-related anticipation.
We examined the effect of expertise on cortical activation during sports anticipation using functional MRI. In experiment 1, recreational players predicted badminton stroke direction and the pattern of active clusters was consistent with a proposed perception-of-action network. This pattern was not replicated in a stimulus-matched, action-unrelated control task. In experiment 2, players of three different skill levels anticipated stroke direction from clips occluded either 160 ms before or 80 ms after racquet-shuttle contact. Early-occluded sequences produced more activation than late-occluded sequences overall, in most cortical regions of interest, but experts showed an additional enhancement in medial, dorsolateral and ventrolateral frontal cortex. Anticipation in open-skill sports engages cortical areas integral to observing and understanding others' actions; such activity is enhanced in experts.
Wright
Michael J
MJ
Centre for Cognition and Neuroimaging, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK. michael.wright@brunel.ac.uk
Bishop
Daniel T
DT
Jackson
Robin C
RC
Abernethy
Bruce
B
D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004645:Empathy / Q000502:physiology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D015865:Racquet Sports / Q000502:physiology