Morphological and Functional Differences between Athletes and Novices in Cortical Neuronal Networks
Xiao-Ying Tan1, Yan-Ling Pi2, Jue Wang3
1School of Physical Education and Coaching, Shanghai University of Sport Shanghai, China.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|January 20, 2017
Summary
Brain structure and function differ between athletes and novices. Basketball players show greater gray matter volume and enhanced neural network connectivity compared to non-athletes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sports Science
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Athletes exhibit distinct cognitive and motor skills.
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of athletic expertise is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cortical structural and functional differences between athletes and novices.
- To compare gray matter volume and resting-state functional connectivity.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study design.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure gray matter volumes.
- Assessed resting-state functional connectivity in default mode, salience, and executive control networks.
Main Results:
- Basketball players demonstrated greater gray matter volume in the left anterior insula (AI), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), inferior parietal lobule (IPL), and right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and precuneus compared to novices.
- Higher functional connectivity was observed in the default mode network, salience network, and executive control network in basketball players.
Conclusions:
- Cortical morphology and functional connectivity in neuronal networks differ between athletes and novices.
- These findings suggest that specialized training influences brain structure and function.
Keywords:
basketball playermagnetic resonance imagingmotor expertiseplasticityresting state functional connectivityMore Related Videos
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