Enhanced dynamic functional connectivity (whole-brain chronnectome) in chess experts.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Long-term skill acquisition, such as chess, can modulate brain function.
• Dynamic network analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) offers insights into brain fluidity (chronnectome).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of chess playing on whole-brain dynamic connectivity and fluidity.
• To compare the chronnectome of professional chess players with that of beginners.

Main Methods:

• Utilized rs-fMRI data from 18 professional and 20 beginner chess players.
• Applied spatial independent component analysis (sICA), sliding-time window correlation, and meta-state analysis.
• Examined four indexes of meta-state dynamic fluidity: number of meta-states, number of switches, span of meta-states, and total distance traveled.

Main Results:

• Professional chess players demonstrated significantly higher meta-state numbers and meta-state changes compared to beginners.
• Professional players exhibited increased dynamic range, with greater traveling between successive meta-states (meta-state total distance).

Conclusions:

• Chess playing appears to induce changes in brain activity by modulating the chronnectome.
• Further research is needed to determine if these brain changes enhance cognitive processing and have clinical applications.