Cerebral differences between roller and speed skaters: preliminary evidence for roller-to-ice talent transfer

Talent transfer (TT) from roller skating to speed skating is a recognized pathway for developing elite athletes. This study aimed to identify the sport-specific cerebral characteristics in these athletes by comparing their brain structure and function, thereby providing preliminary neuroimaging evidence relevant to "roller-to-ice" TT.

We acquired structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 10 national-level speed skaters and 14 roller skaters. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to assess whole-brain gray matter volume (GMV), and whole-brain voxel-wise resting-state analyses were conducted to calculate fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and degree centrality (DC).

Speed skaters demonstrated greater GMV in the bilateral occipital lobe, right orbitofrontal cortex, right medial temporal lobe, right insula, and cerebellum, but lower GMV in the bilateral precuneus, bilateral inferior temporal gyrus, right ventral frontal cortex, and left occipitotemporal junction compared to roller skaters (FWE corrected p < 0.05). Functionally, speed skaters exhibited higher DC in the left basal ganglia (caudate nucleus), while roller skaters showed higher fALFF in the right prefrontal cortex (FWE corrected p < 0.05).

The pronounced structural differences may reflect distinct long-term neuroplastic characteristics related to visuomotor integration, balance 2 control, and environmental predictability inherent to each sport. The relatively limited functional differences, coupled with the common engagement of motor planning networks, may indicate a common neural feature that underlies the potential for TT. These findings provide preliminary neurobiological evidence to inform talent identification and optimize training strategies for athletes transitioning from roller skating to speed skating.