Higher extrinsic and lower intrinsic connectivity in resting state networks for professional Baduk (Go) players

Abstract

IntroductionDedication and training to a profession results in a certain level of expertise. This expertise, like any other skill obtained in our lifetime, is encoded in the brain and may be reflected in our brain's connectome. This property can be observed by mapping resting state connectivity. In this study, we examine the differences in resting state functional connectivity in four major networks between professional “Baduk” (Go) players and normal subjects.MethodsResting state fMRI scans were acquired for professional “Baduk” (Go) players and normal controls. Major resting state networks were identified using independent component analysis and compared between the two groups. Networks which were compared include the default mode network, the left and right fronto‐parietal network, and the salience network.ResultsWe found that normal subjects showed increased connectivity within certain areas of each target network. Professional players, however, showed higher connectivity to regions outside the traditional regions of each given network. Close examination of these regions revealed that regions shown to have higher connectivity in professional players have been revealed to be relevant in expertise for board games.ConclusionThe findings in this study suggest that continuous training results in greater integration between regions and networks, which are necessary for high‐level performance. The differences observed in our study between normal controls and professional players also shed light on the difference in brain connectivity which can arise through lifestyle and specialization in a specific field.

A Review of the Effects of Abacus Training on Cognitive Functions and Neural Systems in Humans

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Training-Specific Changes in Regional Spontaneous Neural Activity Among Professional Chinese Chess Players

“…Specific regions have long been believed to form the basis of cognitive expertise in board games. However, from the investigation of functional connectivity between the caudate and the default mode network (DMN) ( Duan et al, 2012a ), step-by-step exploration of specific region-based functional connections was applied ( Duan et al, 2014 ; Sohn et al, 2017 ; Song et al, 2020 ; Wang et al, 2020 ). Recently, whole-brain-based detection of brain functional connectivity was reported as a dynamic functional network characteristic of Chinese chess experts ( Premi et al, 2020 ).…”

Brain responses during strategic online gaming of varying proficiencies: Implications for better gaming

“…Consistently, competitive online gaming often requires players to coordinate sensory and motor control to accomplish their tasks and win against competitors (Anderson, Bothell, Fincham, & Moon, 2016; Sohn, Lee, Kwak, Yoon, & Kwon, 2017). Brain regions, such as the cerebellum (involved in processing automatic or highly learned motoric behaviors and coordinating control), the thalamus (a neurocircuitry hub coordinating auditory, visual, and somatosensory functions), and the brain stem (with ascending and descending pathways involved in sensory and motoric processes), have been implicated in sensory and motor processes and their coordination (Katsyri et al., 2013; Koepp et al., 1998).…”