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A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Sensory and Motor Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 8739

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Prof. Dr. Gary Wilkerson

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Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA
Interests: sport-related concussion; assessment of injury risk; perceptual motor training
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Dear Colleagues,

Methods used for sport performance enhancement and musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation have historically focused on assessment and training of physical attributes, such as muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility. Furthermore, a reductionist focus on the status of specific body parts has often overshadowed consideration of interactions among the numerous components contributing to the function of a whole-body complex system.

Despite the obvious role of brain processes in the control of human interactions with the environment, the transformation of sensory inputs into movement responses has only recently become an area of focused interest among sport scientists and clinicians who seek to optimize human performance capabilities. Advancements in neuroimaging technologies are rapidly increasing knowledge in this area, but clinical applications need further development.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to gather research reports pertaining to measurable behaviors or physiological markers that are associated with potentially modifiable brain processes, such as selective attention, visual detection, sensory weighting, stimulus discrimination, conflict resolution, decision making, motor control, and bilateral movement symmetry.

Any research findings that may contribute to a better understanding of interventions for improvements in the speed, accuracy, and consistency of responses to environmental stimuli are welcomed, as well as content relating to the prevention and/or rehabilitation of specific types of injuries through improved integration of perceptual, cognitive, and motor processes (e.g., sport-related concussion, anterior cruciate ligament disruption, chronic ankle instability).

Prof. Dr. Gary Wilkerson
Guest Editor

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Keywords

perception
cognition
motor control
concussion
injury risk

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Advances in Assessment and Training of Perceptual-Motor Performance (2nd Edition) in Brain Sciences

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Research

15 pages, 531 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in Gaze Behavior Between Male and Female Elite Handball Goalkeepers During Penalty Throws

by Wojciech Jedziniak, Krystian Panek, Piotr Lesiakowski, Beata Florkiewicz and Teresa Zwierko

Brain Sci. 2025, 15(3), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15030312 - 15 Mar 2025

Viewed by 628

Abstract

Background: Recent research suggests that an athlete’s gaze behavior plays a significant role in expert sport performance. However, there is a lack of studies investigating sex differences in gaze behavior during technical and tactical actions. Objectives: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the eye movements of elite female and male handball goalkeepers during penalty throws. Methods: In total, 40 handball goalkeepers participated in the study (female: n = 20; male: n = 20). Eye movements were recorded during a series of five penalty throws in real-time conditions. The number of fixations and dwell time, including quiet eye, for selected areas of interest were recorded using a mobile eye-tracking system. Results: Significant differences were found in quiet-eye duration between effective and ineffective goalkeeper interventions (females: mean difference (MD) = 92.26; p = 0.005; males: MD = 122.83; p < 0.001). Significant differences in gaze behavior between female and male handball goalkeepers were observed, specifically in the number of fixations and fixation duration on the selected areas of interest (AOIs). Male goalkeepers primarily observed the throwing upper arm AOI, the throwing forearm (MD = 15.522; p < 0.001), the throwing arm AOI (MD = 6.83; p < 0.001), and the ball (MD = 7.459; z = 3.47; p < 0.001), whereas female goalkeepers mainly observed the torso AOI (MD = 14.264; p < 0.001) and the head AOI (MD = 11.91; p < 0.001) of the throwing player. Conclusions: The results suggest that female goalkeepers’ gaze behavior is based on a relatively constant observation of body areas to recall task-specific information from memory, whilst male goalkeepers mainly observe moving objects in spatio-temporal areas. From a practical perspective, these results can be used to develop perceptual training programs tailored to athletes’ sex. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Assessment and Training of Perceptual-Motor Performance)

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19 pages, 298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship Between Concussion and Combat History and Mental Health and Suicide Ideation Among United States Military Veterans—A Pilot Study

by Scott L. Bruce, Michael R. Cooper, Carly Farmer, Audrey Folsom, Melanie Fulton, Jana Haskins, Cheryl Knight, Carlitta M. Moore, Amy Shollenbarger, Rashele Wade, Stacy Walz, Rachel Wilkins, Rebbecca Wellborn, Eric West and Kendall Youngman

Brain Sci. 2025, 15(3), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15030234 - 23 Feb 2025

Viewed by 880

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Suicides among U.S. military veterans are alarmingly high, driven by factors such as mental health issues, combat exposure, and history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)/concussion. This study aims to examine the relationship between concussion history, combat experience, and their effects on mental health issues and suicide ideation among military veterans. Additionally, this study investigates the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on these variables. Methods: A total of 78 veterans (62 males, 16 females) participated in this study. Participants completed a demographic survey and the Global Well-being Index (GWI) to assess concussion history and residual symptoms. A licensed social worker interviewed the veterans using the 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder survey (7 Items) (GAD-7) for anxiety, and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) for suicide ideation. A 2 × 2 cross-tabulation analysis examined the relationships between concussion history, combat experience, and outcomes of anxiety, depression, and suicide ideation. PTSD was also assessed as both a predictor and an outcome. Statistical analyses yielded odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), Chi-square, and Cramer’s V (V) correlations along with associated p-values. Results: The combination of concussion history and combat experience strongly predicted either anxiety, depression, or suicide ideation (OR = 7.97, 95% CI: 1.70, 37.44; V = 0.334, (p = 0.003)), more than either factor alone. Combat experience was the strongest predictor of PTSD (OR = 11.12, 95% CI: 3.30, 37.47; V = 0.485, p ≤ 0.001), both individually and when combined with concussion history. PTSD strongly influenced mental health issues and suicide ideation (OR = 8.16, 95% CI: 1.74, 38.25; V = 0.339, p = 0.003). Stratification by PTSD status (positive or negative) affected the relationships between independent and dependent variables. Small cell counts resulted in a wide 95% CI for some ORs, though some statistically significant Fisher’s Exact Test results were observed. Credibility analysis using the critical prior interval (CPI) metric confirmed the intrinsic credibility of the results. Conclusions: This study provides insights into the relationships between concussion history, combat experience, and their impacts on mental health issues and suicide ideation among military veterans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Assessment and Training of Perceptual-Motor Performance)

11 pages, 203 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association of Risk-Taking Behaviors, Vestibular Provocation and Action Boundary Perception Following Sport-Related Concussion in Adolescents

by Shawn R. Eagle, Anthony P. Kontos, Shawn D. Flanagan and Christopher Connaboy

Brain Sci. 2025, 15(3), 229; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15030229 - 22 Feb 2025

Viewed by 600

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between risk-taking behaviors, vestibular symptoms/impairment and perception–action coupling behavior in recently concussed adolescents. Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional design to evaluate the early effects of concussion on 12–18-year-old adolescents (n = 47) recruited from a concussion specialty clinic at their presenting clinical appointment. The Perception–Action Coupling Task (PACT) was used to assess action boundary perception by evaluating the participant’s ability to quickly and accurately determine whether a virtual “ball” fits in a virtual “hole”. Accuracy, response time and inverse efficiency were evaluated at the 0.8 and 1.2 ratios of ball–hole pairings, where 0.8 indicates the ball was slightly smaller than the hole and 1.2 indicates the ball was slightly larger than the hole. The Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART) is a computerized test which measures risk-taking behavior by “pumping” up a balloon. Each pump provides a small amount of virtual money into their bank; the goal is to make as much money as possible without popping the virtual balloon. The Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) tool is a brief screening tool designed to identify ocular or vestibular dysfunction following sport-related concussion, where horizontal/vertical vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) and visual motion sensitivity (VMS) are the primary vestibular outcomes. Pearson correlation matrices were developed to evaluate the association between BART, VOMS and PACT outcomes within the study cohort of concussed adolescents. Results: PACT inverse efficiency at the 1.2 ball–hole ratio was significantly correlated with all three VOMS outcomes (r = 0.33–0.37). The standard deviation of pump reaction time during BART was significantly correlated with accuracy (r = −0.47) and inverse efficiency (r = 0.42) at the 1.2 ratio. The standard deviation of the total number of pumps during BART was significantly correlated with PACT response time at the 1.2 ratio (r = 0.34). Horizontal VOR correlated with balloons collected (r = −0.30) and balloons popped (r = −0.30). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that risk-taking behaviors and vestibular symptoms/impairment are associated with worse action boundary perception in adolescents following concussion. This relationship is more pronounced in male adolescents than females. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Assessment and Training of Perceptual-Motor Performance)

10 pages, 2901 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neural Activity for Uninvolved Knee Motor Control After ACL Reconstruction Differs from Healthy Controls

by Meredith Chaput, Cody R. Criss, James A. Onate, Janet E. Simon and Dustin R. Grooms

Brain Sci. 2025, 15(2), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15020109 - 23 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1048

Abstract

Recovery from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) induces bilateral functional and physiological adaptations. Neurophysiologic measures of motor control have focused on the involved knee joint, limiting understanding regarding the extent of bilateral neural adaptations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate differences in neural activity during uninvolved-limb motor control after ACLR compared to healthy controls. Methods: Fifteen participants with left ACLR (8 female and 7 male, 21.53 ± 2.7 years, 173.22 ± 10.0 cm, 72.15 ± 16.1 kg, Tegner 7.40 ± 1.1, 43.33 ± 33.1 mo. post-surgery, 2 patellar tendon, and 13 hamstring) and 15 matched controls (8 female, 23.33 ± 2.7 years, 174.92 ± 9.7 cm, 72.14 ± 15.4 kg, Tegner 7.33 ± 1.0) participated. Neural activity was evaluated using functional magnetic resonance imaging on a 3T Siemens Magnetom scanner during four 30-s cycles of a right (uninvolved) knee flexion-extension task paced with a metronome (1.2 Hz) and was completed interspersed with 30 s of rest. A significance threshold of p < 0.05 was used for all analyses, cluster corrected for multiple comparisons, and z-thresholds of >3.1 (subject level), and >2.3 (group level). Results: The ACLR group had greater neural activity in one statistically significant cluster corresponding to the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) (834 voxels, z = 3.81, p < 0.01 multiple comparisons corrected) compared to controls. Conclusions: These data indicate a potential contribution to uninvolved-knee neuromuscular deficits after injury and support the limitations of using the uninvolved side as a clinical reference. Uninvolved knee motor control after ACLR may require greater cognitive demand. Clinicians should be aware that the uninvolved limb might also demonstrate whole brain alterations limiting clinical inference from functional symmetry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Assessment and Training of Perceptual-Motor Performance)

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18 pages, 253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reliability of the Second and Third Iterations of the Sensory–Motor Dysfunction Questionnaire in a Subclinical Neck Pain Population

by Ushani Ambalavanar, Heidi Haavik, Nitika Kumari, Imran Amjad, Nooshin Khobzi Rotondi and Bernadette Ann Murphy

Brain Sci. 2025, 15(1), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15010067 - 14 Jan 2025

Viewed by 753

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to address limitations of the pilot reliability study on the Sensory–Motor Dysfunction Questionnaire (SMD-Q) in two parts. Part 1 evaluated the intra-rater reliability of SMD-Q version 2 (V2). Part 2 addressed V2’s limitations before assessing the intra-rater reliability of version 3 (V3). V2 framed questions as “over the past week”, whereas V3 also framed questions as “in a typical/usual week”. Methods: The SMD-Q was administered via Qualtrics^TM at baseline and 4 to 7 days later to subclinical neck pain participants, 51 in part 1 (32 F; mean age ± SD: 21.17 ± 2.66 y) and 27 in part 2 (20 F; mean age ± SD: 21.89 ± 2.81 y). Reliability statistics (quadratic weighted kappa (K_w) and Cronbach’s alpha (α)) were calculated for all items (V2) and total scores (V2 and V3). Results: There was excellent agreement for V2 total scores (K_w ≥ 0.75), and V3 total scores for “in a typical/usual week” (K_w ≥ 0.75), but fair to good agreement for V3 total scores of “over the past week” (0.40 < K_w < 0.75). V2 had acceptable (0.7 ≤ α < 0.8) to good internal consistency (0.8 ≤ α < 0.9), while V3 had good internal consistency for both administrations. Conclusions: Versions 2 and 3 of the SMD-Q appear to reliably capture disordered sensorimotor integration in people with subclinical neck pain, with improved reliability in V3 when questions are framed as “in a typical/usual week”. However, further research is needed to confirm this finding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Assessment and Training of Perceptual-Motor Performance)

16 pages, 3044 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perceptual Response Training for Reduction of Injury Risk Among High School Girls’ Soccer Players

by Gary B. Wilkerson, Kyle S. Mether, Zoë A. Perrin, Samuel L. Emberton, Lynette M. Carlson, Jennifer A. Hogg and Shellie N. Acocello

Brain Sci. 2024, 14(11), 1091; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14111091 - 30 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1099

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Neural processes involved in visual detection, decision-making, and motor plan execution are believed to play a key role in the avoidance of sport-related injuries, but very little evidence exists to guide the development of training activities for the optimization of brain function. Immersive virtual reality provides a means to precisely measure the amount of time that elapses from visual stimulus presentation to the initiation of a motor response (i.e., perceptual latency) or its completion (i.e., response time). Methods: The median value of a metric quantifying both the speed and accuracy (i.e., the rate correct per second of response time) of 50 high school female soccer players was used to assign those who exhibited suboptimal performance to a training program. Training sessions required less than 5 min and the number of sessions completed over a 7-week period ranged from 3 to 13 (median = 5). Results: Among 42 players available for follow-up assessment at 8 weeks after the first practice session (training n = 19; comparison n = 23), the results of regression-discontinuity analyses demonstrated statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) for metrics representing fast/accurate movement initiation (i.e., the rate correct score for perceptual latency, p = 0.016) and across-trial consistency (i.e., perceptual latency variability, p = 0.027). From the first practice session to the end of the soccer season, 12 injuries were sustained by 10 players (four concussions and eight musculoskeletal injuries). A time-to-event analysis demonstrated strong associations with perceptual latency variability ≥ 0.143 (Hazard Ratio = 15.43, p = 0.011) and a lifetime history of at least one concussion (Hazard Ratio = 8.84, p = 0.008). Conclusions: The strong association of movement initiation consistency with the avoidance of concussion or musculoskeletal injury suggests that the training program may have a highly beneficial far-transfer effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Assessment and Training of Perceptual-Motor Performance)

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14 pages, 3963 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Known-Group Validity and Sensitivity to Change in the Sensory-Motor Dysfunction Questionnaire in Individuals with Neck Pain: A Pilot Study

by Ushani Ambalavanar, Megan McIntosh, Heidi Haavik and Bernadette Murphy

Brain Sci. 2024, 14(11), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14111050 - 23 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 962

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Sensorimotor dysfunction is often reported in individuals experiencing neck pain, irrespective of severity and chronicity. The treatment of neck dysfunction has been found to positively impact sensorimotor integration (SMI), thereby improving sensorimotor function. However, no patient-reported outcome measure has been validated for discrimination between healthy individuals and neck pain patients with disordered SMI, nor has there been documentation of positive change in SMI following neck pain treatment.The purpose of this study was to administer the Sensory-Motor Dysfunction Questionnaire (SMD-Q), for the purposes of: (1) known-group validity between individuals without and with chronic neck pain (CNP) or subclinical neck pain (SCNP); (2) assess the questionnaire’s capacity to quantify changes in altered SMI following a tailored treatment plan. Methods: Part 1—Known Group Validity: The SMD-Q was administered to 30 neck pain (13 with CNP, and 17 with SCNP), and 30 healthy participants. Part 2—Sensitivity to Change: The SMD-Q was re-administered to neck pain participants following their tailored treatment plans (SCNP—8-weeks and CNP—12 weeks). Results: The SMD-Q can discriminate between healthy and neck pain participants (p ≤ 0.001), and may be sensitive to showing treatment effects (η_p² = 0.162; large effect size (ES)), but the sample size was too small to determine if it can discriminate treatment effects between groups (η_p² = 0.070; medium ES). Conclusions: Differing degrees of disordered SMI can be discriminated by the SMD-Q, but further research is needed to determine its sensitivity to treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Assessment and Training of Perceptual-Motor Performance)

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15 pages, 1856 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Neural Efficiency in Unconscious Perceptual Processing among Table Tennis Athletes: An Event-Related Potential Study

by Jilong Shi, Haojie Huang, Fatima A. Nasrallah and Anmin Li

Brain Sci. 2024, 14(8), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14080756 - 27 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1940

Abstract

Background: Neural efficiency refers to the brain’s ability to function with reduced resource expenditure while maintaining high performance levels. Previous research has demonstrated that table tennis athletes have greater neural efficiency at the conscious level. However, it is unknown whether they exhibit greater neural efficiency at the unconscious level. Therefore, this study aims to investigate unconscious perceptual processing and neural efficiency in elite table tennis athletes through tasks involving the judgment of spin serves. Methods: Fifty healthy, right-handed individuals participated in this study, including 25 elite table tennis athletes and 25 control participants without professional training experience. To evaluate the unconscious perceptual characteristics of both groups, we used a combination of masked priming paradigm and event-related potential techniques. Results: The behavioral results reveal that, compared to the control group, the table tennis athletes displayed reduced reaction times (p < 0.001) and increased priming effects (p < 0.001) under unconscious conditions. The electrophysiological findings indicated that both groups elicited N1, N2, and P2 components. Notably, compared to the control group, the table tennis athletes exhibited significantly lower amplitude responses at the occipital lobe electrodes PO3, POz, PO4, O1, Oz, and O2 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results further support the neural efficiency hypothesis, indicating that prolonged professional training enhances athletes’ capacities for specialized unconscious cognitive processing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Assessment and Training of Perceptual-Motor Performance)

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