Neural Correlates of Cognitive Workload and Learning: Portable Brain Monitoring During Skill Acquisition and Real-World Task Performance

Dear Colleagues,

The emergence of portable neuroimaging technologies has revolutionized our ability to study cognitive function and skill acquisition in naturalistic environments, including in high-fidelity simulators, or even in actual field conditions. This Special Issue explores how wearable brain monitoring systems, such as EEG and fNIRS systems, capture neural correlates during real-world task performance, under cognitive task loads, or during skill development across diverse domains.

From surgical training to e-sports performance, and from flight simulation to motor rehabilitation, portable neuroimaging offers unprecedented insights into the neural substrates of expertise. Rather than being constrained to laboratory-based paradigms, we can now track cortical hemodynamic changes during actual laparoscopic procedures, measure attentional networks during competitive gaming sessions, or monitor motor cortex reorganization during sports training.

This Special Issue welcomes empirical studies that leverage portable neuroimaging to investigate skill acquisition in ecologically valid settings. We particularly encourage submissions that demonstrate practical training applications, validate assessment protocols, or develop open-source tools for the research community.

Key Topics

• Short-term neural adaptations during intensive training periods (days to weeks).
• Validation studies comparing expert vs. novice neural signatures.
• Closed-loop training systems using real-time neural feedback.
• Motor skill acquisition in surgery, sports, and rehabilitation.
• Cognitive skill development in gaming, piloting, and specialized operations.
• Open datasets and standardized protocols for skill acquisition research.
• Multimodal integration approaches (brain + behavior + physiology).

Dr. Adrian Curtin
Dr. Sebastien Scannella
Prof. Dr. Hasan Ayaz
Guest Editors

Dr. Candida Barreto
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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