Discerning measures of conscious brain processes associated with superior early motor performance: Capacity, coactivation, and character.
This study explored the relationship between working memory (WM) capacity, corticocortical communication (EEG coherence), and propensity for conscious control of movement during the performance of a complex far-aiming task. We were specifically interested in the role of these variables in predicting motor performance by novices. Forty-eight participants completed (a) an assessment of WM capacity (an adapted Rotation Span task), (b) a questionnaire that assessed the propensity to consciously control movement (the Movement Specific Reinvestment Scale), and (c) a hockey push-pass task. The hockey push-pass task was performed in a single task (movement only) condition and a combined task (movement plus decision) condition. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to examine brain activity during the single task. WM capacity best predicted single task performance. WM capacity in combination with T8-Fz coherence (between the visuospatial and motor regions of the brain) best predicted combined task performance. We discuss the implied roles of visuospatial information processing capacity, neural coactivation, and propensity for conscious processing during performance of complex motor tasks.
['van Duijn|Tina|T|', 'Buszard|Tim|T|', 'Hoskens|Merel C J|MCJ|', 'Masters|Rich S W|RSW|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D001921:Brain D001931:Brain Mapping D003243:Consciousness D004569:Electroencephalography D005260:Female D006688:Hockey D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008570:Memory, Short-Term D009068:Movement D011597:Psychomotor Performance D012044:Regression Analysis D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D055815:Young Adult
Working memory EEG coherence Information processing Electrophysiology Novice performance