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Brain Sciences
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Advances in Assessment and Training of Perceptual-Motor Performance
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Advances in Assessment and Training of Perceptual-Motor Performance

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 5117

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Gary Wilkerson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
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

Special Issue Information

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

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • perception
  • cognition
  • motor control
  • concussion
  • injury risk

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 2901 KiB  
Article
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 522
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 [...] Read more.
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  
Article
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 515
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 [...] Read more.
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 QualtricsTM 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 (Kw) 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 (Kw ≥ 0.75), and V3 total scores for “in a typical/usual week” (Kw ≥ 0.75), but fair to good agreement for V3 total scores of “over the past week” (0.40 < Kw < 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  
Article
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 857
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. [...] Read more.
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  
Article
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 767
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 [...] Read more.
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 (ηp2 = 0.162; large effect size (ES)), but the sample size was too small to determine if it can discriminate treatment effects between groups (ηp2 = 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  
Article
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 1674
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 [...] Read more.
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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