Corticospinal properties are associated with sensorimotor performance in action video game players

Louis-Solal Giboin,Tom Reunis,Markus Gruber

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117576

Louis-Solal Giboin, Tom Reunis + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117576

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Journal: NeuroImage	Publication Date: Nov 19, 2020
Citations: 3	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Konstanz

Abstract

Notwithstanding the apparent demands regarding fine motor skills that are required to perform in action video games, the motor nervous system of players has not been studied systematically. In the present study, we hypothesized to find differences in sensorimotor performance and corticospinal characteristics between action video game players (Players) and Controls.We tested sensorimotor performance in video games tasks and used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to measure motor map, input-output (IO) and short intra-cortical inhibition (SICI) curves in the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle of Players (n = 18) and Control (n = 18).Players scored higher in performance tests and had stronger SICI and higher motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes. Multiple linear regressions showed that Players and Control differed with respect to their relation between reaction time and corticospinal excitability. However, we did not find different motor map topography or different IO curves for Players when compared to Controls.Action video game players showed an increased efficiency of motor cortical inhibitory and excitatory neural networks. Players also showed a different relation of MEPs with reaction time.The present study demonstrates the potential of action video game players as an ideal population to study the mechanisms underlying visuomotor performance and sensorimotor learning.

Highlights

Elite athletes and professional musicians can be distinguished from ordinary people on the behavioral level
When incorporating Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) intensity levels, we found no clear differences between groups in the motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude at each TMS intensity level
We found a clear difference between groups, with Players displaying stronger short-latency intra-cortical inhibition (SICI) with conditioning stimulation given at an intensity of 60% and 80% resting motor threshold (RMT)

Summary

Introduction

Elite athletes and professional musicians can be distinguished from ordinary people on the behavioral level. It seems intuitive to expect that neural plasticity associated with numerous hours of practice should induce neural changes, making athletes and musicians interesting models to study the long term effects of sensorimotor training on the central nervous system (CNS) (Yarrow et al, 2009). It has been suggested that action video gaming might be an excellent model to study the limits of human sensorimotor performance as well (Pluss et al, 2019). Even though differences in the motor part of the central nervous system between action video game players and non-players are likely to be expected, most of the studies focused on perceptual and cognitive capacities (Bavelier et al, 2012; Bavelier and Green, 2019) whereas studies on sensorimotor performance and underlying neural mechanisms are scarce (Gozli et al, 2014 )

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