背景:神经效率是指大脑在保持高性能水平的同时以减少的资源支出发挥功能的能力。先前的研究表明,乒乓球运动员在意识水平上具有更高的神经效率。然而,尚不清楚它们是否在无意识水平上表现出更高的神经效率。因此,本研究旨在通过涉及旋转发球判断的任务来调查优秀乒乓球运动员的无意识感知加工和神经效率。
方法:50健康,惯用右手的人参与了这项研究,包括25名精英乒乓球运动员和25名没有专业训练经验的控制参与者。为了评估两组的无意识知觉特征,我们使用了掩蔽启动范式和事件相关电位技术的组合.
结果:行为结果显示,与对照组相比,在无意识条件下,乒乓球运动员的反应时间减少(p<0.001),启动效应增加(p<0.001)。电生理结果表明,两组均可产生N1,N2和P2成分。值得注意的是,与对照组相比,乒乓球运动员在枕叶电极PO3、POz、PO4,O1,Oz,和O2(p<0.001)。
结论:这些结果进一步支持神经效率假说,这表明长时间的专业训练可以增强运动员进行专门的无意识认知处理的能力。
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.