Auditory memory function in expert chess players

Background: Chess is a game that involves many aspects of high level cognition such as memory, attention, focus and problem solving. Long term practice of chess can improve cognition performances and behavioral skills. Auditory memory, as a kind of memory, can be influenced by strengthening processes following long term chess playing like other behavioral skills because of common processing pathways in the brain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the auditory memory function of expert chess players using the Persian version of dichotic auditory-verbal memory test. Methods: The Persian version of dichotic auditory-verbal memory test was performed for 30 expert chess players aged 20-35 years and 30 non chess players who were matched by different conditions; the participants in both groups were randomly selected. The performance of the two groups was compared by independent samples t-test using SPSS version 21. Results: The mean score of dichotic auditory-verbal memory test between the two groups, expert chess players and non-chess players, revealed a significant difference (p = 0.001). The difference between the ears scores for expert chess players (p = 0.023) and non-chess players (p = 0.013) was significant. Gender had no effect on the test results. Conclusion: Auditory memory function in expert chess players was significantly better compared to non-chess players. It seems that increased auditory memory function is related to strengthening cognitive performances due to playing chess for a long time

Enhanced dynamic functional connectivity (whole-brain chronnectome) in chess experts

Multidisciplinary approaches have demonstrated that the brain is potentially modulated by the long-term acquisition and practice of specific skills. Chess playing can be considered a paradigm for shaping brain function, with complex interactions among brain networks possibly enhancing cognitive processing. Dynamic network analysis based on resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) can be useful to explore the effect of chess playing on whole-brain fluidity/dynamism (the chronnectome). Dynamic connectivity parameters of 18 professional chess players and 20 beginner chess players were evaluated applying spatial independent component analysis (sICA), sliding-time window correlation, and meta-state approaches to rs-fMRI data. Four indexes of meta-state dynamic fluidity were studied: i) the number of distinct meta-states a subject pass through, ii) the number of switches from one meta-state to another, iii) the span of the realized meta-states (the largest distance between two meta-states that subjects occupied), and iv) the total distance travelled in the state space. Professional chess players exhibited an increased dynamic fluidity, expressed as a higher number of occupied meta-states (meta-state numbers, 75.8 ± 7.9 vs 68.8 ± 12.0, p = 0.043 FDR-corrected) and changes from one meta-state to another (meta-state changes, 77.1 ± 7.3 vs 71.2 ± 11.0, p = 0.043 FDR-corrected) than beginner chess players. Furthermore, professional chess players exhibited an increased dynamic range, with increased traveling between successive meta-states (meta-state total distance, 131.7 ± 17.8 vs 108.7 ± 19.7, p = 0.0004 FDR-corrected). Chess playing may induce changes in brain activity through the modulation of the chronnectome. Future studies are warranted to evaluate if these potential effects lead to enhanced cognitive processing and if "gaming" might be used as a treatment in clinical practice

Efectos del juego en el estado de ánimo en jóvenes y adultos: estudio preliminar: Effects of play on mood in youth and adults: preliminary study

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo evaluar los efectos de juegos de salón en el estado de ánimo. Se realizó un diseño cuantitativo, cuasi-experimental, intrasujeto. Participaron 10 voluntarios de entre 15 y 65 años en dos almuerzos con un intervalo de un mes entre ellos. Se aplicó la Escala de Valoración del Estado de Ánimo (EVEA) antes y después de cada reunión. El primer almuerzo (sin juego) finalizó después de la sobremesa; el segundo (con juego) se realizaron juegos de cartas y de lectura y escritura. En ambos grupos se halló que la ansiedad disminuyó significativamente después del almuerzo (p<0.01, r=.71). En el almuerzo con juego aumentó la alegría (p<0.01, r=1) y disminuyó la ira y la hostilidad (p<0.02, r=1) y la tristeza y depresión (p<0.05, r=.71). Se deben realizar futuras investigaciones para corroborar este hallazgo y evaluar otros efectos, tanto emocionales como cognitivos y su duración

Efectos del juego en el estado de ánimo en jóvenes y adultos: estudio preliminar

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo evaluar los efectos de juegos de salón en el estado de ánimo. Se realizó un diseño cuantitativo, cuasi-experimental, intrasujeto. Participaron 10 voluntarios de entre 15 y 65 años en dos almuerzos con un intervalo de un mes entre ellos. Se aplicó la Escala de Valoración del Estado de Ánimo (EVEA) antes y después de cada reunión. El primer almuerzo (sin juego) finalizó después de la sobremesa; el segundo (con juego) se realizaron juegos de cartas y de lectura y escritura. En ambos grupos se halló que la ansiedad disminuyó significativamente después del almuerzo (p<0.01, r=.71). En el almuerzo con juego aumentó la alegría (p<0.01, r=1) y disminuyó la ira y la hostilidad (p<0.02, r=1) y la tristeza y depresión (p<0.05, r=.71). Se deben realizar futuras investigaciones para corroborar este hallazgo y evaluar otros efectos, tanto emocionales como cognitivos y su duración

The Effects of Multilingualism on Brain Structure, Language Control and Language Processing

This chapter reviews a small but growing body of research that examines neuroplasticity stemming from multilingualism, specifically discussing some similarities and differences in brain structure and function stemming from in processing three or more languages, as a departure from bilingualism. The evidence comes from studies using magnetic resonance imaging to examine patterns of grey matter structure across cortical and subcortical regions, and aspects of white matter microstructure. This chapter also highlights the functional activation and temporal information of various processes that occur during language processing in multilinguals, while accounting for the influence of language background factors. It then discusses conflicting and agreeing evidence in the literature and attempts to consolidate the findings with suggestions based on contemporary frameworks such as the Dynamic Restructuring Model (Pliatsikas, 2020). In closing, the chapter highlights gaps and pose questions for future research directions in the field of multilingualism and neuroplasticity

Musical training intensity yields opposite effects on grey matter density in cognitive versus sensorimotor networks

Using optimized voxel-based morphometry, we performed grey matter density analyses on 59 age-, sex- and intelligence-matched young adults with three distinct, progressive levels of musical training intensity or expertise. Structural brain adaptations in musicians have been repeatedly demonstrated in areas involved in auditory perception and motor skills. However, musical activities are not confined to auditory perception and motor performance, but are entangled with higher-order cognitive processes. In consequence, neuronal systems involved in such higher-order processing may also be shaped by experience-driven plasticity. We modelled expertise as a three-level regressor to study possible linear relationships of expertise with grey matter density. The key finding of this study resides in a functional dissimilarity between areas exhibiting increase versus decrease of grey matter as a function of musical expertise. Grey matter density increased with expertise in areas known for their involvement in higher-order cognitive processing: right fusiform gyrus (visual pattern recognition), right mid orbital gyrus (tonal sensitivity), left inferior frontal gyrus (syntactic processing, executive function, working memory), left intraparietal sulcus (visuo-motor coordination) and bilateral posterior cerebellar Crus II (executive function, working memory) and in auditory processing: left Heschl's gyrus. Conversely, grey matter density decreased with expertise in bilateral perirolandic and striatal areas that are related to sensorimotor function, possibly reflecting high automation of motor skills. Moreover, a multiple regression analysis evidenced that grey matter density in the right mid orbital area and the inferior frontal gyrus predicted accuracy in detecting fine-grained incongruities in tonal music

Novel Computational Approaches For Multidimensional Brain Image Analysis

The overall goal of this dissertation is focused on addressing challenging problems in 1D, 2D/3D and 4D neuroimaging by developing novel algorithms that combine signal processing and machine learning techniques. One of these challenging tasks is the accurate localization of the eloquent language cortex in brain resection pre-surgery patients. This is especially important since inaccurate localization can lead to diminshed functionalities and thus, a poor quality of life for the patient. The first part of this dissertation addresses this problem in the case of drug-resistant epileptic patients. We propose a novel machine learning based algorithm to establish an alternate electrical stimulation-free approach, electro-corticography (ECoG) as a viable technique for localization of the eloqeunt language cortex. We process the 1D signals in frequency domain to train a classifier and identify language responsive electrodes from the surface of the brain. We then enhance the proposed approach by developing novel multi-modal deep learning algorithms. We test different aspects of the experimental paradigm and identify the best features and models for classification. Another difficult neuroimaging task is that of identifying biomarkers of a disease. This is even more challenging considering that skill acquisition leads to neurological changes. We propose to help understand these changes in the brain of chess masters via a multi-modal approach that combines 3D and 4D imaging modalities in a novel way. The proposed approaches may help narrow the regions to be tested in pre-surgical localization tasks and in better surgery planning. The proposed work may also pave the way for a holistic view of the human brain by combining several modalities into one. Finally, we deal with the problem of learning strong signal representations/features by proposing a novel capsule based variational autoencoder, B-Caps. The proposed B-Caps helps in learning a strong feature representation that can be used with multi-dimensional data

Experience-dependent plasticity in the auditory domain: effects of expertise and training on functional brain organization

The present dissertation aims at systematically investigating manifestations of experience-dependent plasticity in the auditory domain, resulting from intensive musical training, utilizing analytical tools from network neuroscience. The dissertation is based on data acquired in the course of a longitudinal study investigating structural and functional changes in the auditory domain due to music training. A group of aspiring professional musicians, attending preparatory courses for entrance exams at universities of arts, and a group of amateur musicians, actively practicing in their everyday life, completed up to 5 behavioral and neuroimaging assessments in the course of one year. The dissertation consists of three studies addressing cross-sectional and longitudinal aspects of functional plastic differences and changes, respectively, ranging from a specific auditory process over unconstrained music listening to longitudinal changes in functional organization