Lenticular nucleus volume predicts performance in real-time strategy game: cross-sectional and training approach using voxel-based morphometry.
Natalia Kowalczyk-Grębska, Maciek Skorko, Paweł Dobrowolski, Bartosz Kossowski, Monika Myśliwiec, Nikodem Hryniewicz, Maciej Gaca, Artur Marchewka, Małgorzata Kossut, Aneta Brzezicka
Author Information
Natalia Kowalczyk-Grębska: Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland.
Maciek Skorko: Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Paweł Dobrowolski: Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Bartosz Kossowski: Laboratory of Brain Imaging, Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Monika Myśliwiec: Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland.
Nikodem Hryniewicz: CNS Lab, Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Maciej Gaca: Laboratory of Brain Imaging, Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Artur Marchewka: Laboratory of Brain Imaging, Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Małgorzata Kossut: Laboratory of Neuroplasticity, Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Aneta Brzezicka: Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland.
It is unclear why some people learn faster than others. We performed two independent studies in which we investigated the neural basis of real-time strategy (RTS) gaming and neural predictors of RTS game skill acquisition. In the first (cross-sectional) study, we found that experts in the RTS game StarCraft II (SC2) had a larger lenticular nucleus volume (LNV) than non-RTS players. We followed a cross-validation procedure where we used the volume of regions identified in the first study to predict the quality of learning a new, complex skill (SC2) in a sample of individuals who were naive to RTS games (a second (training) study). Our findings provide new insights into how the LNV, which is associated with motor as well as cognitive functions, can be utilized to predict successful skill learning and be applied to a much broader context than just video games, such as contributing to optimizing cognitive training interventions.
