The electrocortical activity of elite Rubik's cube athletes while solving the cube.

Abstract

Solving the Rubik's Cube (RC) swiftly demands intricate cognitive abilities to generate strategic and precise movements, and the electrocortical demands in high-level RC athletes have not been explored. Therefore, we aimed at examining the electrocortical activity associated with planning and executing the RC, alongside tasks assessing planning, fine motor skills, spatial working memory, and visuospatial ability. Thirteen experienced male speed-cubers underwent EEG recordings while performing RC-related tasks (planning and execution), Tower of London (TOL), Judgment of Line Angle and Position-15 (JLAP), Memory Match (MEM), and Fine Motor Skills (FMS). Our results demonstrated that speed-cubers presented similar EEG power spectrum when planning and executing the RC across all frequency bands (p > 0.05). Pearson's correlation demonstrated that Delta-band EEG power spectrum in the occipital lobe exhibited a significant association with RC execution (r = 0.71, p = 0.009), underscoring the importance of visuomotor integration. Similarly, JLAP performance correlated significantly with frontal (r=-0.65, p = 0.022) and occipital EEG power spectrum (r=-0.57, p = 0.048) at the Delta-band, emphasizing the role of visuospatial abilities. Moreover, TOL performance correlated significantly with temporal EEG power spectrum at the Delta- (r=-0.64, p = 0.025) and Theta-band (r = 0.67, p = 0.011), highlighting the role of planning abilities while solving the RC. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the complex neural mechanisms underlying speed-cubing, revealing intricate neural signatures across multiple brain regions associated with RC-related tasks and isolated cognitive activities. Understanding these neurocognitive underpinnings could pave the way for enhanced training protocols in tasks demanding high-level cognitive and motor skills.