Dynamic reconfiguration of task-dependent brain networks underpins superior soccer tactical decision-making performance

Abstract

This study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying superior tactical decision-making in soccer by focusing on the dynamic reconfiguration of task-active brain functional networks. Forty participants, divided into two groups based on soccer expertise, performed a tactical decision-making task while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The professional group comprised athletes with over 10 years of intensive training, while the novice group had minimal experience. Utilizing multilayer network analysis, the study examined global and modular brain network properties, including integration, segregation, and flexibility. The results revealed that professionals demonstrated higher decision accuracy, greater global integration, and reduced network flexibility compared to novices. Modular analysis indicated enhanced integration and decreased flexibility within the cingulo-opercular network among experts. Additionally, soccer experts exhibited increased integration between the cingulo-opercular and sensorimotor networks, as well as between the sensorimotor and cerebellar networks. These findings suggest that soccer expertise is associated with optimized brain network dynamics, supporting efficient cognitive processing and superior decision-making. This research provides valuable insights into how long-term training reshapes brain function, offering a neural basis for expertise in sports.