Federal Grant Award Summary

The Pennsylvania State University received a $675,450 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Multidisciplinary Activities under the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences program (CFDA 47.075), effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. This CAREER award funds research investigating the cognitive-motor interface—specifically how visual working memory enables the brain to transform sequential plans into coordinated actions during complex skilled performance. The research employs neuroimaging, eye-tracking, and hand-movement analysis to examine how experts develop and maintain precise movement sequences in demanding tasks such as surgical procedures and aviation operations, while identifying how distraction and cognitive load impact performance accuracy.

The deliverables from this award include empirical research findings on the neural mechanisms underlying skilled motor learning, attention management during complex task execution, and the protective mechanisms the brain employs to maintain focus despite competing stimuli. Broader impacts of the research extend to informing instructional design for skill training, developing rehabilitation protocols following brain injury, and identifying factors contributing to critical alert failures in high-stakes professional environments. The five-year project advances fundamental understanding of how cognition, decision-making, and motor control interact, with direct applications to improving performance sustainability in both everyday and expert settings.