The effect of rest breaks on human sensorimotor adaptation.
We have studied the effect of rest breaks on sensorimotor adaptation to rotated visual feedback in a pointing task. Adaptive improvement was significantly poorer after 1-s breaks than after 5-40-s breaks, with no significant difference among the latter break durations. The benefit of >1-s breaks emerged soon after the onset of adaptation, and then remained steady throughout the adaptation, retention (next day), and persistence (no feedback) phases. This pattern of findings indicates that break-induced facilitation is not a result of strategic adjustments, motivation, or recovery from fatigue, but rather to consolidation of previously acquired sensorimotor recalibration rules.
Bock
Otmar
O
Institute of Physiology and Anatomy, German Sport University, 50927, Köln, Germany. bock@dshs-koeln.de
Thomas
Monika
M
Grigorova
Valentina
V
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors