Sleep does not benefit probabilistic motor sequence learning.
It has become widely accepted that sleep-dependent consolidation occurs for motor sequence learning based on studies using finger-tapping tasks. Studies using another motor sequence learning task [the serial response time task (SRTT)] have portrayed a more nuanced picture of off-line consolidation, involving both sleep-dependent and daytime consolidation, as well as modifying influences of explicit awareness. The present study used a variant of the SRTT featuring probabilistic sequences to investigate off-line consolidation. Probabilistic sequences confer two advantages: first, spontaneous explicit awareness does not occur, and second, sequence learning measures are continuous, making it easier to separate general skill from sequence-specific learning. We found that sleep did not enhance general skill or sequence-specific learning. In contrast, daytime enhancement occurred for general skill but not for sequence-specific learning. Overall, these results suggest that motor learning does not always undergo consolidation with sleep.
Song
Sunbin
S
Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007, USA. sss35@georgetown.edu
Howard
James H
JH
Howard
Darlene V
DV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology