title: Effector-independent and effector-dependent sequence representations underlie general and specific perceptuomotor sequence learning.
abstract: Perceptuomotor sequence learning could be due to learning of effector-independent sequence information (e.g., response locations), effector-dependent information (e.g., motor movements of a particular effector), or both. Evidence also suggests that learning of statistical regularities in sequences (general-regularity learning) and specific sequences (specific-sequence learning) are dissociable. The authors examined the degree to which general and specific-sequence learning rely on effector-independent and effector-dependent representations. During training, participants typed sequences that followed a construction rule with a subset of sequences repeatedly processed. At test, effector-independent and effector-dependent learning was examined with respect to general-regularity and specific-sequence learning. Results suggest that general-regularity learning is subserved by effector-independent sequence representations, whereas specific-sequence learning is subserved by effector-dependent sequence representations, further dissociating these types of learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington 98416-1046, USA. dandresen@pugetsound.edu
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Andresen
authors.forename: Chad J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Marsolek
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012691:Serial Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult