title: Single session motor learning demonstrated using a visuomotor task: Evidence from fMRI and behavioural analysis.
abstract: There is a continuing need to improve understanding of the central nervous system control of learning. Specifically, there is a need to examine the characteristics of cortical and sub-cortical activity linked to the stages of motor learning, including those occurring within a single-session. In this study we sought to design and investigate a visuomotor task to determine its ability to assess the component of motor learning occurring during a single session of fMRI (i.e., the 'online' improvement in motor performance). Fourteen healthy control subjects performed a visuomotor task requiring a combination of bilateral grip force to accurately move a cursor towards a target. We assessed online motor learning by comparing behavioural measures (accuracy and error magnitude) and the extent of spatial activation in specific brain regions of interest (ROIs) using fMRI pre- and post-training. Results showed a training-related improvement in performance based on increased accuracy (p<0.0125) and decreased error magnitude (p<0.0125) from pre- to post-training. Decreases in the extent of spatial activation from pre- to post-training in the majority of ROIs supported a training-related attenuation in brain activity associated with online motor learning. Importantly, decreases in error magnitude across conditions (p<0.05) confirmed that improvements in performance continued over the entire course of the experiment. Establishing this task may permit more extensive study of the neural correlates of single-session, online learning in healthy individuals and those with motor control challenges. Information obtained from such studies may provide an opportunity to improve interventions in neurological rehabilitation.
authors: Laboratory for Brain Recovery and Function, School of Physiotherapy and Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. s.boe@dal.ca
authors: Shaun G
authors: SG
authors: Boe
authors: Ryan J
authors: RJ
authors: Cassidy
authors: William E
authors: WE
authors: McIlroy
authors: Simon J
authors: SJ
authors: Graham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen