title: Aging increases the susceptibility to motor memory interference and reduces off-line gains in motor skill learning.
abstract: Declines in the ability to learn motor skills in older adults are commonly attributed to deficits in the encoding of sensorimotor information during motor practice. We investigated whether aging also impairs motor memory consolidation by assessing the susceptibility to memory interference and off-line gains in motor skill learning after practice in children, young, and older adults. Subjects performed a ballistic task (A) followed by an accuracy-tracking task (B) designed to disrupt the consolidation of A. Retention tests of A were performed immediately and 24 hours after B. Older adults showed greater susceptibility to memory interference and no off-line gains in motor skill learning. Performing B produced memory interference and reduced off-line gains only in the older group. However, older adults also showed deficits in memory consolidation independent of the interfering effects of B. Age-related declines in motor skill learning are not produced exclusively by deficits in the encoding of sensorimotor information during practice. Aging also increases the susceptibility to memory interference and reduces off-line gains in motor skill learning after practice.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark; Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark. Electronic address: marc.roigpull@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roig
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark; Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ritterband-Rosenbaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark; Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lundbye-Jensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark; Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D066191:Sensorimotor Cortex / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aging; Interference; Motor memory; Motor skill; Procedural learning