title: Exploring the unknown: electrophysiological and behavioural measures of visuospatial learning.
abstract: Visuospatial memory describes our ability to temporarily store and manipulate visual and spatial information and is employed for a wide variety of complex cognitive tasks. Here, a visuospatial learning task requiring fine motor control is employed to investigate visuospatial learning in a group of typically developing adults. Electrophysiological and behavioural data are collected during a target location task under two experimental conditions: Target Learning and Target Cued. Movement times (MTs) are employed as a behavioural metric of performance, while dynamic P3b amplitudes and power in the alpha band (approximately 10 Hz) are explored as electrophysiological metrics during visuospatial learning. Results demonstrate that task performance, as measured by MT, is highly correlated with P3b amplitude and alpha power at a consecutive trial level (trials 1-30). The current set of results, in conjunction with the existing literature, suggests that changes in P3b amplitude and alpha power could correspond to different aspects of the learning process. Here it is hypothesized that changes in P3b correspond to a diminishing inter-stimulus interval and reduced stimulus relevance, while the corresponding changes in alpha power represent an automation of response as habituation occurs in participants. The novel analysis presented in the current study demonstrates how gradual electrophysiological changes can be tracked during the visuospatial learning process under the current paradigm.
authors: Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse St, Dublin 2, Ireland.|School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Brendan
authors: B
authors: Quinlivan
authors: Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse St, Dublin 2, Ireland.|School of Mathematical Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin St, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: John S
authors: JS
authors: Butler
authors: Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse St, Dublin 2, Ireland.|School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Abdur Raquib
authors: AR
authors: Ridwan
authors: Department of Neurology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.|School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Ines
authors: I
authors: Beiser
authors: Department of Neurology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.|School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Williams
authors: Department of Neurology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.|School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Eavan
authors: E
authors: McGovern
authors: Department of Neurology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.|School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Sean
authors: S
authors: O'Riordan
authors: Department of Neurology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.|School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Hutchinson
authors: Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse St, Dublin 2, Ireland.|School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.|School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Richard B
authors: RB
authors: Reilly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D065853:Spatial Learning; D014796:Visual Perception
keywords: P3; P3b; alpha; visual learning; visuospatial memory