title: The primary motor cortex is associated with learning the absolute, but not relative, timing dimension of a task: A tDCS study.
abstract: The functional role of the primary motor cortex (M1) in the production of movement parameters, such as length, direction and force, is well known; however, whether M1 is associated with the parametric adjustments in the absolute timing dimension of the task remains unknown. Previous studies have not applied tasks and analyses that could separate the absolute (variant) and relative (invariant) dimensions. We applied transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to M1 before motor practice to facilitate motor learning. A sequential key-pressing task was practiced with two goals: learning the relative timing dimension and learning the absolute timing dimension. All effects of the stimulation of M1 were observed only in the absolute dimension of the task. Mainly, the stimulation was associated with better performance in the transfer test in the absolute dimension. Taken together, our results indicate that M1 is an important area for learning the absolute timing dimension of a motor sequence.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, GEDAM, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tércio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Apolinário-Souza
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, INCT de Medicina Molecular, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Aurélio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Romano-Silva
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, INCT de Medicina Molecular, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Marques
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: de Miranda
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, INCT de Medicina Molecular, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro Fernandes
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Malloy-Diniz
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, GEDAM, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodolfo Novellino
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Benda
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, GEDAM, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ugrinowitsch
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, GEDAM, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Faculty of Medicine, INCT de Medicina Molecular, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address: menezeslage@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Guilherme Menezes
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lage
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009862:Online Systems; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D013998:Time Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; D014163:Transfer, Psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fast learning; Motor learning; Offline learning; Primary motor cortex (M1); Slow learning; Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)