How effector-specific is the effect of sequence learning by motor execution and motor imagery?

Abstract

The aim of the present study was twofold. First, we wanted to examine how effector specific the effect of sequence learning by motor execution is, and second, we wanted to compare this effect with learning by motor imagery. We employed a Go/NoGo discrete sequence production task in which in each trial a spatial sequence of five stimuli was presented. After a Go signal the corresponding spatial response sequence had to be executed, while after a NoGo signal, the response sequence had to be mentally imagined. For the training phase, participants were divided into two groups. In the index finger group, participants had to respond (physically or mentally) with the left or right index finger, while in the hand group they had to respond with four fingers of the left or right hand. In a final test phase both execution modes were compared and all trials had to be executed. Response times and the percentage of correct responses were determined to establish learning effects. Results showed that sequence learning effects as assessed in the test phase were independent of the effector used during the training phase. Results revealed the presence of aspecific learning effects in the case of learning a required motor task with an index finger, but sequence-specific learning effects, both due to motor execution and to motor imagery, were not effector specific.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00221-017-5096-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Consolidation of motor sequence learning eliminates susceptibility of SMAproper to TMS: a combined rTMS and cTBS study

“…Behavioral research with this DSP task resulted in various cognitive models (Abrahamse et al 2013 ; Verwey 2001 ; Verwey et al 2015 ). In addition, a variety of DSP studies have explored the neural substrate of motor sequence learning using EEG (e.g., De Kleine and Van der Lubbe 2011 ; Sobierajewicz et al 2017 ), fMRI (Jouen et al 2013 ; Verwey et al 2019 ), and also TMS (Ruitenberg et al 2014 ; Verwey et al 2002 ). Those studies confirmed that the SMA is involved in executing practiced DSP sequences.…”

Do musicians learn a fine sequential hand motor skill differently than non-musicians?

“…As musicians have to train fine motor skills significantly more often than novices, learning related motor skills may be easier for musicians than for non-musicians. The learning of a motor skill is thought to involve both a motor and a more cognitive level [ 2 , 3 , 4 ], and recent research suggests that motor imagery may only be related to a cognitive level [ 5 ]. The potential benefit for musicians may thus be related to this cognitive and/or motor level, and one might propose that musicians additionally benefit from motor imagery.…”

“…The latter results suggest that relevant motor areas are activated during both motor execution and motor imagery, which corroborates with several earlier findings [ 8 , 9 ]. In another study, it was examined whether learning effects of motor execution and motor imagery were muscle-specific or not [ 5 ]. This was done by varying the execution mode as sequences were either learned with four fingers or only with the index fingers of both hands.…”

Análise da atividade metabólica cerebral em amputados traumáticos do membro inferior com dor do membro fantasma, através da Espectroscopia funcional do Infravermelho Próximo (fNIRS)

“…A imagética induz o aprendizado motor, conforme estudos sobre a reabilitação de pacientes com déficits motores, cognitivos ou intelectuais e aquisição ou aperfeiçoamento de habilidades esportivas, artísticas ou cirúrgicas 193,204,[205][206][207][208][209][210][211][212] . Contudo, o treinamento real é superior à imagética, que é superior à ausência de treino 204,205,212,213 .…”

“…Embora a capacidade de praticar imagética seja preservada nas pessoas amputadas, a literatura revela que a impossibilidade do movimento real e concreto pela ausência do membro, diminui a capacidade de imaginar, tornadoa mais difícil ou mesmo impossível 212,[231][232][233] com menor precisão do controle do movimento imaginário, à semelhança de pessoas com membros imobilizados, mesmo que por período temporário 204,206,209 .…”