Rond, V. de (2015) Motor practice but not attentional alertness results in motor skill acquisition and motor memory consolidation in healthy young adults: A TMS study. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.
Full text available on request.Abstract
PURPOSE: Motor skill acquisition involves strong attentional elements, though it is unclear whether only keeping one’s attention elevated in the context of motor learning is sufficient. This study compared the effects of motor practice and the maintenance of attentional alertness only on motor skill acquisition and motor memory consolidation in healthy young adults. In addition, the underlying neuronal mechanisms were examined by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). METHODS: Healthy young adults (22.6 y) were assessed on visuomotor skill and TMS metrics, before, directly after and 24h after 20 minutes of motor practice (MP group; n = 12), attention to task only (AO group; n = 12), or reading control (C group; n = 12). RESULTS: The MP group improved visuomotor skill (56.9%) more than the AO group (22.1%; p < 0.01) and the C group (29.6%; p < 0.01). All improvements were stabilized after 24h (p = n.s.). Corticospinal excitability during task (%Mmax) increased more 24h after intervention in the MP group, compared to the OA group (p < 0.01) and the C group (p < 0.01), which both showed a relative decrease. There was an increase in cortical silent period after intervention for the MP and the OA group combined (p < 0.05). No correlations were found between these TMS metrics and either motor skill acquisition or motor memory consolidation. CONCLUSIONS: Motor practice can produce motor skill acquisition and motor memory consolidation, whereas attentional alertness only results in a familiarization effect. This conclusion is limited by a lack of direct data on the level of attention. Furthermore, specific forms of motor cortical inhibition and excitability might be involved in mediating the practice and consolidation effects.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Hortobágyi, prof. dr. T. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 03 May 2022 09:30 |
| Last Modified: | 03 May 2022 09:30 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3182 |
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