Experience-dependent changes in cerebellar contributions to motor sequence learning.

Full Abstract

Studies in experimental animals and humans have stressed the role of the cerebellum in motor skill learning. Yet, the relative importance of the cerebellar cortex and deep nuclei, as well as the nature of the dynamic functional changes occurring between these and other motor-related structures during learning, remains in dispute. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and a motor sequence learning paradigm in humans, we found evidence of an experience-dependent shift of activation from the cerebellar cortex to the dentate nucleus during early learning, and from a cerebellar-cortical to a striatal-cortical network with extended practice. The results indicate that intrinsic modulation within the cerebellum, in concert with activation of motor-related cortical regions, serves to set up a procedurally acquired sequence of movements that is then maintained elsewhere in the brain.

Author information

Author/s: Doyon, Julien (J); Song, Allen W (AW); Karni, Avi (A); Lalonde, Francois (F); Adams, Michelle M (MM); Ungerleider, Leslie G (LG);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7. julien.doyan(-atsign-)umontreal.ca

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jan; vol 99 (issue 2) : pp 1017-22

Dates: Created 2002/01/23; Completed 2002/04/29; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 11805340, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

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