Functional MRI of motor sequence acquisition: effects of learning stage and performance.

Full Abstract

Neural networks of motor control are well understood and the motor domain therefore lends itself to the study of learning. Neuroimaging of motor learning has demonstrated fronto-parietal, subcortical, and cerebellar involvement. However, there is conflicting evidence on the specific functional contributions of individual regions and their relative importance for early and advanced stages of learning. Using functional MRI (fMRI), we examined hemodynamic effects in seven right-handed men during brief episodes of explicit learning of novel six-digit sequences (experiments 1 and 2) and during prolonged learning of an eight-digit sequence (experiment 3), all performed with the dominant hand. Brief episodes of new learning were predominantly associated with bilateral activations in premotor and supplementary motor areas, superior and inferior parietal cortices, and anterior cerebellum. In experiment 2, which included a control condition matched for complexity of motor execution, we also found unexpectedly strong activation in the bilateral inferior frontal lobes. In experiment 3, analysis of task by learning stage interactions showed greater involvement of the bilateral superior parietal lobes, the right middle frontal gyrus, and the left caudate nucleus during early stages, whereas left occipito-temporal and superior frontal cortex as well as the bilateral parahippocampal region were more activated during late learning stages. Analysis of task by performance interactions (based on each subject's response times and accuracy during each scan) showed effects in bilateral fronto-polar, right hippocampal, and anterior cerebellar regions associated with high levels of performance, as well as inverse effects in bilateral occipito-parietal regions. We conclude that superior parietal and occipital regions are most intensely involved in visually driven explicit digit sequence learning during early stages and low performance, whereas later stages of acquisition and higher levels of performance are characterized by stronger recruitment of prefrontal and mediotemporal regions.

Author information

Author/s: Müller, Ralph Axel (RA); Kleinhans, Natalia (N); Pierce, Karen (K); Kemmotsu, Nobuko (N); Courchesne, Eric (E);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, MC1863, 6363 Alvarado Ct. #200, San Diego, CA 92120, USA. amueller(-atsign-)sciences.sdsu.edu

Grants: MH36840 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

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

Journal: Brain research. Cognitive brain research (Brain Res Cogn Brain Res), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Aug; vol 14 (issue 2) : pp 277-93

Dates: Created 2002/06/17; Completed 2002/12/20; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12067701, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

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