Phase-dependent offline enhancement of human motor memory

Published by Elsevier Inc..

BACKGROUND: Skill learning engages offline activity in the primary motor cortex (M1). Sensorimotor cortical activity oscillates between excitatory trough and inhibitory peak phases of the mu (8-12 Hz) rhythm. We recently showed that these mu phases influence the magnitude and direction of neuroplasticity induction within M1. However, the contribution of M1 activity during mu peak and trough phases to human skill learning has not been investigated.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of phase-dependent TMS during mu peak and trough phases on offline learning of a newly-acquired motor skill.

METHODS: On Day 1, three groups of healthy adults practiced an explicit motor sequence learning task with their non-dominant left hand. After practice, phase-dependent TMS was applied to the right M1 during either mu peak or mu trough phases. The third group received sham TMS during random mu phases. On Day 2, all subjects were re-tested on the same task to evaluate offline learning.

RESULTS: Subjects who received phase-dependent TMS during mu trough phases showed increased offline skill learning compared to those who received phase-dependent TMS during mu peak phases or sham TMS during random mu phases. Additionally, phase-dependent TMS during mu trough phases elicited stronger whole-brain broadband oscillatory power responses than phase-dependent TMS during mu peak phases.

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that sensorimotor mu trough phases reflect brief windows of opportunity during which TMS can strengthen newly-acquired skill memories.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:14

Enthalten in:

Brain stimulation - 14(2021), 4 vom: 15. Juli, Seite 873-883

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Hussain, Sara J [VerfasserIn]
Vollmer, Mary K [VerfasserIn]
Stimely, Jessica [VerfasserIn]
Norato, Gina [VerfasserIn]
Zrenner, Christoph [VerfasserIn]
Ziemann, Ulf [VerfasserIn]
Buch, Ethan R [VerfasserIn]
Cohen, Leonardo G [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Journal Article
Memory
Motor learning
Oscillations
Phase
Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 24.11.2021

Date Revised 24.11.2021

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.brs.2021.05.009

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM325976570