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Dissociable implicit sequence learning mechanisms revealed by continuous theta-burst stimulation

journal contribution
posted on 2019-08-01, 00:00 authored by Gillian ClarkGillian Clark, Michael BarhamMichael Barham, A T Ware, J M A Plumridge, B O'Sullivan, K Lyons, T Fitzgibbon, B Buck, George YoussefGeorge Youssef, M T Ullman, Peter EnticottPeter Enticott, Jarrad LumJarrad Lum
The primary motor area (M1) has been implicated in visuomotor sequence learning. However, it has been suggested there are multiple neural networks that undertake visuomotor sequence learning. The role of M1 in sequence learning may be specific to learning simple sequences comprising predictable associations between adjacent movements. This study aimed to investigate the role of M1 in learning simple ("first-order conditional") and more complex ("second-order conditional") sequences. It was hypothesized that continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over M1 would result in poorer learning of the simple sequence only. Forty-eight healthy adults received cTBS to either M1 or the parietal lobe or received sham cTBS before immediately completing 2 visuomotor sequence learning tasks. The tasks only differed in relation to the structure (i.e., simple vs. complex) of the sequence. The group who received cTBS over M1 demonstrated significantly poorer learning of the simple sequence in comparison to the more complex sequence. The parietal lobe stimulation and sham stimulation did not affect learning of either sequence. This is the first study to show differential involvement of M1 in visuomotor sequence learning, dependent on sequence structure. The study provides new evidence that sequence learning might be supported by different networks in the brain. Specifically, M1 sequence learning appears to be important for learning simple item-to-item associations but not for more complex sequences.

History

Journal

Behavioral neuroscience

Volume

133

Issue

4

Pagination

341 - 349

Publisher

American Psychological Association

Location

Washington, D.C.

ISSN

0735-7044

eISSN

1939-0084

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2019, American Psychological Association