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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 LumThe 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 neuroscienceVolume
133Issue
4Pagination
341 - 349Publisher
American Psychological AssociationLocation
Washington, D.C.Publisher DOI
ISSN
0735-7044eISSN
1939-0084Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2019, American Psychological AssociationUsage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
implicit sequence learningprocedural memoryserial reaction time task (SRTT)transcranial magnetic stimulationScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineBehavioral SciencesNeurosciencesNeurosciences & NeurologyREACTION-TIME-TASKPRIMARY MOTOR CORTEXEARLY CONSOLIDATIONORDERPERFORMANCEATTENTIONNETWORKSREFLECTSLANGUAGECONTEXT
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