The long-term goal of this research is to understand the dynamic changes in cortical activation which underlie implicit motor learning. In the current proposal we use the serial reaction time task (SRTT) of Nissen and Bullemer as a model of implicit motor learning and study functional activation in cortical motor areas during its performance using both blocked design and event-related fMRI.
The specific aims are as follows: (1) To study the neural substrate of learning in a variant of the SRTT in which subjects point to different sets of spatial targets, (2) to evaluate the functional correlates of an impairment in implicit learning which occurs under isometric conditions, (3) to determine the neural substrate of performance-based implicit learning in conditions in which the expression of learning is manipulated by varying the rate of stimulus presentation, and (4) to examine activation in cortical motor areas during learning in the SRTT using event-related fMRI. The data collected for each of the aims will enable us to address the following issues: (i) Which aspect of the motor behavior is encoded and what is its neural substrate, (ii) What is the role of proprioceptive feedback in implicit learning, and does the way in which it modulates functional activation inform us about the learning process itself, (iii) Will the dissociation we have observed between learning and performance be reflected in the differential activation of motor areas important for the translation of knowledge into action, and (iv) to what extent is learning reflected in changes in the relative timing of activation among cortical motor areas. As much of our motor behavior is based on implicit learning it is possible that implicit learning paradigms could be used beneficially for motor rehabilitation in stroke.
| Bares, Martin; Lungu, Ovidiu V; Liu, Tao et al. (2011) The neural substrate of predictive motor timing in spinocerebellar ataxia. Cerebellum 10:233-44 |
| Wächter, Tobias; Lungu, Ovidiu V; Liu, Tao et al. (2009) Differential effect of reward and punishment on procedural learning. J Neurosci 29:436-43 |
| Witt, Jessica K; Ashe, James; Willingham, Daniel T (2008) An egocentric frame of reference in implicit motor sequence learning. Psychol Res 72:542-52 |
| Lungu, Ovidiu V; Liu, Tao; Waechter, Tobias et al. (2007) Strategic modulation of cognitive control. J Cogn Neurosci 19:1302-15 |
| Knee, Robert; Thomason, Sean; Ashe, James et al. (2007) The representation of explicit motor sequence knowledge. Mem Cognit 35:326-33 |
| Bares, Martin; Lungu, Ovidiu; Liu, Tao et al. (2007) Impaired predictive motor timing in patients with cerebellar disorders. Exp Brain Res 180:355-65 |
| Liu, Tao; Lungu, Ovidiu V; Waechter, Tobias et al. (2007) Frames of reference during implicit and explicit learning. Exp Brain Res 180:273-80 |
| Keisler, Aysha; Willingham, Daniel T (2007) Non-declarative sequence learning does not show savings in relearning. Hum Mov Sci 26:247-56 |
| Seidler, R D; Tuite, P; Ashe, J (2007) Selective impairments in implicit learning in Parkinson's disease. Brain Res 1137:104-10 |
| Witt, Jessica K; Willingham, Daniel T (2006) Evidence for separate representations for action and location in implicit motor sequencing. Psychon Bull Rev 13:902-7 |
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