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Lee JY, Jung D, Royer S. Stochastic characterization of navigation strategies in an automated variant of the Barnes maze. eLife 2024; 12:RP88648. [PMID: 38899521 PMCID: PMC11189626 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals can use a repertoire of strategies to navigate in an environment, and it remains an intriguing question how these strategies are selected based on the nature and familiarity of environments. To investigate this question, we developed a fully automated variant of the Barnes maze, characterized by 24 vestibules distributed along the periphery of a circular arena, and monitored the trajectories of mice over 15 days as they learned to navigate towards a goal vestibule from a random start vestibule. We show that the patterns of vestibule visits can be reproduced by the combination of three stochastic processes reminiscent of random, serial, and spatial strategies. The processes randomly selected vestibules based on either uniform (random) or biased (serial and spatial) probability distributions. They closely matched experimental data across a range of statistical distributions characterizing the length, distribution, step size, direction, and stereotypy of vestibule sequences, revealing a shift from random to spatial and serial strategies over time, with a strategy switch occurring approximately every six vestibule visits. Our study provides a novel apparatus and analysis toolset for tracking the repertoire of navigation strategies and demonstrates that a set of stochastic processes can largely account for exploration patterns in the Barnes maze.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Young Lee
- Center for Functional Connectomics, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)SeoulRepublic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST)SeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Dahee Jung
- Center for Functional Connectomics, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)SeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Sebastien Royer
- Center for Functional Connectomics, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)SeoulRepublic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST)SeoulRepublic of Korea
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2
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Janus A, Lustyk K, Pytka K. MK-801 and cognitive functions: Investigating the behavioral effects of a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:2435-2457. [PMID: 37725119 PMCID: PMC10640442 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06454-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE MK-801 (dizocilpine) is a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist originally explored for anticonvulsant potential. Despite its original purpose, its amnestic properties led to the development of pivotal models of various cognitive impairments widely employed in research and greatly impacting scientific progress. MK-801 offers several advantages; however, it also presents drawbacks, including inducing dose-dependent hyperlocomotion or ambiguous effects on anxiety, which can impact the interpretation of behavioral research results. OBJECTIVES The present review attempts to summarize and discuss the effects of MK-801 on different types of memory and cognitive functions in animal studies. RESULTS A plethora of behavioral research suggests that MK-801 can detrimentally impact cognitive functions. The specific effect of this compound is influenced by variables including developmental stage, gender, species, strain, and, crucially, the administered dose. Notably, when considering the undesirable effects of MK-801, doses up to 0.1 mg/kg were found not to induce stereotypy or hyperlocomotion. CONCLUSION Dizocilpine continues to be of significant importance in preclinical research, facilitating the exploration of various procognitive therapeutic agents. However, given its potential undesirable effects, it is imperative to meticulously determine the appropriate dosages and conduct supplementary evaluations for any undesirable outcomes, which could complicate the interpretation of the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Janus
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Krakow, Poland
| | - Klaudia Lustyk
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Krakow, Poland
| | - Karolina Pytka
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Krakow, Poland.
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3
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Sadeghi A, Ghahari L, Yousefpour M, Khazaeel K, Zareian P. Inhalation exposure to crude oil vapor induces behavioural deficits by increasing oxidative stress and histopathological changes in rat hippocampus: Quercetin therapeutic approach. J Chem Neuroanat 2023; 131:102290. [PMID: 37225059 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2023.102290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Inhalation exposure to crude oil vapor (COV) and petroleum products is considered responsible for neurobehavioral toxicity in human and animal models. The antioxidant activity of quercetin (Que) and its derivatives are promising for protecting the hippocampus. This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective role of Que against COV-induced behavioral alterations and hippocampus damage. METHODS Eighteen adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following three groups (n = 6): the control, the COV, and the COV + Que group. The inhalation method was used to expose the rats to crude oil vapors for 5 h daily, and Que (50 mg/kg) was administered orally. After 30 days of treatment, the spatial working memory and anxiety levels were evaluated using the cross-arm maze and elevated plus maze (EPM), respectively. TUNEL assay and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining were used to identify the necrosis, normal and apoptotic cells in the hippocampus. Moreover, the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were investigated in the hippocampus tissue. RESULTS The results indicated that exposure to COV was associated with a significant decrease in spatial working memory and activity of CAT, TAC, SOD, and GPx enzymes compared to the control (P < 0.05). Moreover, COV significantly increased the level of anxiety, MDA, and hippocampal apoptosis (P < 0.05). The simultaneous administration of quercetin along with exposure to COV improved the behavioral alterations, activity of antioxidant enzymes, and hippocampal apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that quercetin prevents COV-induced hippocampal damage by enhancing the antioxidant system and preventing cell apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Sadeghi
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Laya Ghahari
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mitra Yousefpour
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kaveh Khazaeel
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Parvin Zareian
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Gillouin PA, Mattatia D, Bouvet C. Virtual reality for clinical evaluation and treatment in schizophrenia: a systematic review. PSYCHOSIS 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/17522439.2023.2197030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Antoine Gillouin
- Laboratoire de psychologique clinique UR CLIPSYD EA4430, Department of Psychology, Université Paris-Nanterre, Nanterre, France
| | - David Mattatia
- Laboratoire de psychologique clinique UR CLIPSYD EA4430, Department of Psychology, Université Paris-Nanterre, Nanterre, France
| | - Cyrille Bouvet
- Laboratoire de psychologique clinique UR CLIPSYD EA4430, Department of Psychology, Université Paris-Nanterre, Nanterre, France
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Terstege DJ, Epp JR. Network Neuroscience Untethered: Brain-Wide Immediate Early Gene Expression for the Analysis of Functional Connectivity in Freely Behaving Animals. BIOLOGY 2022; 12:biology12010034. [PMID: 36671727 PMCID: PMC9855808 DOI: 10.3390/biology12010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Studying how spatially discrete neuroanatomical regions across the brain interact is critical to advancing our understanding of the brain. Traditional neuroimaging techniques have led to many important discoveries about the nature of these interactions, termed functional connectivity. However, in animal models these traditional neuroimaging techniques have generally been limited to anesthetized or head-fixed setups or examination of small subsets of neuroanatomical regions. Using the brain-wide expression density of immediate early genes (IEG), we can assess brain-wide functional connectivity underlying a wide variety of behavioural tasks in freely behaving animal models. Here, we provide an overview of the necessary steps required to perform IEG-based analyses of functional connectivity. We also outline important considerations when designing such experiments and demonstrate the implications of these considerations using an IEG-based network dataset generated for the purpose of this review.
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Vijayabaskaran S, Cheng S. Navigation task and action space drive the emergence of egocentric and allocentric spatial representations. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010320. [PMID: 36315587 PMCID: PMC9648855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In general, strategies for spatial navigation could employ one of two spatial reference frames: egocentric or allocentric. Notwithstanding intuitive explanations, it remains unclear however under what circumstances one strategy is chosen over another, and how neural representations should be related to the chosen strategy. Here, we first use a deep reinforcement learning model to investigate whether a particular type of navigation strategy arises spontaneously during spatial learning without imposing a bias onto the model. We then examine the spatial representations that emerge in the network to support navigation. To this end, we study two tasks that are ethologically valid for mammals—guidance, where the agent has to navigate to a goal location fixed in allocentric space, and aiming, where the agent navigates to a visible cue. We find that when both navigation strategies are available to the agent, the solutions it develops for guidance and aiming are heavily biased towards the allocentric or the egocentric strategy, respectively, as one might expect. Nevertheless, the agent can learn both tasks using either type of strategy. Furthermore, we find that place-cell-like allocentric representations emerge preferentially in guidance when using an allocentric strategy, whereas egocentric vector representations emerge when using an egocentric strategy in aiming. We thus find that alongside the type of navigational strategy, the nature of the task plays a pivotal role in the type of spatial representations that emerge. Most species rely on navigation in space to find water, food, and mates, as well as to return home. When navigating, humans and animals can use one of two reference frames: one based on stable landmarks in the external environment, such as moving due north and then east, or one centered on oneself, such as moving forward and turning left. However, it remains unclear how these reference frames are chosen and interact in navigation tasks, as well as how they are supported by representations in the brain. We therefore modeled two navigation tasks that would each benefit from using one of these reference frames, and trained an artificial agent to learn to solve them through trial and error. Our results show that when given the choice, the agent leveraged the appropriate reference frame to solve the task, but surprisingly could also use the other reference frame when constrained to do so. We also show that the representations that emerge to enable the agent to solve the tasks exist on a spectrum, and are more complex than commonly thought. These representations reflect both the task and reference frame being used, and provide useful insights for the design of experimental tasks to study the use of navigational strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sen Cheng
- Faculty of Computer Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Chen BW, Yang SH, Kuo CH, Chen JW, Lo YC, Kuo YT, Lin YC, Chang HC, Lin SH, Yu X, Qu B, Ro SCV, Lai HY, Chen YY. Neuro-Inspired Reinforcement Learning To Improve Trajectory Prediction In Reward-Guided Behavior. Int J Neural Syst 2022; 32:2250038. [DOI: 10.1142/s0129065722500381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Zorzo C, Arias JL, Méndez M. Functional neuroanatomy of allocentric remote spatial memory in rodents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 136:104609. [PMID: 35278596 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Successful spatial cognition involves learning, consolidation, storage, and later retrieval of a spatial memory trace. The functional contributions of specific brain areas and their interactions during retrieval of past spatial events are unclear. This systematic review collects studies about allocentric remote spatial retrieval assessed at least two weeks post-acquisition in rodents. Results including non-invasive interventions, brain lesion and inactivation experiments, pharmacological treatments, chemical agent administration, and genetic manipulations revealed that there is a normal forgetting when time-periods are close to or exceed one month. Moreover, changes in the morphology and functionality of neocortical areas, hippocampus, and other subcortical structures, such as the thalamus, have been extensively observed as a result of spatial memory retrieval. In conclusion, apart from an increasingly neocortical recruitment in remote spatial retrieval, the hippocampus seems to participate in the retrieval of fine spatial details. These results help to better understand the timing of memory maintenance and normal forgetting, outlining the underlying brain areas implicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela Zorzo
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Neuroscience Institute of Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA).
| | - Jorge L Arias
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Neuroscience Institute of Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA).
| | - Marta Méndez
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Neuroscience Institute of Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA).
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Fiedler J, De Leonibus E, Treves A. Has the hippocampus really forgotten about space? Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 71:164-169. [PMID: 34847486 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence, including the discovery of place cells, have contributed to the notion that the hippocampus serves primarily to navigate the environment, as a repository of spatial memories, like a drawer full of charts; and that in some species it has exapted on this original one an episodic memory function. We argue that recent evidence questions the primacy of space, and points at memory load, whether spatial or not, as the challenge that mammalian hippocampal circuitry has evolved to meet.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alessandro Treves
- SISSA - Cognitive Neuroscience, Trieste, Italy; Kavli Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.
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10
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Shan X, Contreras MP, Mendez M, Born J, Inostroza M. Unfolding of spatial representation at systems level in infant rats. Hippocampus 2021; 32:121-133. [PMID: 34786798 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Spatial representations enable navigation from early life on. However, the brain regions essential to form spatial representations, like the hippocampus, are considered functionally immature before weaning. Here, we examined the formation of representations of space in rat pups on postnatal day (PD) 16, using a simple habituation paradigm where the pups were exposed to an arena on three occasions, separated by ~140 min. Whereas on the first two occasions the arena was the same, on the third "test" occasion either proximal cues (Prox group), or distal cues (Dist group), or proximal and distal cues (Prox-Dist group), or no cues (No-change group) were rearranged. Locomotion (distance traveled) was used as behavioral measure of habituation, and c-Fos expression to measure regional brain activity at test. Locomotion generally decreased across the first two occasions. At test, it reached a minimum in the No-change group, indicating familiarity with the spatial conditions. By contrast, the Prox-Dist group displayed a significant increase in locomotion which was less robust in the Prox group and absent in the Dist group, a pattern suggesting that the pups relied more on proximal than distal cues during spatial exploration. c-Fos activity in the No-change group was significantly suppressed in the hippocampus (CA1, CA3, dentate gyrus) but simultaneously enhanced in the prelimbic area (PL) of the medial prefrontal cortex, compared with untreated Home-cage controls, pointing to a possible involvement of the PL in regulating locomotion in familiar spaces. By contrast, in both Prox-Dist and Prox groups c-Fos activity was enhanced in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions, suggesting these regions might be particularly involved in regulating exploration of spatial novelty. Our findings show that functional representations of space at a systems level are formed already in pre-weanling rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Shan
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Graduate School of Neural & Behavioral Science, International Max Planck Research School, Tübingen, Germany
| | - María P Contreras
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Graduate School of Neural & Behavioral Science, International Max Planck Research School, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marta Mendez
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Jan Born
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Institute for Diabetes Research & Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Tübingen (IDM), Tübingen, Germany.,Werner Reichert Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marion Inostroza
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Dissociative Effects of Neuropeptide S Receptor Deficiency and Nasal Neuropeptide S Administration on T-Maze Discrimination and Reversal Learning. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14070643. [PMID: 34358069 PMCID: PMC8308873 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility refers to the ability to modify learned behavior in response to changes in the environment. In laboratory rodents, cognitive flexibility can be assessed in reversal learning, i.e., the change of contingencies, for example in T-maze discrimination learning. The present study investigated the role of the neuropeptide S (NPS) system in cognitive flexibility. In the first experiment, mice deficient of NPS receptors (NPSR) were tested in T-maze discrimination and reversal learning. In the second experiment, C57BL/6J mice were tested in the T-maze after nasal administration of NPS. Finally, the effect of nasal NPS on locomotor activity was evaluated. NPSR deficiency positively affected the acquisition of T-maze discrimination but had no effects on reversal learning. Nasal NPS administration facilitated reversal learning and supported an allocentric learning strategy without affecting acquisition of the task or locomotor activity. Taken together, the present data show that the NPS system is able to modulate both acquisition of T-maze discrimination and its reversal learning. However, NPSR deficiency only improved discrimination learning, while nasal NPS administration only improved reversal learning, i.e., cognitive flexibility. These effects, which at first glance appear to be contradictory, could be due to the different roles of the NPS system in the brain regions that are important for learning and cognitive flexibility.
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Apolinário-Souza T, Ferreira BDP, de Oliveira JRV, Nogueira NGDHM, Pinto JAR, Lage GM. Mental practice is associated with learning the relative timing dimension of a task. J Mot Behav 2020; 53:727-736. [PMID: 33234047 DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2020.1852156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Learning about the relative timing dimension of a motor skill is enhanced by factors that promote higher response stability between trials. Conversely, learning the absolute timing dimension is favored by lower trial-to-trial stability. The mental practice may increase response stability during acquisition since there is a low possibility of adjustments made between trials. Thus, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that some factors that increase response stability during the acquisition phase contribute to an enhanced relative timing dimension learning. Our hypothesis is that mental practice shows less relative timing error than the absence of practice. A sequential key-pressing task was practiced with two goals: learn (1) relative timing dimension and (2) absolute timing dimension. Participants were assigned to one of three groups: Physical, Mental, or No practice. The Physical group showed greater learning of both dimensions than the other two groups. The Mental group showed greater learning of relative timing dimension than the No practice group. The results suggest that mental practice produces increased stability, which in turn promotes learning of the relative timing dimension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tércio Apolinário-Souza
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Minas Gerais State University, Ibirité, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - João Roberto Ventura de Oliveira
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Minas Gerais State University, Ibirité, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | - Guilherme Menezes Lage
- Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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