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Carroll AM, Pruitt DT, Riley JR, Danaphongse TT, Rennaker RL, Engineer CT, Hays SA, Kilgard MP. Vagus nerve stimulation during training fails to improve learning in healthy rats. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18955. [PMID: 39147873 PMCID: PMC11327266 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69666-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Learning new skills requires neuroplasticity. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) during sensory and motor events can increase neuroplasticity in networks related to these events and might therefore serve to facilitate learning on sensory and motor tasks. We tested if VNS could broadly improve learning on a wide variety of tasks across different skill domains in healthy, female adult rats. VNS was paired with presentation of stimuli or on successful trials during training, strategies known to facilitate plasticity and improve recovery in models of neurological disorders. VNS failed to improve either rate of learning or performance for any of the tested tasks, which included skilled forelimb motor control, speech sound discrimination, and paired-associates learning. These results contrast recent findings from multiple labs which found VNS pairing during training produced learning enhancements across motor, auditory, and cognitive domains. We speculate that these contrasting results may be explained by key differences in task designs, training timelines and animal handling approaches, and that while VNS may be able to facilitate rapid and early learning processes in healthy subjects, it does not broadly enhance learning for difficult tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan M Carroll
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA.
| | - David T Pruitt
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Jonathan R Riley
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Tanya T Danaphongse
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Robert L Rennaker
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Crystal T Engineer
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Seth A Hays
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Michael P Kilgard
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
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Roth RH, Ding JB. Cortico-basal ganglia plasticity in motor learning. Neuron 2024; 112:2486-2502. [PMID: 39002543 PMCID: PMC11309896 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.06.014] [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] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
One key function of the brain is to control our body's movements, allowing us to interact with the world around us. Yet, many motor behaviors are not innate but require learning through repeated practice. Among the brain's motor regions, the cortico-basal ganglia circuit is particularly crucial for acquiring and executing motor skills, and neuronal activity in these regions is directly linked to movement parameters. Cell-type-specific adaptations of activity patterns and synaptic connectivity support the learning of new motor skills. Functionally, neuronal activity sequences become structured and associated with learned movements. On the synaptic level, specific connections become potentiated during learning through mechanisms such as long-term synaptic plasticity and dendritic spine dynamics, which are thought to mediate functional circuit plasticity. These synaptic and circuit adaptations within the cortico-basal ganglia circuitry are thus critical for motor skill acquisition, and disruptions in this plasticity can contribute to movement disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard H Roth
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
| | - Jun B Ding
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; The Phil & Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience at the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Suresh T, Iwane F, Zhang M, McElmurry M, Manesiya M, Freedberg MV, Hussain SJ. Motor sequence learning-induced corticospinal plasticity is biased towards sensorimotor mu rhythm peak phases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.31.606022. [PMID: 39211097 PMCID: PMC11361050 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.31.606022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Motor cortical (M1) transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) increases corticospinal output and improves motor learning when delivered during sensorimotor mu rhythm trough but not peak phases, suggesting that mechanisms supporting motor learning may be most active during mu trough phases. If so, learning-related corticospinal plasticity should be most evident during mu trough phases. Healthy adults were assigned to either a sequence or control group. Participants in the sequence group practiced the implicit serial reaction time task (SRTT), which contained an embedded, repeating 12-item sequence. Participants in the control group practiced a version of the SRTT that contained no sequence. We measured mu phase-independent and phase-dependent MEP amplitudes using EEG-informed single-pulse TMS before, immediately, and 30 minutes after the SRTT in both groups. All participants performed a retention test one hour after SRTT acquisition. In both groups, mu phase-independent MEP amplitudes increased following SRTT acquisition, but the pattern of mu phase-dependent MEP amplitude increases after SRTT acquisition differed between groups. MEP amplitude changes from baseline to 30 minutes after SRTT acquisition more strongly differed across phases in the control relative to the sequence group, with the control group showing smaller increases in peak- than trough-specific MEPs. Contrary to our original hypothesis, results revealed that sequence learning recruits peak- rather than trough-specific neurophysiological mechanisms. Overall, these findings suggest that mu peak phases may provide protected time windows for motor memory consolidation and demonstrate the presence of a mu phase-dependent motor learning mechanism in the human brain. Significance statement Recent work suggests that the neurophysiological mechanisms supporting motor learning may be most active during sensorimotor mu rhythm trough phases. Here, we evaluated this possibility by measuring mu phase-dependent corticospinal plasticity induced by motor sequence learning. Results provide first evidence that motor sequence learning produced corticospinal plasticity that was more pronounced during mu peak than trough phases, demonstrating the presence of a phase-dependent learning mechanism within the human motor system.
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Brown JC, Kweon J, Sharma P, Siddiqi SH, Isserles M, Ressler KJ. Critically Assessing the Unanswered Questions of How, Where, and When to Induce Plasticity in the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Network With Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01390-8. [PMID: 38909668 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Extinction of traumatic memory, a primary treatment approach (termed exposure therapy) in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), occurs through relearning and may be subserved at the molecular level by long-term potentiation of relevant circuits. In parallel, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is thought to work through long-term potentiation-like mechanisms and may provide a novel, safe, and effective treatment for PTSD. In a recent failed randomized controlled trial we emphasized the necessity of correctly identifying cortical targets, the directionality of TMS protocols, and the role of memory activation. Here, we provide a systematic review of TMS for PTSD to further identify how, where, and when TMS treatment should be delivered to alleviate PTSD symptoms. We conducted a systematic review of the literature by searching for repetitive TMS clinical trials involving patients with PTSD and outcomes. We searched MEDLINE through October 25, 2023, for "TMS and PTSD" and "transcranial magnetic stimulation and posttraumatic stress disorder." Thirty-one publications met our inclusion criteria (k = 17 randomized controlled trials, k = 14 open label). Randomized controlled trial protocols were varied in terms of TMS protocols, cortical TMS targets, and memory activation protocols. There was no clear superiority of low-frequency (k = 5) versus high-frequency (k = 6) protocols or by stimulation location. Memory provocation or exposure protocols (k = 7) appear to enhance response. Overall, TMS appears to be effective in treating PTSD symptoms across a variety of TMS frequencies, hemispheric target differences, and exposure protocols. Disparate protocols may be conceptually harmonized when viewed as potentiating proposed anxiolytic networks or suppressing anxiogenic networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua C Brown
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Jamie Kweon
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Prayushi Sharma
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Shan H Siddiqi
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Moshe Isserles
- Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Lin J, Li J, Huang J, Li S, Sun J, Liu J. Enhancement of Motor Learning and Corticospinal Excitability: The Role of Electroacupuncture and Motor Training in Healthy Volunteers. Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e943748. [PMID: 38853414 PMCID: PMC11177720 DOI: 10.12659/msm.943748] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study embarked on an innovative exploration to elucidate the effects of integrating electroacupuncture (EA) with motor training (MT) on enhancing corticospinal excitability and motor learning. Central to this investigation is the interplay between homeostatic and non-homeostatic metaplasticity processes, providing insights into how these combined interventions may influence neural plasticity and motor skill acquisition. MATERIAL AND METHODS The investigation enrolled 20 healthy volunteers, subjecting them to 4 distinct interventions to parse out the individual and combined effects of EA and MT. These interventions were EA alone, MT alone, EA-priming followed by MT, and MT-priming followed by EA. The assessment of changes in primary motor cortex (M1) excitability was conducted through motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), while the grooved pegboard test (GPT) was used to evaluate alterations in motor performance. RESULTS The findings revealed that EA and MT independently contributed to enhanced M1 excitability and motor performance. However, the additional priming with EA or MT did not yield further modulation in MEPs amplitudes. Notably, EA-priming was associated with improved GPT completion times, underscoring its potential in facilitating motor learning. CONCLUSIONS The study underscores that while EA and MT individually augment motor cortex excitability and performance, their synergistic application does not further enhance or inhibit cortical excitability. This points to the involvement of non-homeostatic metaplasticity mechanisms. Nonetheless, EA emerges as a critical tool in preventing M1 overstimulation, thereby continuously fostering motor learning. The findings call for further research into the strategic application of EA, whether in isolation or with MT, within clinical settings to optimize rehabilitation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Lin
- Group for Acupuncture Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jiemei Li
- Group for Acupuncture Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
- Guangzhou Zengcheng District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jianpeng Huang
- Group for Acupuncture Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Sheng Li
- Group for Acupuncture Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jian Sun
- Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jianhua Liu
- Group for Acupuncture Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
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Le Cong D, Sato D, Ikarashi K, Ochi G, Fujimoto T, Yamashiro K. No effect of whole-hand water flow stimulation on skill acquisition and retention during sensorimotor adaptation. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1398164. [PMID: 38911224 PMCID: PMC11190340 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1398164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Repetitive somatosensory stimulation (RSS) is a conventional approach to modulate the neural states of both the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and the primary motor cortex (M1). However, the impact of RSS on skill acquisition and retention in sensorimotor adaptation remains debated. This study aimed to investigate whether whole-hand water flow (WF), a unique RSS-induced M1 disinhibition, influences sensorimotor adaptation by examining the hypothesis that whole-hand WF leads to M1 disinhibition; thereby, enhancing motor memory retention. Methods Sixty-eight young healthy participants were randomly allocated to three groups based on the preconditioning received before motor learning: control, whole-hand water immersion (WI), and whole-hand WF. The experimental protocol for all the participants spanned two consecutive days. On the initial day (day 1), baseline transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) assessments (T0) were executed before any preconditioning. Subsequently, each group underwent their respective 30 min preconditioning protocol. To ascertain the influence of each preconditioning on the excitability of the M1, subsequent TMS assessments were conducted (T1). Following this, all participants engaged in the motor learning (ML) of a visuomotor tracking task, wherein they were instructed to align a cursor with a target trajectory by modulating the pinch force. Upon completion of the ML session, final TMS assessments (T2) were conducted. All participants were required to perform the same motor learning 24 h later on day 2. Results The results revealed that whole-hand WF did not significantly influence skill acquisition during sensorimotor adaptation, although it did reduce intracortical inhibition. This phenomenon is consistent with the idea that S1, rather than M1, is involved in skill acquisition during the early stages of sensorimotor adaptation. Moreover, memory retention 24 h after skill acquisition did not differ significantly across the three groups, challenging our initial hypothesis that whole-hand WF enhances memory retention throughout sensorimotor adaptation. This could be due to the inability of whole-hand WF to alter sensorimotor connectivity and integration, as well as the nature of the plastic response elicited by the preconditioning. Discussion In conclusion, these findings suggest that although whole-hand WF attenuates intracortical inhibition, it does not modulate skill acquisition or motor memory retention during sensorimotor adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dat Le Cong
- Major in Health and Welfare, Graduate School of Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sato
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
- Sports Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Koyuki Ikarashi
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
- Sports Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Genta Ochi
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
- Sports Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Tomomi Fujimoto
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
- Sports Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Koya Yamashiro
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
- Sports Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
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Villar Ortega E, Buetler KA, Aksöz EA, Marchal-Crespo L. Enhancing touch sensibility with sensory electrical stimulation and sensory retraining. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2024; 21:79. [PMID: 38750521 PMCID: PMC11096118 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-024-01371-4] [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] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
A large proportion of stroke survivors suffer from sensory loss, negatively impacting their independence, quality of life, and neurorehabilitation prognosis. Despite the high prevalence of somatosensory impairments, our understanding of somatosensory interventions such as sensory electrical stimulation (SES) in neurorehabilitation is limited. We aimed to study the effectiveness of SES combined with a sensory discrimination task in a well-controlled virtual environment in healthy participants, setting a foundation for its potential application in stroke rehabilitation. We employed electroencephalography (EEG) to gain a better understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms and dynamics associated with sensory training and SES. We conducted a single-session experiment with 26 healthy participants who explored a set of three visually identical virtual textures-haptically rendered by a robotic device and that differed in their spatial period-while physically guided by the robot to identify the odd texture. The experiment consisted of three phases: pre-intervention, intervention, and post-intervention. Half the participants received subthreshold whole-hand SES during the intervention, while the other half received sham stimulation. We evaluated changes in task performance-assessed by the probability of correct responses-before and after intervention and between groups. We also evaluated differences in the exploration behavior, e.g., scanning speed. EEG was employed to examine the effects of the intervention on brain activity, particularly in the alpha frequency band (8-13 Hz) associated with sensory processing. We found that participants in the SES group improved their task performance after intervention and their scanning speed during and after intervention, while the sham group did not improve their task performance. However, the differences in task performance improvements between groups only approached significance. Furthermore, we found that alpha power was sensitive to the effects of SES; participants in the stimulation group exhibited enhanced brain signals associated with improved touch sensitivity likely due to the effects of SES on the central nervous system, while the increase in alpha power for the sham group was less pronounced. Our findings suggest that SES enhances texture discrimination after training and has a positive effect on sensory-related brain areas. Further research involving brain-injured patients is needed to confirm the potential benefit of our solution in neurorehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Villar Ortega
- Motor Learning and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Karin A Buetler
- Motor Learning and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Efe Anil Aksöz
- rehaLab-The Laboratory for Rehabilitation Engineering, Institute for Human Centred Engineering HuCE, Division of Mechatronics and Systems Engineering, Department of Engineering and Information Technology, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Biel, Switzerland
| | - Laura Marchal-Crespo
- Motor Learning and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Cognitive Robotics, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Bogard AT, Hembree TG, Pollet AK, Smith AC, Ryder SC, Marzloff G, Tan AQ. Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Enhancements in Corticospinal Excitability Predict Gains in Motor Learning and Metabolic Efficiency. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4259378. [PMID: 38746438 PMCID: PMC11092812 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4259378/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) enhances human motor function after incomplete spinal cord injury. Although the underlying mechanisms in humans are unknown, emerging evidence indicates that AIH facilitates corticospinal excitability to the upper limb. However, the functional relevance of this plasticity remains unexplored, and it is unclear whether similar plasticity can be induced for lower limb motor areas. We recently demonstrated that AIH improves motor learning and metabolic efficiency during split-belt walking. Thus, we hypothesized that AIH increases lower limb excitability and that these enhancements would predict the magnitude of motor learning and the corresponding reductions in net metabolic power. We assessed tibialis anterior (TA) excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation and quantified changes in spatiotemporal asymmetries and net metabolic power in response to split-belt speed perturbations. We show that AIH enhances TA excitability, and that the magnitude of this facilitation positively correlates with greater spatiotemporal adaptation. Notably, we demonstrate a novel association between increased excitability and reduced net metabolic power during motor learning and savings. Together, our results suggest that AIH-induced gains in excitability predict both the magnitude of motor learning and the associated metabolic efficiency. Determining indices of AIH-induced improvements in motor performance is critical for optimizing its therapeutic reach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alysha T. Bogard
- Sensorimotor Recovery and Neuroplasticity Lab at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Dept. of Integrative Physiology, 80309, USA
| | - Thomas G. Hembree
- Sensorimotor Recovery and Neuroplasticity Lab at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Dept. of Integrative Physiology, 80309, USA
| | - Aviva K. Pollet
- Sensorimotor Recovery and Neuroplasticity Lab at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Dept. of Integrative Physiology, 80309, USA
| | - Andrew C. Smith
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Aurora, 80045, USA
| | | | - George Marzloff
- Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, 80045, USA
| | - Andrew Q. Tan
- Sensorimotor Recovery and Neuroplasticity Lab at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Dept. of Integrative Physiology, 80309, USA
- Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, 80045, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, 80309, USA
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Kim H, King BR, Verwey WB, Buchanan JJ, Wright DL. Timing of transcranial direct current stimulation at M1 does not affect motor sequence learning. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25905. [PMID: 38370203 PMCID: PMC10869848 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25905] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Administering anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) at the primary motor cortex (M1) at various temporal loci relative to motor training is reported to affect subsequent performance gains. Stimulation administered in conjunction with motor training appears to offer the most robust benefit that emerges during offline epochs. This conclusion is made, however, based on between-experiment comparisons that involved varied methodologies. The present experiment addressed this shortcoming by administering the same 15-minute dose of anodal tDCS at M1 before, during, or after practice of a serial reaction time task (SRTT). It was anticipated that exogenous stimulation during practice with a novel SRTT would facilitate offline gains. Ninety participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: tDCS before practice, tDCS during practice, tDCS after practice, or no tDCS. Each participant was exposed to 15 min of 2 mA of tDCS and motor training of an eight-element SRTT. The anode was placed at the right M1 with the cathode at the left M1, and the left hand was used to execute the SRTT. Test blocks were administered 1 and 24 h after practice concluded. The results revealed significant offline gain for all conditions at the 1-hour and 24-hour test blocks. Importantly, exposure to anodal tDCS at M1 at any point before, during, or after motor training failed to change the trajectory of skill development as compared to the no-stimulation control condition. These data add to the growing body of evidence questioning the efficacy of a single bout of exogenous stimulation as an adjunct to motor training for fostering skill learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hakjoo Kim
- Motor Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Bradley R. King
- Lifespan Motor Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Willem B. Verwey
- Section Cognition, Data & Education, Department of Learning, Data-Analytics and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - John J. Buchanan
- Motor Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - David L. Wright
- Motor Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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Taylor EM, Cadwallader CJ, Curtin D, Chong TTJ, Hendrikse JJ, Coxon JP. High-intensity acute exercise impacts motor learning in healthy older adults. NPJ SCIENCE OF LEARNING 2024; 9:9. [PMID: 38368455 PMCID: PMC10874400 DOI: 10.1038/s41539-024-00220-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Healthy aging is associated with changes in motor sequence learning, with some studies indicating decline in motor skill learning in older age. Acute cardiorespiratory exercise has emerged as a potential intervention to improve motor learning, however research in healthy older adults is limited. The current study investigated the impact of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIT) on a subsequent sequential motor learning task. Twenty-four older adults (aged 55-75 years) completed either 20-minutes of cycling, or an equivalent period of active rest before practicing a sequential force grip task. Skill learning was assessed during acquisition and at a 6-hour retention test. In contrast to expectation, exercise was associated with reduced accuracy during skill acquisition compared to rest, particularly for the oldest participants. However, improvements in motor skill were retained in the exercise condition, while a reduction in skill was observed following rest. Our findings indicate that high-intensity exercise conducted immediately prior to learning a novel motor skill may have a negative impact on motor performance during learning in older adults. We also demonstrated that exercise may facilitate early offline consolidation of a motor skill within this population, which has implications for motor rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor M Taylor
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Claire J Cadwallader
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Dylan Curtin
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Trevor T-J Chong
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3065, Australia
| | - Joshua J Hendrikse
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - James P Coxon
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.
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Inoue R, Nishimune H. Neuronal Plasticity and Age-Related Functional Decline in the Motor Cortex. Cells 2023; 12:2142. [PMID: 37681874 PMCID: PMC10487126 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172142] [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: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Physiological aging causes a decline of motor function due to impairment of motor cortex function, losses of motor neurons and neuromuscular junctions, sarcopenia, and frailty. There is increasing evidence suggesting that the changes in motor function start earlier in the middle-aged stage. The mechanism underlining the middle-aged decline in motor function seems to relate to the central nervous system rather than the peripheral neuromuscular system. The motor cortex is one of the responsible central nervous systems for coordinating and learning motor functions. The neuronal circuits in the motor cortex show plasticity in response to motor learning, including LTP. This motor cortex plasticity seems important for the intervention method mechanisms that revert the age-related decline of motor function. This review will focus on recent findings on the role of plasticity in the motor cortex for motor function and age-related changes. The review will also introduce our recent identification of an age-related decline of neuronal activity in the primary motor cortex of middle-aged mice using electrophysiological recordings of brain slices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritsuko Inoue
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan;
| | - Hiroshi Nishimune
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan;
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-8-1 Harumicho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8538, Japan
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12
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Yadav G, Duque J. Reflecting on what is "skill" in human motor skill learning. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1117889. [PMID: 37484917 PMCID: PMC10356990 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1117889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans have an exceptional ability to execute a variety of skilled movements. Researchers have been long interested in understanding behavioral and neurophysiological basis of human motor skill learning for advancing both fundamental neuroscientific knowledge and clinical outcomes. However, despite decades of work in this field there is a lack of consensus about what is meant by "skill" in skill learning. With an advent of various task paradigms testing human motor behavior and increasing heterogeneity in motor learning assessments methods, it is very crucial to identify key features of skill in order to avoid any ambiguity that may result in misinterpretation or over-generalization of findings, which could have serious implications for replication and translational research. In this review, we attempt to highlight the features of skill following a historical approach, considering the seminal work that led to the first definitions of skill and including some contemporary concepts emerging from human motor learning research. Overall, based on this literature, we emphasize that skill has some fundamental characteristics, such as- (i) optimal movement selection and execution, (ii) improved movement speed and accuracy, and (iii) reduced movement variability and error. These features of skill can emerge as a consequence of extensive practice/training/learning, thus resulting in an improved performance state beyond baseline levels. Finally we provide some examples of model tasks that can appropriately capture these features of skill, and conclude that any neuroscientific endeavor aimed at understanding the essence of skill in human motor skill learning should focus on these aspects.
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13
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Inoue R, Miura M, Yanai S, Nishimune H. Coenzyme Q 10 supplementation improves the motor function of middle-aged mice by restoring the neuronal activity of the motor cortex. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4323. [PMID: 36922562 PMCID: PMC10017826 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31510-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Physiological aging causes motor function decline and anatomical and biochemical changes in the motor cortex. We confirmed that middle-aged mice at 15-18 months old show motor function decline, which can be restored to the young adult level by supplementing with mitochondrial electron transporter coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) as a water-soluble nanoformula by drinking water for 1 week. CoQ10 supplementation concurrently improved brain mitochondrial respiration but not muscle strength. Notably, we identified an age-related decline in field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) amplitude in the pathway from layers II/III to V of the primary motor area of middle-aged mice, which was restored to the young adult level by supplementing with CoQ10 for 1 week but not by administering CoQ10 acutely to brain slices. Interestingly, CoQ10 with high-frequency stimulation induced NMDA receptor-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) in layer V of the primary motor cortex of middle-aged mice. Importantly, the fEPSP amplitude showed a larger input‒output relationship after CoQ10-dependent LTP expression. These data suggest that CoQ10 restores the motor function of middle-aged mice by improving brain mitochondrial function and the basal fEPSP level of the motor cortex, potentially by enhancing synaptic plasticity efficacy. Thus, CoQ10 supplementation may ameliorate the age-related decline in motor function in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritsuko Inoue
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-Ku, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan.
| | - Masami Miura
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-Ku, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan.,Saitama Central Hospital, 2177 Kamitome, Miyoshicho, Iruma-Gun, Saitama, 354-0045, Japan
| | - Shuichi Yanai
- Laboratory of Memory Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-Ku, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nishimune
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-Ku, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan. .,Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-8-1 Harumicho, Fuchu-Shi, Tokyo, 183-8538, Japan.
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14
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Izawa J, Higo N, Murata Y. Accounting for the valley of recovery during post-stroke rehabilitation training via a model-based analysis of macaque manual dexterity. FRONTIERS IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES 2022; 3:1042912. [PMID: 36644290 PMCID: PMC9838193 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2022.1042912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background True recovery, in which a stroke patient regains the same precise motor skills observed in prestroke conditions, is the fundamental goal of rehabilitation training. However, a transient drop in task performance during rehabilitation training after stroke, observed in human clinical outcome as well as in both macaque and squirrel monkey retrieval data, might prevent smooth transitions during recovery. This drop, i.e., recovery valley, often occurs during the transition from compensatory skill to precision skill. Here, we sought computational mechanisms behind such transitions and recovery. Analogous to motor skill learning, we considered that the motor recovery process is composed of spontaneous recovery and training-induced recovery. Specifically, we hypothesized that the interaction of these multiple skill update processes might determine profiles of the recovery valley. Methods A computational model of motor recovery was developed based on a state-space model of motor learning that incorporates a retention factor and interaction terms for training-induced recovery and spontaneous recovery. The model was fit to previously reported macaque motor recovery data where the monkey practiced precision grip skills after a lesion in the sensorimotor area in the cortex. Multiple computational models and the effects of each parameter were examined by model comparisons based on information criteria and sensitivity analyses of each parameter. Result Both training-induced and spontaneous recoveries were necessary to explain the behavioral data. Since these two factors contributed following logarithmic function, the training-induced recovery were effective only after spontaneous biological recovery had developed. In the training-induced recovery component, the practice of the compensation also contributed to recovery of the precision grip skill as if there is a significant generalization effect of learning between these two skills. In addition, a retention factor was critical to explain the recovery profiles. Conclusions We found that spontaneous recovery, training-induced recovery, retention factors, and interaction terms are crucial to explain recovery and recovery valley profiles. This simulation-based examination of the model parameters provides suggestions for effective rehabilitation methods to prevent the recovery valley, such as plasticity-promoting medications, brain stimulation, and robotic rehabilitation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Izawa
- Faculty of Engineering, Information and Systems, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan,Correspondence: Jun Izawa Yumi Murata
| | - Noriyuki Higo
- Neurorehabilitation Research Group, Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yumi Murata
- Neurorehabilitation Research Group, Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan,Correspondence: Jun Izawa Yumi Murata
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15
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Kunaratnam N, Saumer TM, Kuan G, Holmes Z, Swarbrick D, Kiss A, Mochizuki G, Chen JL. Transcranial direct current stimulation leads to faster acquisition of motor skills, but effects are not maintained at retention. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269851. [PMID: 36099260 PMCID: PMC9469971 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Practice is required to improve one’s shooting technique in basketball or to play a musical instrument well. Learning these motor skills may be further enhanced by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). We aimed to investigate whether tDCS leads to faster attainment of a motor skill, and to confirm prior work showing it improves skill acquisition and retention performance. Fifty-two participants were tested; half received tDCS with the anode on primary motor cortex and cathode on the contralateral forehead while concurrently practicing a sequential visuomotor isometric pinch force task on Day 1, while the other half received sham tDCS during practice. On Day 2, retention of the skill was tested. Results from a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that participants in the anodal group attained a pre-defined target level of skill faster than participants in the sham group (χ2 = 9.117, p = 0.003). Results from a nonparametric rank-based regression analysis showed that the rate of improvement was greater in the anodal versus sham group during skill acquisition (F(1,249) = 5.90, p = 0.016), but there was no main effect of group or time. There was no main effect of group or time, or group by time interaction when comparing performance at the end of acquisition to retention. These findings suggest anodal tDCS improves performance more quickly during skill acquisition but does not have additional benefits on motor learning after a period of rest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirsan Kunaratnam
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tyler M. Saumer
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Giovanna Kuan
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zacharie Holmes
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dana Swarbrick
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alex Kiss
- Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - George Mochizuki
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joyce L. Chen
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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16
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Beroukhim-Kay D, Kim B, Monterosso J, Lewthwaite R, Winstein C. Different Patterns of Neural Activity Characterize Motor Skill Performance During Acquisition and Retention. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:900405. [PMID: 35769253 PMCID: PMC9234574 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.900405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor performance and learning have distinct behavioral and neural signatures and can be uniquely modulated by various informational and motivational factors. Contemporary frameworks describe four different motor learning mechanisms mapped onto specific neural regions which are key for motor skill acquisition: error-based learning (cerebellum), reinforcement learning (basal ganglia), cognitive strategies (prefrontal cortex), and use-dependent learning (motor cortex). However, little is known about the neural circuits engaged during skill acquisition that are modulated specifically by practice-based performance improvement and those that predict recall performance. Based on previous work, we hypothesize that brain activity during practice in primary motor cortex and basal ganglia (1) is associated with trial-by-trial practice performance and (2) is predictive of immediate recall performance. Leveraging the contemporary framework, we use a well-known task paradigm that primarily relies upon cognitive strategy, reinforcement, and use-based learning mechanisms to test our hypotheses. Forty neurotypical young adults were asked to practice a pinch force tracking task. Participants received performance feedback after each trial during practice. We used whole brain analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and behavioral performance measures (i.e., time-on-target and self-efficacy) during the practice phase to determine which brain activation patterns are (1) associated with trial-by-trial tracking performance and (2) predictive of immediate no-feedback retention performance. We observed brain activations in the frontal orbital cortex, putamen, amygdala, and insula correlated with tracking performance improvement during practice. In contrast, a different set of performance-related activated regions were observed that were associated with immediate retention performance that included the primary motor cortex, superior frontal gyrus, somatosensory cortex, angular gyrus, and parietal gyrus. Our findings demonstrate that improved practice performance and recall of a sensorimotor skill are correlated with distinct neural activity patterns during acquisition, drawing on different motor learning mechanisms during encoding. While motor performance improvements depend on both cortical and subcortical regions, motor skill recall depends primarily on prefrontal and motor cortices. We discuss possible interpretations for why our hypothesis regarding basal ganglia activity and retention performance was not supported. Understanding the different neural mechanisms engaged in motor performance and learning may inform novel interventions to enhance motor skill learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorsa Beroukhim-Kay
- Motor Behavior and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bokkyu Kim
- Motor Behavior and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - John Monterosso
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Rebecca Lewthwaite
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Rehabilitation Therapies Division, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Downey, CA, United States
| | - Carolee Winstein
- Motor Behavior and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Carolee Winstein,
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17
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Simpson MW, Mak M. Single session transcranial direct current stimulation to the primary motor cortex fails to enhance early motor sequence learning in Parkinson's disease. Behav Brain Res 2022; 418:113624. [PMID: 34634239 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Explicit motor sequence learning is impaired in Parkinson's disease (PD). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the motor cortex in healthy can improve explicit motor learning, but comparative effects in PD are unknown. This exploratory study aims to examine the effect of single session tDCS on explicit motor sequence learning in PD. METHODS Thirty-three people with mild to moderate PD learnt a short and long finger tapping sequence with their right hand. Participants received either anodal, cathodal, or sham tDCS applied over the left primary motor cortex during task practice. Single- and dual-task finger tapping performance was assessed before and after task practice and functional near-infrared spectroscopy used to measure task related changes of oxygenated haemoglobin. RESULTS Finger tapping performance of short and long sequences under single-task conditions significantly improved following practice (p = 0.010 and p < 0.001, respectively). A condition-by-time interaction trend was observed for the long finger tapping sequence (p = 0.069) driven by improved performance in the cathodal (p = 0.001) and sham (p < 0.001) tDCS conditions, but not anodal tDCS (p = 0.198). The primary and premotor cortex and supplementary motor area were active in all tasks. No interaction or main effects were observed for task related changes of oxygenated haemoglobin. CONCLUSIONS PD patients retain the capacity to learn an explicit sequence of movements. Motor cortex tDCS does not improve explicit motor learning in PD and anodal tDCS may even suppress the rate of learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael William Simpson
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| | - Margaret Mak
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
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18
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Stokes W, Stilling J, Anaya M, Statton M, St Pierre M, Celnik P, Cantarero G. Visuomotor adaptation learning not affected by repeated sport-related concussion. JOURNAL OF CONCUSSION 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/20597002221130658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Sports-related concussions (SRC) have been associated with emotional, cognitive, and affective symptoms including a negative impact on motor-based learning. However, no study has assessed the impact of SRC on cerebellar-based motor learning. Cerebellar-based motor learning was assessed in three different groups of athletes with different SRC history: athletes with no history of SRC: athletes in the acute stage of SRC (within two weeks of injury), and athletes in the chronic stage of SRC (over one year after injury). We used a visuomotor adaptation task (VAT) to measure both explicit strategy-based learning and implicit error-based learning. We found that there was no difference in cerebellar dependent motor learning in SRC and non-SRC athletes. These findings suggest that the cerebellum may be more resilient to damage from SRCs than the motor cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Matthew Statton
- Kennedy Krieger Institute Center for Movement Studies, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Maria St Pierre
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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19
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Hamel R, Lepage JF, Bernier PM. Anterograde interference emerges along a gradient as a function of task similarity: A behavioural study. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 55:49-66. [PMID: 34894023 PMCID: PMC9299670 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Anterograde interference emerges when two opposite (B → A) or identical tasks (A → A) are learned in close temporal succession, suggesting that interference cannot be fully accounted for by competing memories. Informed by neurobiological evidence, this work tested the hypothesis that interference depends upon the degree of overlap between the neural networks involved in the learning of two tasks. In a fully within‐subject and counterbalanced design, participants (n = 24) took part in two learning sessions where the putative overlap between learning‐specific neural networks was behaviourally manipulated across four conditions by modifying reach direction and the effector used during gradual visuomotor adaptation. The results showed that anterograde interference emerged regardless of memory competition—that is, to a similar extent in the B → A and A → A conditions—and along a gradient as a function of the tasks' similarity. Specifically, learning under similar reaching conditions generated more anterograde interference than learning under dissimilar reaching conditions, suggesting that putatively overlapping neural networks are required to generate interference. Overall, these results indicate that competing memories are not the sole contributor to anterograde interference and suggest that overlapping neural networks between two learning sessions are required to trigger interference. One discussed possibility is that initial learning modifies the properties of its neural networks to constrain further plasticity induction and learning capabilities, therefore causing anterograde interference in a network‐dependent manner. One implication is that learning‐specific neural networks must be maximally dissociated to minimize the interfering influences of previous learning on subsequent learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Hamel
- Département de kinanthropologie, Faculté des sciences de l'activité physique, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.,Département de pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-François Lepage
- Département de pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Pierre-Michel Bernier
- Département de kinanthropologie, Faculté des sciences de l'activité physique, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
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20
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Physical activity, motor performance and skill learning: a focus on primary motor cortex in healthy aging. Exp Brain Res 2021; 239:3431-3438. [PMID: 34499187 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-021-06218-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Participation in physical activity benefits brain health and function. Cognitive function generally demonstrates a noticeable effect of physical activity, but much less is known about areas responsible for controlling movement, such as primary motor cortex (M1). While more physical activity may support M1 plasticity in older adults, the neural mechanisms underlying this beneficial effect remain poorly understood. Aging is inevitably accompanied by diminished motor performance, and the extent of plasticity may also be less in older adults compared with young. Motor complications with aging may, perhaps unsurprisingly, contribute to reduced physical activity in older adults. While the development of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques have identified that human M1 is a crucial site for learning motor skills and recovery of motor function after injury, a considerable lack of knowledge remains about how physical activity impacts M1 with healthy aging. Reducing impaired neural activity in older adults may have important implications after neurological insult, such as stroke, which is more common with advancing age. Therefore, a better understanding about the effects of physical activity on M1 processes and motor learning in older adults may promote healthy aging, but also allow us to facilitate recovery of motor function after neurological injury. This article will initially provide a brief overview of the neurophysiology of M1 in the context of learning motor skills, with a focus on healthy aging in humans. This information will then be proceeded by a more detailed assessment that focuses on whether physical activity benefits motor function and human M1 processes.
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21
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Altered motor cortical plasticity in patients with hepatic encephalopathy: A paired associative stimulation study. Clin Neurophysiol 2021; 132:2332-2341. [PMID: 34454259 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a potentially reversible brain dysfunction caused by liver failure. Altered synaptic plasticity is supposed to play a major role in the pathophysiology of HE. Here, we used paired associative stimulation with an inter-stimulus interval of 25 ms (PAS25), a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocol, to test synaptic plasticity of the motor cortex in patients with manifest HE. METHODS 23 HE-patients and 23 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes were assessed as measure for cortical excitability. Time courses of MEP amplitude changes after the PAS25 intervention were compared between both groups. RESULTS MEP-amplitudes increased after PAS25 in the control group, indicating PAS25-induced synaptic plasticity in healthy controls, as expected. In contrast, MEP-amplitudes within the HE group did not change and were lower than in the control group, indicating no induction of plasticity. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed reduced synaptic plasticity of the primary motor cortex in HE. SIGNIFICANCE Reduced synaptic plasticity in HE provides a link between pathological changes on the molecular level and early clinical symptoms of the disease. This decrease may be caused by disturbances in the glutamatergic neurotransmission due to the known hyperammonemia in HE patients.
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22
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Mooney RA, Bastian AJ, Celnik PA. Training at asymptote stabilizes motor memories by reducing intracortical excitation. Cortex 2021; 143:47-56. [PMID: 34375797 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Learning similar motor skills in close succession is limited by interference, a phenomenon that takes place early after acquisition when motor memories are unstable. Interference can be bidirectional, as the first memory can be disrupted by the second (retrograde interference), or the second memory can be disrupted by the first (anterograde interference). The heightened plastic state of primary motor cortex after learning is thought to underlie interference, as unstable motor memories compete for neural resources. While time-dependent consolidation processes reduce interference, the passage of time (~6 h) required for memory stabilization limits our capacity to learn multiple motor skills at once. Here, we demonstrate in humans that prolonged training at asymptote of an initial motor skill reduces both retrograde and anterograde interference when a second motor skill is acquired in close succession. Neurophysiological assessments via transcranial magnetic stimulation reflect this online stabilization process. Specifically, excitatory neurotransmission in primary motor cortex increased after short training and decreased after prolonged training at performance asymptote. Of note, this reduction in intracortical excitation after prolonged training was proportional to better skill retention the following day. Importantly, these neurophysiological effects were not observed after motor practice without learning or after a temporal delay. Together, these findings indicate that prolonged training at asymptote improves the capacity to learn multiple motor skills in close succession, and that downregulation of excitatory neurotransmission in primary motor cortex may be a marker of online motor memory stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronan A Mooney
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Amy J Bastian
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Pablo A Celnik
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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23
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Hamel R, Dallaire-Jean L, De La Fontaine É, Lepage JF, Bernier PM. Learning the same motor task twice impairs its retention in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202556. [PMID: 33434470 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Anterograde interference emerges when two differing tasks are learned in close temporal proximity, an effect repeatedly attributed to a competition between differing task memories. However, recent development alternatively suggests that initial learning may trigger a refractory period that occludes neuroplasticity and impairs subsequent learning, consequently mediating interference independently of memory competition. Accordingly, this study tested the hypothesis that interference can emerge when the same motor task is being learned twice, that is when competition between memories is prevented. In a first experiment, the inter-session interval (ISI) between two identical motor learning sessions was manipulated to be 2 min, 1 h or 24 h. Results revealed that retention of the second session was impaired as compared to the first one when the ISI was 2 min but not when it was 1 h or 24 h, indicating a time-dependent process. Results from a second experiment replicated those of the first one and revealed that adding a third motor learning session with a 2 min ISI further impaired retention, indicating a dose-dependent process. Results from a third experiment revealed that the retention impairments did not take place when a learning session was preceded by simple rehearsal of the motor task without concurrent learning, thus ruling out fatigue and confirming that retention is impaired specifically when preceded by a learning session. Altogether, the present results suggest that competing memories is not the sole mechanism mediating anterograde interference and introduce the possibility that a time- and dose-dependent refractory period-independent of fatigue-also contributes to its emergence. One possibility is that learning transiently perturbs the homeostasis of learning-related neuronal substrates. Introducing additional learning when homeostasis is still perturbed may not only impair performance improvements, but also memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Hamel
- Département de pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.,Département de kinanthropologie, Faculté des sciences de l'activité physique, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1
| | - L Dallaire-Jean
- Département de kinanthropologie, Faculté des sciences de l'activité physique, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1
| | - É De La Fontaine
- Département de kinanthropologie, Faculté des sciences de l'activité physique, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1
| | - J F Lepage
- Département de pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - P M Bernier
- Département de kinanthropologie, Faculté des sciences de l'activité physique, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1
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Vassiliadis P, Derosiere G, Grandjean J, Duque J. Motor training strengthens corticospinal suppression during movement preparation. J Neurophysiol 2020; 124:1656-1666. [DOI: 10.1152/jn.00378.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Movement preparation involves a broad suppression in the excitability of the corticospinal pathway, a phenomenon called preparatory suppression. Here, we show that motor training strengthens preparatory suppression and that this strengthening is associated with faster reaction times. Our findings highlight a key role of preparatory suppression in training-driven behavioral improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Vassiliadis
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gerard Derosiere
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Julien Grandjean
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Julie Duque
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
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25
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Yadav G, Mutha PK. Symmetric interlimb transfer of newly acquired skilled movements. J Neurophysiol 2020; 124:1364-1376. [PMID: 32902352 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00777.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to examine features of interlimb generalization or "transfer" of newly acquired motor skills, with a broader goal of better understanding the mechanisms mediating skill learning. Right-handed participants (n = 36) learned a motor task that required them to make very rapid but accurate reaches to one of eight randomly presented targets, thus bettering the typical speed-accuracy tradeoff. Subjects were divided into an "RL" group that first trained with the right arm and was then tested on the left and an "LR" group that trained with the left arm and was subsequently tested on the right. We found significant interlimb transfer in both groups. Remarkably, we also observed that participants learned faster with their left arm compared with the right. We hypothesized that this could be due to a previously suggested left arm/right hemisphere advantage for movements under variable task conditions. To corroborate this, we recruited two additional groups of participants (n = 22) that practiced the same task under a single target condition. This removal of task level variability eliminated learning rate differences between the arms, yet interlimb transfer remained robust and symmetric, as in the first experiment. Additionally, the strategy used to reduce errors during learning, albeit heterogeneous across subjects particularly in our second experiment, was adopted by the untrained arm. These findings may be best explained as the outcome of the operation of cognitive strategies during the early stages of motor skill learning.NEW & NOTEWORTHY How newly acquired motor skills generalize across effectors is not well understood. Here, we show that newly learned skilled actions transfer symmetrically across the arms and that task-level variability influences learning rate but not transfer magnitude or direction. Interestingly, strategies developed during learning with one arm transfer to the untrained arm. This likely reflects the outcome of learning driven by cognitive mechanisms during the initial stages of motor skill acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goldy Yadav
- Center for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Pratik K Mutha
- Center for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.,Department of Biological Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
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26
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Cantarero G, Choynowski J, St Pierre M, Anaya M, Statton M, Stokes W, Capaldi V, Chib V, Celnik P. Repeated Concussions Impair Behavioral and Neurophysiological Changes in the Motor Learning System. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2020; 34:804-813. [PMID: 32723160 PMCID: PMC7501144 DOI: 10.1177/1545968320943578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background. Concussions affect nearly 3 million people a year and are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury-related emergency department visits among youth. Evidence shows neuromotor regions are sensitive to concussive events and that motor symptoms may be the earliest clinical manifestations of neurodegenerative traumatic brain injuries. However, little is known about the effects repeated concussions play on motor learning. Namely, how does concussion acuity (time since injury) affect different behavioral and neurophysiological components of motor learning? Methods. Using a 3-pronged approach, we assessed (1) behavioral measures of motor learning, (2) neurophysiological measures underlying retention of motor learning known as occlusion, and (3) quantitative survey data capturing affective symptoms of each participant. Collegiate student athletes were stratified across 3 groups depending on their concussion history: (1) NonCon, no history of concussion; (2) Chronic, chronic-state of concussion (>1 year postinjury), or (3) Acute, acute state of concussion (<2 weeks postinjury). Results. We found that athletes in both the acute and chronic state of injury following a concussion had impaired retention and aberrant occlusion in motor skill learning as compared with athletes with no history of concussion. Moreover, higher numbers of previous concussions (regardless of the time since injury) correlated with more severe behavioral and neurophysiological motor impairments by specifically hindering neurophysiological mechanisms of learning to affect behavior. Conclusions. These results indicate the presence of motor learning impairment that is evident within 2 weeks postinjury. Our findings have significant implications for the prognosis of concussion and emphasize the need for prevention, but can also direct more relevant rehabilitation treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jake Choynowski
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Maria St Pierre
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | - Vincent Capaldi
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Vikram Chib
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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27
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Yamaguchi T, Svane C, Forman CR, Beck MM, Geertsen SS, Lundbye-Jensen J, Nielsen JB. Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation of the Primary Motor Cortex after Skill Acquisition Improves Motor Memory Retention in Humans: A Double-Blinded Sham-Controlled Study. Cereb Cortex Commun 2020; 1:tgaa047. [PMID: 34296115 PMCID: PMC8152838 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgaa047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Consolidation leading to retention of motor memory following motor practice involves activity-dependent plastic processes in the corticospinal system. To investigate whether beta-band transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) applied immediately following skill acquisition can enhance ongoing consolidation processes and thereby motor skill retention 20 adults participated in a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled study. Participants received tACS at peak beta-band corticomuscular coherence (CMC) frequency or sham tACS for 10 min following practice of a visuomotor ankle dorsiflexion task. Performance was measured as the average percentage time on target. Electroencephalograhy (EMG) was measured at Cz and EMG from the right tibialis anterior muscle. CMC and intramuscular coherence (IMC) were estimated during 2-min tonic dorsiflexion. Motor skill retention was tested 1 and 7 days after motor practice. From the end of motor practice to the retention tests, motor performance improved more in the tACS group compared with the sham tACS group after 1 (P = 0.05) and 7 days (P < 0.001). At both retention tests, beta-band IMC increased in the tACS group compared with post-tACS. Beta-band CMC increased in the tACS group at retention day 1 compared with post-tACS. Changes in CMC but not IMC were correlated with performance 1 and 7 days following practice. This study shows that tACS applied at beta-band CMC frequency improves consolidation following visuomotor practice and increases beta-band CMC and IMC. We propose that oscillatory beta activity in the corticospinal system may facilitate consolidation of the motor skill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomofumi Yamaguchi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Christian Svane
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Mikkel Malling Beck
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Svend Sparre Geertsen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesper Lundbye-Jensen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bo Nielsen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Elsass Foundation, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark
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28
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朱 海, 丁 冲, 李 洋, 徐 桂. [Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation significantly improves cognitive impairment and neuronal excitability during aging in mice]. SHENG WU YI XUE GONG CHENG XUE ZA ZHI = JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING = SHENGWU YIXUE GONGCHENGXUE ZAZHI 2020; 37:380-388. [PMID: 32597078 PMCID: PMC10319561 DOI: 10.7507/1001-5515.201905072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that has been paid attention to with increasing interests as a therapeutic neural rehabilitative tool. Studies confirmed that high-frequency rTMS could improve the cognitive performance in behavioral test as well as the excitability of the neuron in animals. This study aimes to investigate the effects of rTMS on the cognition and neuronal excitability of Kunming mice during the natural aging. Twelve young mice, 12 adult mice, and 12 aged mice were used, and each age group were randomly divided into rTMS group and control group. rTMS-treated groups were subjected to high-frequency rTMS treatment for 15 days, and control groups were treated with sham stimulation for 15 days. Then, novel object recognition and step-down tests were performed to examine cognition of learning and memory. Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record and analyze resting membrane potential, action potential (AP), and related electrical properties of AP of hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) granule neurons. Data analysis showed that cognition of mice and neuronal excitability of DG granule neurons were degenerated significantly as the age increased. Cognitive damage and degeneration of some electrical properties were alleviated under the condition of high-frequency rTMS. It may be one of the mechanisms of rTMS to alleviate cognitive damage and improve cognitive ability by changing the electrophysiological properties of DG granule neurons and increasing neuronal excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- 海军 朱
- 河北工业大学 电气工程学院 省部共建电工装备可靠性与智能化国家重点实验室(天津 300130)State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Electrical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, P.R.China
| | - 冲 丁
- 河北工业大学 电气工程学院 省部共建电工装备可靠性与智能化国家重点实验室(天津 300130)State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Electrical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, P.R.China
| | - 洋 李
- 河北工业大学 电气工程学院 省部共建电工装备可靠性与智能化国家重点实验室(天津 300130)State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Electrical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, P.R.China
| | - 桂芝 徐
- 河北工业大学 电气工程学院 省部共建电工装备可靠性与智能化国家重点实验室(天津 300130)State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Electrical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, P.R.China
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29
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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Motor Recovery Following Brain Injury. CURRENT PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40141-020-00262-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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30
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Dringenberg HC. The history of long-term potentiation as a memory mechanism: Controversies, confirmation, and some lessons to remember. Hippocampus 2020; 30:987-1012. [PMID: 32442358 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of long-term potentiation (LTP) provided the first, direct evidence for long-lasting synaptic plasticity in the living brain. Consequently, LTP was proposed to serve as a mechanism for information storage among neurons, thus providing the basis for the behavioral and psychological phenomena of learning and long-term memory formation. However, for several decades, the LTP-memory hypothesis remained highly controversial, with inconsistent and contradictory evidence providing a barrier to its general acceptance. This review summarizes the history of these early debates, challenges, and experimental strategies (successful and unsuccessful) to establish a link between LTP and memory. Together, the empirical evidence, gathered over a period of about four decades, strongly suggests that LTP serves as one of the mechanisms affording learning and memory storage in neuronal circuits. Notably, this body of work also offers some important lessons that apply to the broader fields of behavioral and cognitive neuroscience. As such, the history of LTP as a learning mechanism provides valuable insights to neuroscientists exploring the relations between brain and psychological states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans C Dringenberg
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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31
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Bonassi G, Lagravinese G, Bisio A, Ruggeri P, Pelosin E, Bove M, Avanzino L. Consolidation and retention of motor skill after motor imagery training. Neuropsychologia 2020; 143:107472. [PMID: 32325154 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Complex motor tasks are learned through training which results in lasting improvement in sensorimotor performance and accuracy. Learning a motor skill is commonly attained via physical execution. However, research has shown that cognitive training, such as motor imagery (MI), effectively facilitates skill learning. Neurophysiological findings suggest that learning-induced plasticity in the human motor cortex, subserving consolidation and retention of motor skills, is stronger after movement execution (ME) than after MI training. Here, we designed an experimental task able to test for the fast and slow learning phases and for retention of motor skills for both MI and ME. We hypothesize that differences between MI and ME training would emerge in terms of reduced consolidation and retention of motor skills. Twenty-four young healthy subjects were divided into two groups, performing MI or ME training. Participants wore sensor-engineered gloves and their sensorimotor performance was assessed over a period of 15 days with 4-days training. We analysed the touch duration (TD), the inter-tapping interval (ITI), movement rate and accuracy. Results showed that (i) during the first phase of acquisition of motor skills, sensorimotor performance improved similarly in MI and ME groups; (ii) during the second learning phase movement rate increased more in ME than MI group and this difference was mainly driven by differences in the duration of TD; (iii) consolidation deficits with MI training reflected in impaired retention of the acquired skills, as TD and ITI were larger and movement rate was lower in the MI group with respect to the ME, till to 10 days after the last training session. Explicit component of motor learning, accuracy, was maintained in retention phase in both groups. Following our hypothesis, our findings show that MI training is as effective as ME within the first learning phase, but consolidation and retention of motor skills are less effective following MI training. This study highlights MI limitations and suggests option to enhance MI, as by providing an external sensory feedback.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Bonassi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Ambra Bisio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Piero Ruggeri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elisa Pelosin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Bove
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Avanzino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, IRCCS, Genoa, Italy.
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Beck MM, Grandjean MU, Hartmand S, Spedden ME, Christiansen L, Roig M, Lundbye-Jensen J. Acute Exercise Protects Newly Formed Motor Memories Against rTMS-induced Interference Targeting Primary Motor Cortex. Neuroscience 2020; 436:110-121. [PMID: 32311411 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Acute cardiovascular exercise can promote motor memory consolidation following motor practice, and thus long-term retention, but the underlying mechanisms remain sparsely elucidated. Here we test the hypothesis that the positive behavioral effects of acute exercise involve the primary motor cortex and the corticospinal pathway by interfering with motor memory consolidation using non-invasive, low frequency, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Forty-eight able-bodied, young adult male participants (mean age = 24.8 y/o) practiced a visuomotor accuracy task demanding precise and fast pinch force control. Following motor practice, participants either rested or exercised (20 min total: 3 × 3 min at 90% VO2peak) before receiving either sham rTMS or supra-threshold rTMS (115% RMT, 1 Hz) targeting the hand area of the contralateral primary motor cortex for 20 min. Retention was evaluated 24 h following motor practice, and motor memory consolidation was operationalized as overnight changes in motor performance. Low-frequency rTMS resulted in off-line decrements in motor performance compared to sham rTMS, but these were counteracted by a preceding bout of intense exercise. These findings demonstrate that a single session of exercise promotes early motor memory stabilization and protects the primary motor cortex and the corticospinal system against interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikkel Malling Beck
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Marcus Udsen Grandjean
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sander Hartmand
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Lasse Christiansen
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Marc Roig
- Memory and Motor Rehabilitation Laboratory (MEMORY-LAB), Feil and Oberfield Research Centre, Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital, Montreal Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation (CRIR), Laval, Canada; School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jesper Lundbye-Jensen
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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33
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Primary motor cortex function and motor skill acquisition: insights from threshold-hunting TMS. Exp Brain Res 2020; 238:1745-1757. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-020-05791-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Mirdamadi JL, Block HJ. Somatosensory changes associated with motor skill learning. J Neurophysiol 2020; 123:1052-1062. [DOI: 10.1152/jn.00497.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Trial-and-error motor adaptation has been linked to somatosensory plasticity and shifts in proprioception (limb position sense). The role of sensory processing in motor skill learning is less understood. Unlike adaptation, skill learning involves the acquisition of new movement patterns in the absence of perturbation, with performance limited by the speed-accuracy trade-off. We investigated somatosensory changes during motor skill learning at the behavioral and neurophysiological levels. Twenty-eight healthy young adults practiced a maze-tracing task, guiding a robotic manipulandum through an irregular two-dimensional track featuring several abrupt turns. Practice occurred on days 1 and 2. Skill was assessed before practice on day 1 and again on day 3, with learning indicated by a shift in the speed-accuracy function between these assessments. Proprioceptive function was quantified with a passive two-alternative forced-choice task. In a subset of 15 participants, we measured short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) to index somatosensory projections to motor cortex. We found that motor practice enhanced the speed-accuracy skill function ( F4,108 = 32.15, P < 0.001) and was associated with improved proprioceptive sensitivity at retention ( t22 = 24.75, P = 0.0031). Furthermore, SAI increased after training ( F1,14 = 5.41, P = 0.036). Interestingly, individuals with larger increases in SAI, reflecting enhanced somatosensory afference to motor cortex, demonstrated larger improvements in motor skill learning. These findings suggest that SAI may be an important functional mechanism for some aspect of motor skill learning. Further research is needed to test what parameters (task complexity, practice time, etc.) are specifically linked to somatosensory function. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Somatosensory processing has been implicated in motor adaptation, where performance recovers from a perturbation such as a force field. We investigated somatosensory function during motor skill learning, where a new motor pattern is acquired in the absence of perturbation. After skill practice, we found changes in proprioception and short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI), signifying somatosensory change at both the behavioral and neurophysiological levels. SAI may be an important functional mechanism by which individuals learn motor skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine L. Mirdamadi
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
- Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - Hannah J. Block
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
- Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
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35
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Zhu H, Xu G, Fu L, Li Y, Fu R, Zhao D, Ding C. The effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the cognition and neuronal excitability of mice. Electromagn Biol Med 2019; 39:9-19. [DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2019.1696358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Haijun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Guizhi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Lingdi Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Pharmacy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei Province, China
| | - Rui Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Dongshuai Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Chong Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
- Laboratory of Electromagnetic Field and Electrical Apparatus Reliability of Hebei Province, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
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36
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Uehara S, Mawase F, Celnik P. Learning Similar Actions by Reinforcement or Sensory-Prediction Errors Rely on Distinct Physiological Mechanisms. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:3478-3490. [PMID: 28968827 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans can acquire knowledge of new motor behavior via different forms of learning. The two forms most commonly studied have been the development of internal models based on sensory-prediction errors (error-based learning) and success-based feedback (reinforcement learning). Human behavioral studies suggest these are distinct learning processes, though the neurophysiological mechanisms that are involved have not been characterized. Here, we evaluated physiological markers from the cerebellum and the primary motor cortex (M1) using noninvasive brain stimulations while healthy participants trained finger-reaching tasks. We manipulated the extent to which subjects rely on error-based or reinforcement by providing either vector or binary feedback about task performance. Our results demonstrated a double dissociation where learning the task mainly via error-based mechanisms leads to cerebellar plasticity modifications but not long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity changes in M1; while learning a similar action via reinforcement mechanisms elicited M1 LTP-like plasticity but not cerebellar plasticity changes. Our findings indicate that learning complex motor behavior is mediated by the interplay of different forms of learning, weighing distinct neural mechanisms in M1 and the cerebellum. Our study provides insights for designing effective interventions to enhance human motor learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shintaro Uehara
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Firas Mawase
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Pablo Celnik
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD, USA
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König M, Epro G, Seeley J, Potthast W, Karamanidis K. Retention and generalizability of balance recovery response adaptations from trip perturbations across the adult life span. J Neurophysiol 2019; 122:1884-1893. [DOI: 10.1152/jn.00380.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
For human locomotion, varying environments require adjustments of the motor system. We asked whether age affects gait balance recovery adaptation, its retention over months, and the transfer of adaptation to an untrained reactive balance task. Healthy adults (26 young, 27 middle-aged, and 25 older; average ages 24, 52, and 72 yr, respectively) completed two tasks. The primary task involved treadmill walking: either unperturbed (control; n = 39) or subject to unexpected trip perturbations (training; n = 39). A single trip perturbation was repeated after a 14-wk retention period. The secondary transfer task, before and after treadmill walking, involved sudden loss of balance in a lean-and-release protocol. For both tasks, the anteroposterior margin of stability (MoS) was calculated at foot touchdown. For the first (i.e., novel) trip, older adults required one more recovery step ( P = 0.03) to regain positive MoS compared with younger, but not middle-aged, adults. However, over several trip perturbations, all age groups increased their MoS for the first recovery step to a similar extent (up to 70%) and retained improvements over 14 wk, although a decay over time was found for older adults ( P = 0.002; middle-aged showing a tendency for decay: P = 0.076). Thus, although adaptability in reactive gait stability control remains effective across the adult life span, retention of adaptations over time appears diminished with aging. Despite these robust adaptations, the perturbation training group did not show superior improvements in the transfer task compared with age-matched controls (no differences in MoS changes), suggesting that generalizability of acquired fall-resisting skills from gait-perturbation training may be limited. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The human neuromotor system preserves its adaptability across the adult life span. However, although adaptability in reactive gait stability control remains effective as age increases, retention of recovery response adaptations over time appears to be reduced with aging. Furthermore, acquired fall-resisting skills from single-session perturbation training seem task specific, which may limit the generalizability of such training to the variety of real-life falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias König
- Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gaspar Epro
- Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Seeley
- Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wolfgang Potthast
- Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kiros Karamanidis
- Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
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38
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Rajan VA, Hardwick RM, Celnik PA. Reciprocal intralimb transfer of skilled isometric force production. J Neurophysiol 2019; 122:60-65. [PMID: 31042443 PMCID: PMC6689780 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00840.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor control theories propose that the same motor plans can be employed by different effectors (e.g., the hand and arm). Skills learned with one effector can therefore "transfer" to others, which has potential applications in clinical situations. However, evidence from adaptation suggests this effect is not reciprocal; learning can be generalized from proximal to distal effectors (e.g., arm to hand), but not from distal to proximal effectors (e.g., hand to arm). We propose that skill learning may not follow the same pattern, because it relies on multiple learning processes beyond error detection and correction. Participants learned a skill task involving the production of isometric forces. We assessed their ability to perform the task with the hand and arm. One group then trained to perform the task using only their hand, whereas a second group trained using only their arm. In a final assessment, we found that participants who trained with either effector improved their skill in performing the task with both their hand and arm. There was no change in a control group that did not train between assessments, indicating that gains were related to the training, not the multiple assessments. These results indicate that in contrast to adaptation, motor skills can generalize from both proximal to distal effectors and from distal to proximal effectors. We propose this is due to differences in the processes underlying skill acquisition as compared with adaptation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Prior research indicates that motor learning transfers from proximal to distal effectors, but not vice versa. However, this work focused on adapting existing behavior; we questioned whether different results would occur during learning of new motor skills. We found that the benefits of training on a skill task with either the hand or arm transferred across both effectors. This highlights important differences between adaptation and skill learning, and may allow therapeutic benefits for patients with impairments in specific effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram A Rajan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Robert M Hardwick
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven , Belgium
| | - Pablo A Celnik
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland
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Persistence of learning-induced synapses depends on neurotrophic priming of glucocorticoid receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:13097-13106. [PMID: 31182610 PMCID: PMC6601006 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1903203116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transduction upon activation of receptor tyrosine kinases by neurotrophins and nuclear receptors by glucocorticoids is essential for homeostasis. Phosphorylation (PO4) is one way these receptors communicate with one another to support homeostatic reactions in learning and memory. Using a newly developed glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-PO4–deficient knock-in mouse, we show that consolidation of learning-induced neuroplasticity depends on both GR-PO4 and neurotrophic signaling. Cross-talk between these pathways affects experience-dependent neuroplasticity and behavior, extending previous implications of neurotrophic priming of glucocorticoid response for adaptive plasticity to chronic stress and antidepressant response. Therefore, a disruption of cross-talk between these pathways by, for example, the misalignment of circadian glucocorticoid release and experience-dependent neurotrophic signaling may contribute to the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders. Stress can either promote or impair learning and memory. Such opposing effects depend on whether synapses persist or decay after learning. Maintenance of new synapses formed at the time of learning upon neuronal network activation depends on the stress hormone-activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and neurotrophic factor release. Whether and how concurrent GR and neurotrophin signaling integrate to modulate synaptic plasticity and learning is not fully understood. Here, we show that deletion of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)–dependent GR-phosphorylation (PO4) sites impairs long-term memory retention and maintenance of newly formed postsynaptic dendritic spines in the mouse cortex after motor skills training. Chronic stress and the BDNF polymorphism Val66Met disrupt the BDNF-dependent GR-PO4 pathway necessary for preserving training-induced spines and previously acquired memories. Conversely, enrichment living promotes spine formation but fails to salvage training-related spines in mice lacking BDNF-dependent GR-PO4 sites, suggesting it is essential for spine consolidation and memory retention. Mechanistically, spine maturation and persistence in the motor cortex depend on synaptic mobilization of the glutamate receptor subunit A1 (GluA1) mediated by GR-PO4. Together, these findings indicate that regulation of GR-PO4 via activity-dependent BDNF signaling is important for the formation and maintenance of learning-dependent synapses. They also define a signaling mechanism underlying these effects.
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Bologna M, Guerra A, Paparella G, Colella D, Borrelli A, Suppa A, Di Lazzaro V, Brown P, Berardelli A. Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Has Frequency-Dependent Effects on Motor Learning in Healthy Humans. Neuroscience 2019; 411:130-139. [PMID: 31152934 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that the primary motor cortex (M1) plays a significant role in motor learning in healthy humans. It is unclear, however, whether mechanisms of motor learning include M1 oscillatory activity. In this study, we aimed to test whether M1 oscillations, entrained by transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) at motor resonant frequencies, have any effect on motor acquisition and retention during a rapid learning task, as assessed by kinematic analysis. We also tested whether the stimulation influenced the corticospinal excitability changes after motor learning. Sixteen healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Participants performed the motor learning task in three experimental conditions: sham-tACS (baseline), β-tACS and γ-tACS. Corticospinal excitability was assessed with single-pulse TMS before the motor learning task and 5, 15, and 30 min thereafter. Motor retention was tested 30 min after the motor learning task. During training, acceleration of the practiced movement improved in the baseline condition and the enhanced performance was retained when tested 30 min later. The β-tACS delivered during training inhibited the acquisition of the motor learning task. Conversely, the γ-tACS slightly improved the acceleration of the practiced movement during training but it reduced motor retention. At the end of training, corticospinal excitability had similarly increased in the three sessions. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that entrainment of the two major motor resonant rhythms through tACS over M1 has different effects on motor learning in healthy humans. The effects, however, were unrelated to corticospinal excitability changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Bologna
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, (IS), Italy
| | - Andrea Guerra
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, (IS), Italy
| | | | - Donato Colella
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Borrelli
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Suppa
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, (IS), Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Peter Brown
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK; Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, UK
| | - Alfredo Berardelli
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, (IS), Italy.
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Edwards LL, King EM, Buetefisch CM, Borich MR. Putting the "Sensory" Into Sensorimotor Control: The Role of Sensorimotor Integration in Goal-Directed Hand Movements After Stroke. Front Integr Neurosci 2019; 13:16. [PMID: 31191265 PMCID: PMC6539545 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2019.00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Integration of sensory and motor information is one-step, among others, that underlies the successful production of goal-directed hand movements necessary for interacting with our environment. Disruption of sensorimotor integration is prevalent in many neurologic disorders, including stroke. In most stroke survivors, persistent paresis of the hand reduces function and overall quality of life. Current rehabilitative methods are based on neuroplastic principles to promote motor learning that focuses on regaining motor function lost due to paresis, but the sensory contributions to motor control and learning are often overlooked and currently understudied. There is a need to evaluate and understand the contribution of both sensory and motor function in the rehabilitation of skilled hand movements after stroke. Here, we will highlight the importance of integration of sensory and motor information to produce skilled hand movements in healthy individuals and individuals after stroke. We will then discuss how compromised sensorimotor integration influences relearning of skilled hand movements after stroke. Finally, we will propose an approach to target sensorimotor integration through manipulation of sensory input and motor output that may have therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren L Edwards
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Erin M King
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Cathrin M Buetefisch
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Michael R Borich
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Spampinato DA, Satar Z, Rothwell JC. Combining reward and M1 transcranial direct current stimulation enhances the retention of newly learnt sensorimotor mappings. Brain Stimul 2019; 12:1205-1212. [PMID: 31133478 PMCID: PMC6709642 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2019.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Reward-based feedback given during motor learning has been shown to improve the retention of the behaviour being acquired. Interestingly, applying transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) during learning over the primary motor cortex (M1), an area associated with motor retention, also results in enhanced retention of the newly formed motor memories. However, it remains unknown whether combining these distinct interventions result in an additive benefit of motor retention. Methods We investigated whether combining both interventions while participants learned to account for a visuomotor transformation results in enhanced motor retention (total n = 56; each group n = 14). To determine whether these interventions share common physiological mechanisms underpinning learning, we assessed motor cortical excitability and inhibition (i.e. SICI) on a hand muscle before and after all participants learned the visuomotor rotation using their entire arm and hand. Results We found that both the Reward-Stim (i.e. reward + tDCS) and Reward-Sham (i.e. reward-only) groups had increased retention at the beginning of the retention phase, indicating an immediate effect of reward on behaviour. However, each intervention on their own did not enhance retention when compared to sham, but rather, only the combination of both reward and tDCS demonstrated prolonged retention. We also found that only the Reward-Stim group had a significant reduction in SICI after exposure to the perturbation. Conclusions We show that combining both interventions are additive in providing stronger retention of motor adaptation. These results indicate that the reliability and validity of using tDCS within a clinical context may depend on the type of feedback individuals receive when learning a new motor pattern. Concurrently administering reward and M1 tDCS during learning results in enhanced motor retention. The combination of these interventions also leads to a reduction in M1 inhibitory mechanisms. No benefits of motor retention were found when reward or M1 tDCS were given alone.
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Trudgen A, Cirillo J, Byblow WD. Somatosensory and transcranial direct current stimulation effects on manual dexterity and motor cortex function: A metaplasticity study. Brain Stimul 2019; 12:938-947. [PMID: 30850217 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2019.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-invasive neuromodulation may provide treatment strategies for neurological deficits affecting movement, such as stroke. For example, weak electrical stimulation applied to the hand by wearing a "mesh glove" (MGS) can transiently increase primary motor cortex (M1) excitability. Conversely, transcranial direct current stimulation with the cathode over M1 (c-tDCS) can decrease corticomotor excitability. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS We applied M1 c-tDCS as a priming adjuvant to MGS and hypothesised metaplastic effects would be apparent in improved motor performance and modulation of M1 inhibitory and facilitatory circuits. METHODS Sixteen right-handed neurologically healthy individuals participated in a repeated measures cross-over study; nine minutes of sham- or c-tDCS followed by 30 min of suprasensory threshold MGS. Dexterity of the non-dominant (left) hand was assessed using the grooved pegboard task, and measures of corticomotor excitability, intracortical facilitation, short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI), short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), and SAI in the presence of SICI (SAIxSICI), were obtained at baseline, post-tDCS, and 0, 30 and 60 min post-MGS. RESULTS There was a greater improvement in grooved pegboard completion times with c-tDCS primed MGS than sham + MGS. There was also more pronounced disinhibition of SAI. However, disinhibition of SAI in the presence of SICI was less and rest motor threshold higher compared to sham + MGS. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate a metaplastic modulation of corticomotor excitability with c-tDCS primed MGS. Further studies are warranted to determine how various stimulation approaches can induce metaplastic effects on M1 neuronal circuits to boost functional gains obtained with motor practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Trudgen
- Department of Exercise Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - John Cirillo
- Department of Exercise Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Winston D Byblow
- Department of Exercise Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Branscheidt M, Kassavetis P, Anaya M, Rogers D, Huang HD, Lindquist MA, Celnik P. Fatigue induces long-lasting detrimental changes in motor-skill learning. eLife 2019; 8:40578. [PMID: 30832766 PMCID: PMC6443347 DOI: 10.7554/elife.40578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatigue due to physical exertion is a ubiquitous phenomenon in everyday life and especially common in a range of neurological diseases. While the effect of fatigue on limiting skill execution are well known, its influence on learning new skills is unclear. This is of particular interest as it is common practice to train athletes, musicians or perform rehabilitation exercises up to and beyond a point of fatigue. In a series of experiments, we describe how muscle fatigue, defined as degradation of maximum force after exertion, impairs motor-skill learning beyond its effects on task execution. The negative effects on learning are evidenced by impaired task acquisition on subsequent practice days even in the absence of fatigue. Further, we found that this effect is in part mediated centrally and can be alleviated by altering motor cortex function. Thus, the common practice of training while, or beyond, fatigue levels should be carefully reconsidered, since this affects overall long-term skill learning. Mastering a new movement requires practice. Intensive and repetitive training is essential for musicians, athletes, or surgeons. It is also important for people undergoing rehabilitation to help them regain normal movements after an illness or injury. Although practice is said to make perfect, there comes the point when it also causes physical fatigue. Fatigue can impair how well a person performs a movement, but its effects on learning a task are less clear. Now, Branscheidt et al. show that being physically fatigued interferes with learning a new movement skill. In the experiments, volunteers were divided in two groups: the first group had to learn a new motor skill after their hand muscles were physically fatigued, the second group learned the same task without being worn out. The fatigued volunteers had a harder time learning a new motor task both on the day of the task and on the following days, even after they had recovered from the fatigue. The same experiment was repeated, but instead of learning a motor task, the volunteers were asked to learn a sequence of keystrokes. The volunteers in both groups learned this new thinking task easily. This suggests that learning new thinking tasks is not affected by physical fatigue. Branscheidt et al. also disrupted memory formation in part of the brain that controls movement after volunteers finished learning the motor task using a technique called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. This eliminated the motor learning deficit in the fatigued group. This may suggest that memories formed after fatigue may impair later motor learning and that physical training or rehabilitation that pushes people to work past fatigue may be counterproductive. Further study of these processes may help to develop better training regimens and rehabilitation methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meret Branscheidt
- The Human Brain Physiology and Stimulation Laboratory, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.,Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Panagiotis Kassavetis
- The Human Brain Physiology and Stimulation Laboratory, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.,Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Neurology Department, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Manuel Anaya
- The Human Brain Physiology and Stimulation Laboratory, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Davis Rogers
- The Human Brain Physiology and Stimulation Laboratory, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.,The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Han Debra Huang
- The Human Brain Physiology and Stimulation Laboratory, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Martin A Lindquist
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Pablo Celnik
- The Human Brain Physiology and Stimulation Laboratory, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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Bavassi L, Forcato C, Fernández RS, De Pino G, Pedreira ME, Villarreal MF. Retrieval of retrained and reconsolidated memories are associated with a distinct neural network. Sci Rep 2019; 9:784. [PMID: 30692553 PMCID: PMC6349866 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37089-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Consolidated memories can persist from a single day to years, and persistence is improved by retraining or retrieval-mediated plasticity. One retrieval-based way to strengthen memory is the reconsolidation process. Strengthening occurs simply by the presentation of specific cues associated with the original learning. This enhancement function has a fundamental role in the maintenance of memory relevance in animals everyday life. In the present study, we made a step forward in the identification of brain correlates imprinted by the reconsolidation process studying the long-term neural consequences when the strengthened memory is stable again. To reach such a goal, we compared the retention of paired-associate memories that went through retraining process or were labilizated-reconsolidated. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we studied the specific areas activated during retrieval and analyzed the functional connectivity of the whole brain associated with the event-related design. We used Graph Theory tools to analyze the global features of the network. We show that reconsolidated memories imprint a more locally efficient network that is better at exchanging information, compared with memories that were retrained or untreated. For the first time, we report a method to elucidate the neural footprints associated with a relevant function of memory reconsolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz Bavassi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Física, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Cecilia Forcato
- Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios de Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos, CONICET, Universidad Nacional Arturo Jauretche Hospital de Alta Complejidad en Red El Cruce "Néstor Kirchner",Av. Calchaqui 6200, (1888), Florencio Varela, Argentina
| | - Rodrigo S Fernández
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela De Pino
- Laboratorio de Neuroimágenes, Departamento de Imágenes, FLENI, Montañeses 2325, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, C1428AQK, Argentina
- Centro Universitario de Imágenes Médicas (CEUNIM), Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- INAAC, FLENI, Montañeses 2325, C1428AQK, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María E Pedreira
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mirta F Villarreal
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Física, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- INAAC, FLENI, Montañeses 2325, C1428AQK, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Spampinato D, Celnik P. Deconstructing skill learning and its physiological mechanisms. Cortex 2018; 104:90-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2018.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/17/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Human Depotentiation following Induction of Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity. Biomedicines 2018; 6:biomedicines6020071. [PMID: 29912149 PMCID: PMC6027207 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines6020071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Depotentiation (DP) is a crucial mechanism for the tuning of memory traces once LTP (Long Term Potentiation) has been induced via learning, artificial procedures, or other activities. Putative unuseful LTP might be abolished via this process. Its deficiency is thought to play a role in pathologies, such as drug induced dyskinesia. However, since it is thought that it represents a mechanism that is linked to the susceptibility to interference during consolidation of a memory trace, it is an important process to consider when therapeutic interventions, such as psychotherapy, are administered. Perhaps a person with an abnormal depotentiation is prone to lose learned effects very easily or on the other end of the spectrum is prone to overload with previously generated unuseful LTP. Perhaps this process partly explains why some disorders and patients are extremely resistant to therapy. The present study seeks to quantify the relationship between LTP and depotentiation in the human brain by using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the cortex of healthy participants. The results provide further evidence that depotentiation can be quantified in humans by use of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques. They provide evidence that a nonfocal rhythmic on its own inefficient stimulation, such as a modified thetaburst stimulation, can depotentiate an associative, focal spike timing-dependent PAS (paired associative stimulation)-induced LTP. Therefore, the depotentiation-like process does not seem to be restricted to specific subgroups of synapses that have undergone LTP before. Most importantly, the induced LTP seems highly correlated with the amount of generated depotentiation in healthy individuals. This might be a phenomenon typical of health and might be distorted in brain pathologies, such as dystonia, or dyskinesias. The ratio of LTP/DP might be a valuable marker for potential distortions of persistence versus deletion of memory traces represented by LTP-like plasticity.
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Lopez-Alonso V, Liew SL, Fernández Del Olmo M, Cheeran B, Sandrini M, Abe M, Cohen LG. A Preliminary Comparison of Motor Learning Across Different Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Paradigms Shows No Consistent Modulations. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:253. [PMID: 29740271 PMCID: PMC5924807 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has been widely explored as a way to safely modulate brain activity and alter human performance for nearly three decades. Research using NIBS has grown exponentially within the last decade with promising results across a variety of clinical and healthy populations. However, recent work has shown high inter-individual variability and a lack of reproducibility of previous results. Here, we conducted a small preliminary study to explore the effects of three of the most commonly used excitatory NIBS paradigms over the primary motor cortex (M1) on motor learning (Sequential Visuomotor Isometric Pinch Force Tracking Task) and secondarily relate changes in motor learning to changes in cortical excitability (MEP amplitude and SICI). We compared anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), paired associative stimulation (PAS25), and intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), along with a sham tDCS control condition. Stimulation was applied prior to motor learning. Participants (n = 28) were randomized into one of the four groups and were trained on a skilled motor task. Motor learning was measured immediately after training (online), 1 day after training (consolidation), and 1 week after training (retention). We did not find consistent differential effects on motor learning or cortical excitability across groups. Within the boundaries of our small sample sizes, we then assessed effect sizes across the NIBS groups that could help power future studies. These results, which require replication with larger samples, are consistent with previous reports of small and variable effect sizes of these interventions on motor learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Lopez-Alonso
- Human Cortical Physiology and Neurorehabilitation Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Department of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, "Center of Higher Education Alberta Giménez (CESAG)" Comillas Pontifical University, Palma, Spain.,Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Sciences of Sport and Physical Education, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Sook-Lei Liew
- Human Cortical Physiology and Neurorehabilitation Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Departments of Occupational Therapy, Biokinesiology, and Neurology, Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Miguel Fernández Del Olmo
- Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Sciences of Sport and Physical Education, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Binith Cheeran
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom.,The London Clinic, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Sandrini
- Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mitsunari Abe
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neurological Disorders, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Leonardo G Cohen
- Human Cortical Physiology and Neurorehabilitation Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Veldman MP, Maurits NM, Zijdewind I, Maffiuletti NA, van Middelkoop S, Mizelle JC, Hortobágyi T. Somatosensory electrical stimulation improves skill acquisition, consolidation, and transfer by increasing sensorimotor activity and connectivity. J Neurophysiol 2018; 120:281-290. [PMID: 29641307 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00860.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between the somatosensory and motor systems is important for normal human motor function and learning. Enhancing somatosensory input using somatosensory electrical stimulation (SES) can increase motor performance, but the neuronal mechanisms underlying these effects are largely unknown. With EEG, we examined whether skill acquisition, consolidation, and interlimb transfer after SES was related to increased activity in sensorimotor regions, as assessed by the N30 somatosensory evoked potential or rather increased connectivity between these regions, as assessed by the phase slope index (PSI). Right- and left-hand motor performance and EEG measures were taken before, immediately after, and 24 h ( day 2) after either SES ( n = 12; 5 men) or Control ( n = 12; 5 men). The results showed skill acquisition and consolidation in the stimulated right hand immediately after SES (6%) and on day 2 (9%) and interlimb transfer to the nonstimulated left hand on day 2 relative to Control (8%, all P < 0.05). Increases in N30 amplitudes correlated with skill acquisition while PSI from electrodes that represent the posterior parietal and primary somatosensory cortex to the electrode representing the primary motor cortex correlated with skill consolidation. In contrast, interlimb transfer did not correlate with the EEG-derived neurophysiological estimates obtained in the present study, which may indicate the involvement of subcortical structures in interlimb transfer after SES. In conclusion, weak peripheral somatosensory inputs in the form of SES improve skill acquisition, consolidation, and interlimb transfer that coincide with different cortical adaptations, including enhanced N30 amplitudes and PSI. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The relationship between adaptations in synaptic plasticity and motor learning following somatosensory electrical stimulation (SES) is incompletely understood. Here, we used for the first time a multifactorial approach that examined skill acquisition, consolidation, and interlimb transfer following 20 min of SES. In addition, we quantified sensorimotor integration and the magnitude and direction of connectivity with EEG. Following artificial electrical stimulation, increases in sensorimotor integration and connectivity were found to correlate with skill acquisition and consolidation, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menno P Veldman
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences , Groningen , The Netherlands
| | - Natasha M Maurits
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen , Groningen , The Netherlands.,University of Groningen, Neuroimaging Center , Groningen , The Netherlands
| | - Inge Zijdewind
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen , Groningen , The Netherlands
| | | | - Stella van Middelkoop
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences , Groningen , The Netherlands
| | - J Chris Mizelle
- Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University , Greenville, North Carolina
| | - Tibor Hortobágyi
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences , Groningen , The Netherlands
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Lømo T. Discovering long-term potentiation (LTP) - recollections and reflections on what came after. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2018; 222. [PMID: 28719040 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Chance events led me to a lifelong career in scientific research. They paved the way for being the first to see long-term potentiation of synaptic efficiency (LTP) in Per Andersen's laboratory in Oslo in 1966. Here I describe my way to this discovery and the experiments with Tim Bliss in 1968-1969 that led to Bliss and Lømo, 1973. Surprisingly, we later failed to reproduce these results. I discuss possible reasons for this failure, which made us both leave LTP research, in my case for good, in Tim's case for several years. After 30 years of work in a different field, I renewed my interest in the hippocampus and LTP in the early 2000s and published, for the first time, results that I had obtained 40 years earlier. Here I present my take on how interest in and research on LTP evolved after the early years. This includes a discussion of the functions of hippocampus as seen in those early days, the case of patient H.M., Donald Hebb's place in the story, the search for 'memory molecules' such as PKMζ, and the primary site for LTP expression (pre- and/or post-synaptic?). Throughout, I reflect on my life in science, how science is done and what drives it. The reflections are quite personal and I admit to mixed feelings about broadcasting them.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Lømo
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences; University of Oslo; Oslo Norway
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