Baclofen, a GABAb receptor agonist, impairs motor learning in healthy people and changes inhibitory dynamics in motor areas.

ABSTRACT: Inhibition mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is implicated in motor plasticity and learning, with [GABA] in the motor cortex decreasing during motor learning. However, the causal relationship between [GABA] and learning has yet to be determined. Here, we conducted a within-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study to investigate the effect of increased GABAergic inhibition via GABA_B-receptor agonist baclofen on motor learning and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) metrics. Increasing GABA-mediated inhibition with baclofen did not change response times, but significantly impaired motor sequence learning. In parallel, we demonstrated a blunting of the expected decrease in [GABA] during motor learning. These results highlight a causal role for GAB

SUBMITTER: Grigoras IF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12580813 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature