Learning of a sequential motor skill comprises explicit and implicit components that consolidate differently.

ABSTRACT: The ability to perform accurate sequential movements is essential to normal motor function. Learning a sequential motor behavior is comprised of two basic components: explicit identification of the order in which the sequence elements should be performed and implicit acquisition of spatial accuracy for each element. Here we investigated the time course of learning of these components for a first sequence (SEQA) and their susceptibility to interference from learning a second sequence (SEQB). We assessed explicit learning with a discrete index, the number of correct anticipatory movements, and implicit learning with a continuous variable, spatial error, which decreased during learning without subject awareness. Spatial accuracy to individual sequence elements reached asymptotic levels only w

SUBMITTER: Ghilardi MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2681421 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature