Modality of practice modulates resting state connectivity during motor learning

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 781; p. 136659
• Main Authors: Kraeutner, Sarah N., Cui, Anja-Xiaoxing, Boyd, Lara A., Boe, Shaun G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 11.06.2022
• Subjects: fMRI; Functional connectivity; Motor imagery; Motor learning; rs-fMRI; Functional connectivity; fMRI; Motor imagery; Motor learning; rs-fMRI
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136659

[Display omitted] •We examined changes in brain activity (resting state) during motor learning.•Motor learning occurred through either motor imagery (MIP) or physical practice.•Resultant changes in brain activity were not equivalent across practice modality.•MIP relied on widespread circuitry, relative to physical practice.•Findings inform the unique neural mechanism MIP relies on to drive motor learning. When bookending skilled motor practice, changes in resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI; used to characterise synchronized patterns of activity when the brain is at rest) reflect functional reorganization that supports motor memory consolidation and learning. Despite its use in practice in numerous domains, the neural mechanisms underlying motor memory consolidation and learning that result from motor imagery practice (MIP) relative to physical practice are not well understood. The current study examined how rs-fMRI is modulated by skilled motor practice that results through either MIP or physical practice. Two groups of participants engaged in five days of MIP or physical practice of a dart throwing task. Performance and rs-fMRI were captured before and after training. Relative to physical practice, where focal changes in rs-fMRI within a cerebellar-cortical network were observed, MIP stimulated widespread changes in rs-fMRI within a frontoparietal network encompassing bilateral regions. Findings indicate functional reorganization that supports motor memory consolidation and learning is not equivalent across practice modalities. Ultimately, this work provides new information regarding the unique neural underpinnings MIP relies on to drive motor memory consolidation and learning.