Hebbian priming of human motor learning.
Nat Commun
; 15(1): 5126, 2024 Jun 15.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38879614
ABSTRACT
Motor learning relies on experience-dependent plasticity in relevant neural circuits. In four experiments, we provide initial evidence and a double-blinded, sham-controlled replication (Experiment I-II) demonstrating that motor learning involving ballistic index finger movements is improved by preceding paired corticospinal-motoneuronal stimulation (PCMS), a human model for exogenous induction of spike-timing-dependent plasticity. Behavioral effects of PCMS targeting corticomotoneuronal (CM) synapses are order- and timing-specific and partially bidirectional (Experiment III). PCMS with a 2 ms inter-arrival interval at CM-synapses enhances learning and increases corticospinal excitability compared to control protocols. Unpaired stimulations did not increase corticospinal excitability (Experiment IV). Our findings demonstrate that non-invasively induced plasticity interacts positively with experience-dependent plasticity to promote motor learning. The effects of PCMS on motor learning approximate Hebbian learning rules, while the effects on corticospinal excitability demonstrate timing-specificity but not bidirectionality. These findings offer a mechanistic rationale to enhance motor practice effects by priming sensorimotor training with individualized PCMS.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Learning
/
Motor Neurons
/
Neuronal Plasticity
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Nat Commun
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article