Long-term motor skill training with individually adjusted progressive difficulty enhances learning and promotes corticospinal plasticity
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Long-term motor skill training with individually adjusted progressive difficulty enhances learning and promotes corticospinal plasticity. / Christiansen, Lasse; Larsen, Malte Nejst; Madsen, Mads Just; Grey, Michael James; Nielsen, Jens Bo; Lundbye-Jensen, Jesper.
In: Scientific Reports, Vol. 10, 15588, 2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Long-term motor skill training with individually adjusted progressive difficulty enhances learning and promotes corticospinal plasticity
AU - Christiansen, Lasse
AU - Larsen, Malte Nejst
AU - Madsen, Mads Just
AU - Grey, Michael James
AU - Nielsen, Jens Bo
AU - Lundbye-Jensen, Jesper
N1 - CURIS 2020 NEXS 319
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Motor skill acquisition depends on central nervous plasticity. However, behavioural determinants leading to long lasting corticospinal plasticity and motor expertise remain unexplored. Here we investigate behavioural and electrophysiological effects of individually tailored progressive practice during long-term motor skill training. Two groups of participants practiced a visuomotor task requiring precise control of the right digiti minimi for 6 weeks. One group trained with constant task difficulty, while the other group trained with progressively increasing task difficulty, i.e. continuously adjusted to their individual skill level. Compared to constant practice, progressive practice resulted in a two-fold greater performance at an advanced task level and associated increases in corticospinal excitability. Differences were maintained 8 days later, whereas both groups demonstrated equal retention 14 months later. We demonstrate that progressive practice enhances motor skill learning and promotes corticospinal plasticity. These findings underline the importance of continuously challenging patients and athletes to promote neural plasticity, skilled performance, and recovery.
AB - Motor skill acquisition depends on central nervous plasticity. However, behavioural determinants leading to long lasting corticospinal plasticity and motor expertise remain unexplored. Here we investigate behavioural and electrophysiological effects of individually tailored progressive practice during long-term motor skill training. Two groups of participants practiced a visuomotor task requiring precise control of the right digiti minimi for 6 weeks. One group trained with constant task difficulty, while the other group trained with progressively increasing task difficulty, i.e. continuously adjusted to their individual skill level. Compared to constant practice, progressive practice resulted in a two-fold greater performance at an advanced task level and associated increases in corticospinal excitability. Differences were maintained 8 days later, whereas both groups demonstrated equal retention 14 months later. We demonstrate that progressive practice enhances motor skill learning and promotes corticospinal plasticity. These findings underline the importance of continuously challenging patients and athletes to promote neural plasticity, skilled performance, and recovery.
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-020-72139-8
DO - 10.1038/s41598-020-72139-8
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32973251
VL - 10
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
SN - 2045-2322
M1 - 15588
ER -
ID: 249108985