Motor Skill Learning And Cortical Plasticity Flashcards
What is the definition of motor skill learning?
The process by which motor skills become effortlessly performed through repeated practice.
Hikosaka et al., 2003
What are the two stages of motor skill learning?
- Early (Fast stage)
- Late (Long-term or Slow stage)
What characterizes the Early (Fast) stage of motor skill learning?
Rapid improvement in performance during the initial practice stage, often within a single practice session.
What characterizes the Late (Slow) stage of motor skill learning?
Slower and more gradual improvement in performance over repeated practice periods until a plateau is reached.
What is consolidation in the context of motor learning?
Stabilization of a recently acquired memory, transforming it from a fragile state into a more robust form.
How does sleep affect motor learning?
A night of sleep can result in a 20% increase in movement speed without loss of accuracy, while equivalent wake time provides no significant benefit.
Walker et al., 2002
What measures reflect motor learning?
- Decreased reaction time (RT)
- Decreased endpoint error
- Increased speed
- Changes in movement kinematics
What is the significance of synaptic changes during motor skill learning?
Modification of cortical representation areas due to alterations in sensory input, including increased dendritic branching and synapses.
What phenomenon occurs in the brain following deafferentation studies in monkeys?
Reorganization of sensory cortex, where areas responsive to one finger respond to input from other fingers.
What is focal dystonia?
A neurological condition affecting specific actions involving a body part, often seen in musicians involving hand movements.
What is Constraint-Induced Therapy (CIT)?
A therapy for stroke subjects where the unaffected arm is constrained for 90% of waking hours to force use of the affected arm.
What are the principles of exercise-dependent neural plasticity?
- Use it or lose it
- Use it and improve it
- Specificity
- Repetition matters
- Intensity matters
- Time matters
- Salience matters
- Age matters
- Transference
- Interference
What is Motor Imagery (MI)?
A cognitive process of imagining a movement, which can lead to overlaps in brain activation areas involved in actual movement execution.
What is Action Observation (AO)?
Observing the actions of others, leading to activation of brain areas involved in executing those actions.
True or False: Motor skill learning is solely dependent on knowledge.
False.
Motor skills emerge from experience.
Fill in the blank: The fast stage of motor skill learning often occurs within a _______.
[single practice session]
What happens to skilled behavior with extended practice?
It becomes resistant to both interference and the passage of time.
What is the role of sleep in motor skill consolidation?
It significantly enhances the stability and performance of motor skills acquired.
What is the impact of motor learning on joint movement coordination?
It reflects improved temporal and spatial coordination, decreased joint stiffness, and development of an internal model of movement.
What is the effect of task-based therapy in stroke rehabilitation?
It involves active use of the affected limb and requires repetitive practice for long-term improvement.
What is the relationship between skilled athletes/musicians and cortical representation?
They exhibit enlarged cortical areas related to muscle groups involved in their specific movements.
What are the effects of motor imagery in rehabilitation?
Can improve performance in various fields and is associated with neuroplastic changes in the primary motor cortex.
What does the term ‘learned non-use’ refer to in motor dysfunction?
A phenomenon where individuals do not use an affected limb, leading to a decrease in its functional abilities.
