Abstract
It well-known that mental training improves skill performance. Here, we evaluated skill acquisition and consolidation after physical or motor imagery practice, by means of an arm pointing task requiring speed-accuracy trade-off. In the main experiment, we showed a significant enhancement of skill after both practices (72 training trials), with a better acquisition after physical practice. Interestingly, we found a positive impact of the passage of time (+ 6 h post training) on skill consolidation for the motor imagery training only, without any effect of sleep (+ 24 h post training) for none of the interventions. In a control experiment, we matched the gain in skill learning after physical training (new group) with that obtained after motor imagery training (main experiment) to evaluate skill consolidation after the same amount of learning. Skill performance in this control group deteriorated with the passage of time and sleep. In another control experiment, we increased the number of imagined trials (n = 100, new group) to compare the acquisition and consolidation processes of this group with that observed in the motor imagery group of the main experiment. We did not find significant differences between the two groups. These findings suggest that physical and motor imagery practice drive skill learning through different acquisition and consolidation processes.
Highlights
Contributes to the consolidation of motor sequence learning acquired through motor imagery practice
Whether this finding is extended to different types of motor tasks, such as skilled motor learning, remained to be verified
According to the literature showing that movement execution is processed over wakefulness but not over sleep, whereas the spatial goal of a motor skill is processed over sleep but not wakefulness[10,11,12], we expected an effect of the passage of time but not sleep after both interventions
Summary
Contributes to the consolidation of motor sequence learning acquired through motor imagery practice. The effects of the passage of time in motor skill consolidation has not been yet investigated. We assessed the immediate effects of physical or motor imagery training on skill acquisition (Post0h), as well as the effects of the passage of time (Post6h) and the effects of sleep (Post24h) on skill consolidation. According to the literature showing that movement execution (i.e., speed and accuracy) is processed over wakefulness but not over sleep, whereas the spatial goal of a motor skill is processed over sleep but not wakefulness[10,11,12], we expected an effect of the passage of time but not sleep after both interventions. All participants provided written informed consent after being informed on the experimental procedures
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