Abstract
AbstractMotor adaptation is a process by which the brain gradually reduces error induced by a predictable change in the environment, e.g., pointing while wearing prism glasses. It is thought to occur via largely implicit processes, though explicit strategies are also thought to contribute. Research suggests a role of the cerebellum in the implicit aspects of motor adaptation. Using non-invasive brain stimulation, we sought to investigate the involvement of the cerebellum in implicit motor adaptation in healthy participants. Inhibition of the cerebellum was attained through repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), after which participants performed a visuomotor-rotation task while using an explicit strategy. Adaptation and aftereffects of the TMS group showed no difference in behaviour compared to a Sham stimulation group, therefore this study did not provide any further evidence of a specific role of the cerebellum in implicit motor adaptation. However, our behavioral findings replicate those in the seminal study by Mazzoni and Krakauer (2006).
Highlights
The exact contributions of explicit and implicit processes to motor adaptation are unknown
While the cerebellum is thought to have a major role in the implicit processes, it is thought that other brain areas contribute more explicit processes (Taylor et al, 2014)
Though the explicit strategy led to an instant correction of the error, participants started to drift away from the target ending close to their aiming location, i.e. implicit adaptation started to occur around the aiming location instead of the target and overrode the strategy – this rather counterintuitive behavioural finding has not been directly replicated
Summary
The exact contributions of explicit and implicit processes to motor adaptation are unknown. While the cerebellum is thought to have a major role in the implicit processes, it is thought that other brain areas contribute more explicit processes (Taylor et al, 2014). In a seminal paper, Mazzoni and Krakauer (2006) demonstrated that implicit adaptation overrides explicit strategy in a visuomotor-rotation task. Though the explicit strategy led to an instant correction of the error, participants started to drift away from the target ending close to their aiming location, i.e. implicit adaptation started to occur around the aiming location instead of the target and overrode the strategy – this rather counterintuitive behavioural finding has not been directly replicated. Patients with cerebellar degeneration can better use strategy for adaptation compared to controls where performance deteriorates (Taylor et al, 2010), suggesting a primary role of the cerebellum in implicit, but not explicit motor adaptation
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