Electrophysiological correlates of motor sequence learning.

Christelle Beaulieu,Pierre Jolicoeur,Benoit Brisson,Marie-Ève Bourassa,Louis De Beaumont

doi:10.1186/1471-2202-15-102

Abstract

BackgroundThe Error-related negativity (ERN) is a component of the event-related brain potentials elicited by error commission. The ERN is thought to reflect cognitive control processes aiming to improve performance. As previous studies showed a modulation of the ERN amplitude throughout the execution of a learning task, this study aims to follow the ERN amplitude changes from early to late learning blocks in relation with concomitant motor sequence learning using a serial reaction time (SRT) task. Twenty-two healthy participants completed a SRT task during which continuous EEG activity was recorded. The SRT task consists of series of stimulus-response pairs and involves motor learning of a repeating sequence. Learning was computed as the difference in mean response time between the last sequence block and the last random blocks that immediately follows it (sequence-specific learning). Event-related potentials were analysed to measure ERN amplitude elicited by error commission.ResultsMean ERN amplitude difference between the first four learning blocks and the last four learning blocks of the SRT task correlated significantly with motor sequence learning as well as with overall response time improvement, such that those participants whose ERN amplitude most increased through learning blocks were also those who exhibited most SRT task improvements. In contrast, neither sequence-specific learning nor overall response time improvement across learning blocks were found to be related to averaged ERN amplitude from all learning blocks.ConclusionFindings from the present study suggest that the ERN amplitude changes from early to late learning blocks occurring over the course of the SRT task, as opposed to the averaged ERN amplitude from all learning blocks, is more closely associated with learning of a motor sequence. These findings propose an improved electrophysiological marker to index change in cognitive control efficiency during motor sequence learning.

Highlights

The Error-related negativity (ERN) is a component of the event-related brain potentials elicited by error commission
Studies showed that the amplitude of the ERN predicts post-error slowing [15] and that both amplitude and latency of the ERN are associated with a subsequent correction of a committed error [16,17,18]. These results suggest that cognitive operations reflected by the ERN support the initiation of top-down processes aiming to improve performance
An enhanced FRN was found for errors that were subsequently adjusted compared to errors that were repeated. These results suggest that a motor sequence learning task including numerous learning blocks, such as the serial reaction time (SRT) task proposed by Perez, Wise, Willingham and Cohen [27], may allow one to follow the changes of the ERN response in relation with concomitant behavioral performance modifications

Summary

Introduction

The Error-related negativity (ERN) is a component of the event-related brain potentials elicited by error commission. The ERN is a component of the event-related brain potential (ERP) elicited by error commission. It is generally known as an index of the evaluative processes of cognitive control involved in one’s own performance monitoring [2,4,5]. This component is usually maximal at central and frontocentral electrode positions (Cz and FCz in the standard 10–10 system of electroencephalogram (EEG) electrode placement) and appears as a negative deflection that peaks within 0–100 ms following an erroneous overt response. Frequency-domain studies suggest that anterior theta (4–8 Hz) EEG activity could underlie the generation of this ERP waveform [6,7,8,9]

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