Abstract
Previous studies demonstrated significant differences in the learning and performance of discrete movement sequences across the lifespan: Young adults (18–28 years) showed more indications for the development of (implicit) motor chunks and explicit sequence knowledge than middle-aged (55–62 years; Verwey et al., 2011) and elderly participants (75–88 years; Verwey, 2010). Still, even in the absence of indications for motor chunks, the middle-aged and elderly participants showed some performance improvement too. This was attributed to a sequence learning mechanism in which individual reactions are primed by implicit sequential knowledge. The present work further examined sequential movement skill across these age groups. We explored the consequences of making an error on the execution of a subsequent sequence, and investigated whether this is modulated by aging. To that end, we re-analyzed the data from our previous studies. Results demonstrate that sequencing performance is slowed after an error has been made in the previous sequence. Importantly, for young adults and middle-aged participants the observed slowing was also accompanied by increased accuracy after an error. We suggest that slowing in these age groups involves both functional and non-functional components, while slowing in elderly participants is non-functional. Moreover, using action sequences (instead of single key-presses) may allow to better track the effects on performance of making an error.
Highlights
The phenomenon of post-error slowing refers to the tendency of participants to slow down on the current trial after having committed an error on the previous trial (Rabbitt and Rodgers, 1977; Notebaert et al, 2009; e.g., Danielmeier and Ullsperger, 2011; Dutilh et al, 2012a, 2013; Houtman et al, 2012; Houtman and Notebaert, 2013)
Ample studies have focused on post-error slowing in relatively simple reaction time (RT) tasks, but to our best knowledge this phenomenon has never been examined for more complex sequencing skill—even though it seems plausible that slowing may be observed at the sequential level
PARTICIPANTS The experimental data of 24 young adults, 24 middle-aged participants and 24 elderly participants that had been collected in the practice phase of the Verwey (2010) and Verwey et al (2011) studies were used for the analyses
Summary
The phenomenon of post-error slowing refers to the tendency of participants to slow down on the current trial after having committed an error on the previous trial (Rabbitt and Rodgers, 1977; Notebaert et al, 2009; e.g., Danielmeier and Ullsperger, 2011; Dutilh et al, 2012a, 2013; Houtman et al, 2012; Houtman and Notebaert, 2013). Ample studies have focused on post-error slowing in relatively simple reaction time (RT) tasks (e.g., single key press), but to our best knowledge this phenomenon has never been examined for more complex sequencing skill—even though it seems plausible that slowing may be observed at the sequential level. The present study examines for the first time the consequences of making an error on the performance of relatively complex movement sequences. To this end, we (a) examine whether post-error slowing occurs at the sequence level, and (b) investigate whether or not such slowing is functional (i.e., attributable to strategically increased control). We will first elaborate on theories on post-error slowing, and we will describe our previous work on sequence learning and aging
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