Sequential motor learning transfers from real to virtual environment

Yuhi Takeo,Yuna Shirakawa,Takashi Ikeda,Masayuki Hara,Hisato Sugata

doi:10.1186/s12984-021-00903-6

Abstract

BackgroundSkill acquisition of motor learning between virtual environments (VEs) and real environments (REs) may be related. Although studies have previously examined the transfer of motor learning in VEs and REs through the same tasks, only a small number of studies have focused on studying the transfer of motor learning in VEs and REs by using different tasks. Thus, detailed effects of the transfer of motor skills between VEs and REs remain controversial. Here, we investigated the transfer of sequential motor learning between VEs and REs conditions.MethodsTwenty-seven healthy volunteers performed two types of sequential motor learning tasks; a visually cued button-press task in RE (RE task) and a virtual reaching task in VE (VE task). Participants were randomly assigned to two groups in the task order; the first group was RE task followed by VE task and the second group was VE task followed by RE task. Subsequently, the response time in RE task and VE task was compared between the two groups respectively.ResultsThe results showed that the sequential reaching task in VEs was facilitated after the sequential finger task in REs.ConclusionsThese findings suggested that the sequential reaching task in VEs can be facilitated by a motor learning task comprising the same sequential finger task in REs, even when a different task is applied.

Highlights

Skill acquisition of motor learning between virtual environments (VEs) and real environments (REs) may be related
Experimental design In order to examine the transfer of motor learning, the participants performed sequential motor learning tasks in both REs and VEs (Fig. 1A)
The present study investigated the transfer of motor learning between VEs and REs in different tasks

Summary

Introduction

Skill acquisition of motor learning between virtual environments (VEs) and real environments (REs) may be related. Several reports focused on interactions of skill acquisition of motor learning in VEs and REs. For instance, a study in healthy subjects demonstrated that skill acquisition of the sequential motor learning occurs at the same rate in both VE and conventional screen environments, while the transfer of motor skills was not observed from VE to the screen environment [30]. Motor learning and motor performance did not transfer from VEs to REs in older adults and individuals with neuromuscular diseases [29, 32, 33]. As for motor learning transfer, previous studies suggested motor skill learning transfer in the case of the same environments concerning different tasks. Considering the relationship between motor learning skill acquisition between VEs and REs, we hypothesized that motor learning transfer occurs between VEs and REs even in the case of different tasks

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion