Short article: Effects of interlimb practice on coding and learning of movement sequences

Abstract

An interlimb practice paradigm was designed to determine the role that visual-spatial (Cartesian) and motor (joint angles, activation patterns) coordinates play in the coding and learning of complex movement sequences. Participants practised a 16-element movement sequence by moving a lever to sequentially presented targets with one limb on Day 1 and the contralateral limb on Day 2. Practice involved the same sequence with either the same visual-spatial or motor coordinates on the two days. A unilateral practice condition (control) was also tested where both coordinate systems were changed but the same limb was used. Retention tests were conducted on Day 3. Regardless of the order in which the limbs were used during practice, results indicated that keeping the visual-spatial coordinates the same during acquisition resulted in superior retention. This provides strong evidence that the visual-spatial code plays a dominant role in complex movement sequences, and this code is represented in an effector-independent manner.