TY - JOUR
T1 - Stimulation of the human motor cortex alters generalization patterns of motor learning
AU - de Xivry, Jean Jacques Orban
AU - Marko, Mollie K.
AU - Pekny, Sarah E.
AU - Pastor, Damien
AU - Izawa, Jun
AU - Celnik, Pablo
AU - Shadmehr, Reza
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2011/5/11
Y1 - 2011/5/11
N2 - It has been hypothesized that the generalization patterns that accompany learning carry the signatures of the neural systems that are engaged in that learning. Reach adaptation in force fields has generalization patterns that suggest primary engagement of a neural system that encodes movements in the intrinsic coordinates of joints and muscles, and lesser engagement of a neural system that encodes movements in the extrinsic coordinates of the task. Among the cortical motor areas, the intrinsic coordinate system is most prominently represented in the primary sensorimotor cortices. Here, we used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to alter mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and found that when it was applied to the motor cortex, it increased generalization in intrinsic coordinates but not extrinsic coordinates. However, when tDCS was applied to the posterior parietal cortex, it had no effects on learning or generalization in the force field task. The results suggest that during force field adaptation, the component of learning that produces generalization in intrinsic coordinates depends on the plasticity in the sensorimotor cortex.
AB - It has been hypothesized that the generalization patterns that accompany learning carry the signatures of the neural systems that are engaged in that learning. Reach adaptation in force fields has generalization patterns that suggest primary engagement of a neural system that encodes movements in the intrinsic coordinates of joints and muscles, and lesser engagement of a neural system that encodes movements in the extrinsic coordinates of the task. Among the cortical motor areas, the intrinsic coordinate system is most prominently represented in the primary sensorimotor cortices. Here, we used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to alter mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and found that when it was applied to the motor cortex, it increased generalization in intrinsic coordinates but not extrinsic coordinates. However, when tDCS was applied to the posterior parietal cortex, it had no effects on learning or generalization in the force field task. The results suggest that during force field adaptation, the component of learning that produces generalization in intrinsic coordinates depends on the plasticity in the sensorimotor cortex.
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U2 - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0273-11.2011
DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0273-11.2011
M3 - Article
C2 - 21562272
AN - SCOPUS:79956329134
VL - 31
SP - 7102
EP - 7110
JO - Journal of Neuroscience
JF - Journal of Neuroscience
SN - 0270-6474
IS - 19
ER -