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© 2013. This article is published under (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Cross-training is a phenomenon related to motor learning, where motor performance of the untrained limb shows improvement in strength and skill execution following unilateral training of the homologous contralateral limb. We used functional MRI to investigate whether motor performance of the untrained limb could be improved using a serial reaction time task according to motor sequential learning of the trained limb, and whether these skill acquisitions led to changes in brain activation patterns. We recruited 20 right-handed healthy subjects, who were randomly allocated into training and control groups. The training group was trained in performance of a serial reaction time task using their non-dominant left hand, 40 minutes per day, for 10 days, over a period of 2 weeks. The control group did not receive training. Measurements of response time and percentile of response accuracy were performed twice during pre- and post-training, while brain functional MRI was scanned during performance of the serial reaction time task using the untrained right hand. In the training group, prominent changes in response time and percentile of response accuracy were observed in both the untrained right hand and the trained left hand between pre- and post-training. The control group showed no significant changes in the untrained hand between pre- and post-training. In the training group, the activated volume of the cortical areas related to motor function (i.e., primary motor cortex, premotor area, posterior parietal cortex) showed a gradual decrease, and enhanced cerebellar activation of the vermis and the newly activated ipsilateral dentate nucleus were observed during performance of the serial reaction time task using the untrained right hand, accompanied by the cross-motor learning effect. However, no significant changes were observed in the control group. Our findings indicate that motor skills learned over the 2-week training using the trained limb were transferred to the opposite homologous limb, and motor skill acquisition of the untrained limb led to changes in brain activation patterns in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum.

Research Highlights

(1) We examined changes in brain activation patterns after motor sequential learning in the untrained hand after training of the opposite hand.

(2) Measurements of response time and accuracy were performed, while functional MRI was scanned during performance of a serial reaction time task.

(3) Sequential motor skill was transferred to the opposite hand, which led to changes in brain activation patterns in the cerebral and cerebellar regions.

(4) Elucidation of the cross-training effect will provide valuable therapeutic guidelines for clinicians who treat patients with unilateral limb motor dysfunction.

(5) This is the first evidence for changes in brain activity patterns in the cortical and cerebellar structures according to cross transfer of motor skill acquisition.

Details

Title
Changes in brain activation patterns according to cross-training effect in serial reaction time task: An functional MRI study
Author
Kwon, Yong 1 ; Kwon, Jung 1 ; Park, Ji 2 

 Department of Physical Therapy, Yeungnam College of Science & Technology, Daegu, Damgu 705-703 
 Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Catholic University of Daegu, Gyeongsan-si, Kyeongbuk 712-702 
Pages
639-646
Publication year
2013
Publication date
Mar 2013
Publisher
Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd.
ISSN
16735374
e-ISSN
18767958
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2382787238
Copyright
© 2013. This article is published under (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.