Long-term motor skill training with individually adjusted progressive difficulty enhances learning and promotes corticospinal plasticity

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Christiansen, Lasse, Larsen, Malte Nejst, Madsen, Mads Just, Grey, Michael James ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3216-3272, Nielsen, Jens Bo and Lundbye-Jensen, Jesper (2020) Long-term motor skill training with individually adjusted progressive difficulty enhances learning and promotes corticospinal plasticity. Scientific Reports, 10. ISSN 2045-2322

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Abstract

Motor skill acquisition depends on central nervous plasticity. However, behavioural determinants leading to long lasting corticospinal plasticity and motor expertise remain unexplored. Here we investigate behavioural and electrophysiological effects of individually tailored progressive practice during long-term motor skill training. Two groups of participants practiced a visuomotor task requiring precise control of the right digiti minimi for 6 weeks. One group trained with constant task difficulty, while the other group trained with progressively increasing task difficulty, i.e. continuously adjusted to their individual skill level. Compared to constant practice, progressive practice resulted in a two-fold greater performance at an advanced task level and associated increases in corticospinal excitability. Differences were maintained 8 days later, whereas both groups demonstrated equal retention 14 months later. We demonstrate that progressive practice enhances motor skill learning and promotes corticospinal plasticity. These findings underline the importance of continuously challenging patients and athletes to promote neural plasticity, skilled performance, and recovery.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	general ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1000
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Rehabilitation
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	02 Oct 2020 23:55
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2024 02:46
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/77082
DOI:	10.1038/s41598-020-72139-8

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