Citation

Kraeutner SN, Gaughan TC, Eppler SN, Boe SG. Acta Psychol. 2017; 178: 48-55.

Affiliation

Laboratory for Brain Recovery and Function, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H4R1, Canada; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H4R2, Canada; School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H4R2, Canada; School of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H4R2, Canada. Electronic address: s.boe@dal.ca.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.actpsy.2017.05.009

PMID

28577488

Abstract

Implicit sequence learning (ISL) occurs without conscious awareness and is critical for skill acquisition. The extent to which ISL occurs is a function of exposure (i.e., total training time and/or sequence to noise ratio) to a repeated sequence, and thus the cognitive mechanism underlying ISL is the formation of stimulus-response associations. As the majority of ISL studies employ paradigms whereby individuals unknowingly physically practice a repeated sequence, the cognitive mechanism underlying ISL through motor imagery (MI), the mental rehearsal of movement, remains unknown. This study examined the cognitive mechanisms of MI-based ISL by probing the link between exposure and the resultant ISL. Seventy-two participants underwent MI-based practice of an ISL task following randomization to one of four conditions: 4 training blocks with a high (4-High) or low (4-Low) sequence to noise ratio, or 2 training blocks with a high (2-High) or low (2-Low) sequence to noise ratio. Reaction time differences (dRT) and effect sizes between repeated and random sequences assessed the extent of learning. All groups showed a degree of ISL, yet effect sizes indicated a greater degree of learning in groups with higher exposure (4-Low and 4-High).

FINDINGS indicate that the extent to which ISL occurs through MI is impacted by manipulations to total training time and the sequence to noise ratio. Overall, we show that the extent of ISL occurring through MI is a function of exposure, indicating that like physical practice, the cognitive mechanisms of MI-based ISL rely on the formation of stimulus response associations.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Implicit sequence learning; Motor imagery; Serial reaction time task; Skill acquisition