A single-session of mindfulness meditation expedites immediate motor memory consolidation to improve wakeful offline learning

Post-training meditation has been shown to promote wakeful motor memory stabilization in experienced meditators. We investigated the effect of single-session mindfulness meditation on wakeful and sleep-dependent forms of implicit motor memory consolidation in mediation naïve adults. Immediately after implicit sequence training, participants (N = 20, 8 females, Mage = 23.9 years ± 3.3) completed either a 10-minute focused attention meditation (N = 10), aiming to direct and sustain attention to breathing, or a control listening task. They were then exposed to interference through novel sequence training. Trained sequence performance was tested following a 5-hour wakeful period and again after a 15-hour period, which included sleep. Bayesian inference was applied to group comparison of mean reaction time (MRT) changes across training, interference, wakeful and post-sleep time points. Relative to control conditions, post-training meditation reduced novel sequence interference (BF10 = 6.61) and improved wakeful motor memory consolidation (BF10 = 8.34). No group differences in sleep consolidation were evident (BF10 = 0.38). These findings illustrate that post-training mindfulness meditation expedites wakeful offline learning of an implicit motor sequence in meditation naïve adults. Interleaving mindfulness meditation between acquisition of a target motor sequence and exposure to an interfering motor sequence reduced proactive and retroactive inference. Post-training mindfulness meditation did not enhance nor inhibit sleep-dependent offline learning of a target implicit motor sequence. Previous meditation training is not required to obtain wakeful consolidation gains from post-training mindfulness meditation.

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Contribution of the Premotor Cortex to Consolidation of Motor Sequence Learning in Humans During Sleep

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00611.2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 104 (5) ◽

pp. 2603-2614 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Michael A. Nitsche ◽

Michaela Jakoubkova ◽

Nivethida Thirugnanasambandam ◽

Leonie Schmalfuss ◽

Sandra Hullemann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Task Performance ◽

Rem Sleep ◽

Sequence Learning ◽

Memory Consolidation ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Premotor Cortex ◽

Reaction Time Task ◽

Motor Memory ◽

Motor Sequence

Motor learning and memory consolidation require the contribution of different cortices. For motor sequence learning, the primary motor cortex is involved primarily in its acquisition. Premotor areas might be important for consolidation. In accordance, modulation of cortical excitability via transcranial DC stimulation (tDCS) during learning affects performance when applied to the primary motor cortex, but not premotor cortex. We aimed to explore whether premotor tDCS influences task performance during motor memory consolidation. The impact of excitability-enhancing, -diminishing, or placebo premotor tDCS during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep on recall in the serial reaction time task (SRTT) was explored in healthy humans. The motor task was learned in the evening. Recall was performed immediately after tDCS or the following morning. In two separate control experiments, excitability-enhancing premotor tDCS was performed 4 h after task learning during daytime or immediately before conduction of a simple reaction time task. Excitability-enhancing tDCS performed during REM sleep increased recall of the learned movement sequences, when tested immediately after stimulation. REM density was enhanced by excitability-increasing tDCS and reduced by inhibitory tDCS, but did not correlate with task performance. In the control experiments, tDCS did not improve performance. We conclude that the premotor cortex is involved in motor memory consolidation during REM sleep.

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0104 The Effect of Time, Sleep, and Wake on Motor Memory Consolidation: A Partial Replication of Walker, Et Al. (2002)

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.102 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A41-A42

Author(s):

M Tucker ◽

I Wani

Keyword(s):

Memory Consolidation ◽

Memory Task ◽

Skill Learning ◽

Motor Memory ◽

Partial Replication ◽

Motor Sequence ◽

Training Performance ◽

Digit Sequence ◽

Larger Sample ◽

Typing Task

Abstract Introduction Findings from Walker, et al (2002) ‘Practice with Sleep Makes Perfect: Sleep-Dependent Motor Skill Learning’ demonstrate that performance on a widely used motor memory task (motor sequence task (MST)) benefits from a 12hr period of sleep (and not wake) even if the sleep period does not occur for approximately 12hrs after task acquisition, suggesting that sleep is crucial for motor memory consolidation. Using a larger sample, we attempted to replicate this finding, which is derived from Groups B & D from Walker et al (2002). Methods Participants (64 medical students: Age 21.2±0.8; N=33 females) were trained on the MST in the morning (10am; N=40) or evening (10pm; N=24) and then returned 12 and 24hrs later to be retested. The MST is a simple typing task that requires participants, at training, to type a 5-digit sequence (e.g., 4-1-3-2-4) as fast and accurately as possible over a series of 12 30-second trials with a 30-second break between each trial. At each retest, participants performed three 30-second trials. Results With 75% of the data collected we have found that when sleep follows training in the evening (first 12hr interval), the number of correctly typed sequences increased by 19.1% (cf. 20.5% in Walker (2002)). After a subsequent day of wake (second 12hr interval) performance increased by an additional 7.3% (cf. 2.0%). However, when a day of wake spanned the first 12hrs following training, performance increased by 14.5% (cf. 3.9%) followed by another 14.5% increase over the subsequent night (cf. 14.4%). Performance differences between sleep and wake participants were nonsignificant over the first 12hrs (p=0.38) and second 12hrs (p=0.49). Conclusion With most of data collection complete, our findings only partially replicate those of Walker et al (2002), and may draw into question the robustness of sleep for the processing motor memory. Support None

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Role of the somatosensory cortex in motor memory consolidation

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00770.2019 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 124 (3) ◽

pp. 648-651

Author(s):

Manasi Wali

Keyword(s):

Motor Learning ◽

Somatosensory Cortex ◽

Memory Consolidation ◽

Motor Memory ◽

Implicit Motor Learning ◽

Implicit Motor ◽

Human Motor ◽

Plos Biol

Motor memories become resistant to interference by the process of consolidation, which leads to long-term retention. Studies have shown involvement of the somatosensory cortex in motor learning-related plasticity, but not directly in motor memory consolidation. This Neuro Forum article reviews evidence from a continuous theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTBS) study by Kumar and colleagues (Kumar N, Manning TF, Ostry DJ. PLoS Biol 17: e3000469, 2019) that demonstrates the role of somatosensory, rather than motor, cortex in human motor memory consolidation during implicit motor learning.

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Offline low-frequency rTMS of the primary and premotor cortices does not impact motor sequence memory consolidation despite modulation of corticospinal excitability

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-03737-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Felix Psurek ◽

Bradley Ross King ◽

Joseph Classen ◽

Jost-Julian Rumpf

Keyword(s):

Motor Skills ◽

Memory Consolidation ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Motor Evoked Potentials ◽

Premotor Cortex ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Corticospinal Excitability ◽

Motor Memory ◽

Motor Sequence ◽

Low Frequency Rtms

AbstractMotor skills are acquired and refined across alternating phases of practice (online) and subsequent consolidation in the absence of further skill execution (offline). Both stages of learning are sustained by dynamic interactions within a widespread motor learning network including the premotor and primary motor cortices. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of the dorsal premotor cortex (dPMC) and its interaction with the primary motor cortex (M1) during motor memory consolidation. Forty-eight healthy human participants (age 22.1 ± 3.1 years) were assigned to three different groups corresponding to either low-frequency (1 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of left dPMC, rTMS of left M1, or sham rTMS. rTMS was applied immediately after explicit motor sequence training with the right hand. Motor evoked potentials were recorded before training and after rTMS to assess potential stimulation-induced changes in corticospinal excitability (CSE). Participants were retested on motor sequence performance after eight hours to assess consolidation. While rTMS of dPMC significantly increased CSE and rTMS of M1 significantly decreased CSE, no CSE modulation was induced by sham rTMS. However, all groups demonstrated similar significant offline learning indicating that consolidation was not modulated by the post-training low-frequency rTMS intervention despite evidence of an interaction of dPMC and M1 at the level of CSE. Motor memory consolidation ensuing explicit motor sequence training seems to be a rather robust process that is not affected by low-frequency rTMS-induced perturbations of dPMC or M1. Findings further indicate that consolidation of explicitly acquired motor skills is neither mediated nor reflected by post-training CSE.

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Schema and Motor-Memory Consolidation

Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/0956797619847164 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (7) ◽

pp. 963-978

Author(s):

Bradley R. King ◽

Nina Dolfen ◽

Mareike A. Gann ◽

Zenzi Renard ◽

Stephan P. Swinnen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sequence Learning ◽

Memory Consolidation ◽

Motor Memory ◽

Motor Sequence Learning ◽

Motor Sequence ◽

Learning Paradigm ◽

New Information ◽

Motor Information ◽

Schema Model ◽

Perceptual Systems

Recent research has demonstrated that memory-consolidation processes can be accelerated if newly learned information is consistent with preexisting knowledge. Until now, investigations of this fast integration of new information into memory have focused on the declarative and perceptual systems. We employed a unique manipulation of a motor-sequence-learning paradigm to examine the effect of experimentally acquired memory on the learning of new motor information. Results demonstrate that new information is rapidly integrated into memory when practice occurs in a framework that is compatible with the previously acquired memory. This framework consists of the ordinal representation of the motor sequence. This enhanced integration cannot be explained by differences in the explicit awareness of the sequence and is observed only if the previously acquired motor memory was consolidated overnight. Results are consistent with the schema model of memory consolidation and offer insights into how previous motor experience can accelerate learning and consolidation processes.

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Acute Exercise Following Skill Practice Promotes Motor Memory Consolidation in Parkinson’s Disease

10.1101/2020.05.15.097394 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Philipp Wanner ◽

Martin Winterholler ◽

Heiko Gaßner ◽

Jürgen Winkler ◽

Jochen Klucken ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Motor Learning ◽

Memory Consolidation ◽

Acute Exercise ◽

Dopaminergic System ◽

Exercise Bout ◽

Whole Body ◽

Motor Memory ◽

Offline Learning

AbstractAcute cardiovascular exercise has shown to promote neuroplastic processes, and thus to improve the consolidation of newly acquired motor skills in healthy adults. First results suggest that this concept may be transferred to populations with motor and cognitive dysfunctions. In this context, Parkinson’s disease (PD) is highly relevant since patients demonstrate deficits in motor learning. Hence, in the present study we sought to explore the effect of a single post-practice exercise bout on motor memory consolidation in PD patients.For this purpose, 17 PD patients (Hoehn and Yahr: 1 – 2.5, age: 60.1 ± 7.9 y) practiced a whole-body task followed by either (i) a moderate-intense bout of cycling, or (ii) seated rest for a total of 30 minutes. The motor task required the participants to balance on a tiltable platform (stabilometer) for 30 seconds. During skill practice, patients performed 15 trials followed by a retention test 1 day and 7 days later. We calculated time in balance (platform within ± 5° from horizontal) for each trial and within- and between-group differences in memory consolidation (i.e. offline learning = skill change from last acquisition block to retention tests) were analyzed.Groups revealed similar improvements during skill practice (F4,60 = .316, p = .866), but showed differences in offline learning, which was only evident after 7 days (F1,14 = 5.602, p = .033).Our results suggest that a single post-practice exercise bout is effective in enhancing long-term motor memory consolidation in a population with motor learning impairments. This may point at unique promoting effects of exercise on dopamine neurotransmission involved in memory formation. Future studies should investigate the potential role of exercise-induced effects on the dopaminergic system.HighlightsAcute exercise enhanced motor memory consolidation in PDEffects were evident only at 7-day retentionResults may indicate unique exercise-effects on the dopaminergic systemFindings show promising potential of exercise for motor rehabilitation

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Motor memory: Consolidation–based enhancement effect revisited

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x05260028 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 68-69

Author(s):

Julien Doyon ◽

Julie Carrier ◽

Alain Simard ◽

Abdallah Hadj Tahar ◽

Amélie Morin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sequence Learning ◽

Memory Consolidation ◽

Motor Adaptation ◽

Convincing Evidence ◽

Motor Memory ◽

Enhancement Effect ◽

Motor Sequence Learning ◽

Motor Sequence ◽

Seminal Work

Following Karni's seminal work, Walker and other researchers have recently provided gradually convincing evidence that sleep is critical for the consolidation-based enhancement (CBE) of motor sequence learning. Studies in our laboratory using a motor adaptation paradigm, however, show that CBE can also occur after the simple passage of time, suggesting that sleep effects on memory consolidation are task-related, and possibly dependent on anatomically dissociable circuits.

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