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Cited by 1,883Motor Control and AdaptationTactile and Sensory InteractionsNeuroscience and Music Perception

Functional MRI evidence for adult motor cortex plasticity during motor skill learning

Kami, Avi, Meyer, Gundela, Jezzard, Peter, Adams, Michelle M., Turner, Robert, Ungerleider, Leslie G.·1995·Nature
DOI 10.1038/377155a0
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Abstract

Performance of complex motor tasks, such as rapid sequences of finger movements, can be improved in terms of speed and accuracy over several weeks by daily practice sessions. This improvement does not generalize to a matched sequence of identical component movements, nor to the contralateral hand. Here we report a study of the neural changes underlying this learning using functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of local blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals evoked in primary motor cortex (M1). Before training, a comparable extent of M1 was activated by both sequences. However, two ordering effects were observed: repeating a sequence within a brief time window initially resulted in a smaller area of activation (habituation), but later in larger area of activation (enhancement), suggesting a switch in M1 processing mode within the first session (fast learning). By week 4 of training, concurrent with asymptotic performance, the extent of cortex activated by the practised sequence enlarged compared with the unpractised sequence, irrespective of order (slow learning). These changes persisted for several months. The results suggest a slowly evolving, long-term, experience-dependent reorganization of the adult M1, which may underlie the acquisition and retention of the motor skill.

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  • Depending on the task, neuroimaging studies have reported a general decrease in cortical activity, increases in cortical activity, or a more complex redistribution where activity increases in some areas and decreases in others during practice.

    “Depending on the task, some studies have reported a general decrease in cortical activity [52–55], a few have reported increases [56–59], and some have reported a more complex redistribution where activity increases in some areas and decreases in others [60–62].”

    From Cortical and basal ganglia contributions to habit learning and automaticity (2010) · cites this paper as [56]

  • Extended training of a motor skill leads to increased rather than decreased task-related activation of the sensorimotor cortex.

    “For instance, extended training of a motor skill leads to increased rather than decreased task-related activation of the sensorimotor cortex [56–58, 64–65], and extended training (e.g., for two years) induces learning-related changes in task-related activity of neurons in primary motor cortex [4].”

    From Cortical and basal ganglia contributions to habit learning and automaticity (2010) · cites this paper as [56]

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Authors
Kami, A., Meyer, G., Jezzard, P., Adams, M. M., Turner, R., & Ungerleider, L. G.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
ORCID
Venue
Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
1995-09
Volume
377
Issue
6545
Pages
155-158
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/377155a0
OpenAlex
W2067608252
Cited by
1,883
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 56 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 67 · 2017: 57 · 2016: 64 · 2015: 84 · 2014: 79 · 2013: 92 · 2012: 69
FWCI
23.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Music Perception
Keywords
motor cortex plasticity, motor skill learning, primary motor cortex, habituation, BOLD signal, motor skill retention
MeSH terms
Adult, Evoked Potentials, Humans, Learning, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Motor Cortex, Motor Skills, Neuronal Plasticity, Oxygen

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