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Training and synchrony in the motor system.

Marc H Schieber1

  • 1Department of Neurology, The Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, USA. mhs@cvs.rochester.edu

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|July 5, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Long-term training in monkeys enhances neural synchrony in the motor cortex, suggesting practice refines voluntary movement control. This increased synchrony may be crucial for acquiring complex motor skills.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Motor Learning

Background:

  • The motor cortex plays a crucial role in planning and executing voluntary movements.
  • Neural synchrony, the coordinated firing of neurons, is thought to underlie complex motor functions.
  • The impact of long-term motor skill acquisition on neural synchrony remains to be fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how extensive motor skill training affects neural synchrony in the motor cortex.
  • To compare neural activity patterns between monkeys with different durations and complexities of motor training.

Main Methods:

  • Spike-triggered averages (STAs) and stimulus-triggered averages (STAs) were analyzed in the motor cortex of three monkeys.
  • Monkeys were trained for varying durations (>5 years vs. <1 year) on distinct sets of finger and wrist movements.

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  • The ratio of synchrony effects to pure postspike effects in STAs was quantified.

    • Main Results:

    • Monkeys with over 5 years of training on 12 movements showed a higher prevalence of motor cortex neurons with significant effects in STAs compared to a monkey trained <1 year on six movements.
    • The ratio of synchrony effects to pure postspike effects was greater in the long-term trained monkeys.
    • Stimulus-triggered averages were similar across all monkeys, indicating the observed synchrony was specific to voluntary motor activity.

    Conclusions:

    • Long-term practice and acquisition of a wider repertoire of skilled movements enhance neural synchrony in the motor cortex.
    • Increased synchronization among motor cortex neurons connected to spinal alpha-motoneurons may be a key neural adaptation for skilled motor learning.
    • These findings highlight the plasticity of the motor system in response to extensive motor training.