Effector-dependent and response location learning of probabilistic sequences in serial reaction time tasks

We investigated the contributions of the sequences of effectors and response locations to probabilistic sequence learning in the serial reaction time task by means of bimanual transfer. Participants, trained with the dominant hand, were either required to maintain responding with the dominant hand after transfer or to switch to the nondominant hand. For both groups, half of the participants were transferred to the originally trained sequence, whereas the other half was transferred to a mirror-ordered sequence. This way, the sequence of effectors varied independently of the sequence of response locations. Sequence learning was assessed with probabilistic sequences, composed of either first-order or second-order probabilities. Transfer of sequence knowledge to the nondominant hand was equally good for the originally trained sequence as for the mirrored sequence. This suggests that probabilistic sequence learning can be based on either the sequence of effectors or response locations. However, when participants responded with the dominant hand to a mirrored sequence, transfer performance was disturbed. This indicates that changing both the sequences of effectors and response locations has a disruptive effect on the learning performance.