Human Variation in Error-Based and Reinforcement Motor Learning Is Associated With Entorhinal Volume
Anouk J de Brouwer1, Corson N Areshenkoff1,2, Mohammad R Rashid3
1Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|December 28, 2021
Summary
Cognitive strategies enhance both error-based and reward-based motor learning. Larger entorhinal cortex volume correlates with better learning across these tasks, suggesting a neuroanatomical basis for individual differences in motor skill acquisition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Motor learning involves distinct error-based and reward-based processes.
- Cognitive strategies can influence motor learning, potentially explaining individual differences.
- The role of medial temporal lobe regions in strategic motor learning is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between error-based and reward-based motor learning.
- To determine if cognitive strategies underpin individual differences in motor learning.
- To explore the neuroanatomical correlates of motor learning ability, specifically in medial temporal lobe regions.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral assessments of visuomotor adaptation (error-based) and reaching movements (reward-based).
- Correlation analysis to link performance across different motor learning tasks.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to measure entorhinal cortex volume.
Main Results:
- Performance in error-based learning positively correlated with performance in reward-based learning.
- Individual differences in motor learning ability were associated with the use of cognitive strategies.
- Individuals with better motor learning showed larger entorhinal cortex volumes.
Conclusions:
- Strategic processes contribute significantly to intersubject variation in both error-based and reinforcement motor learning.
- Entorhinal cortex volume is a neuroanatomical marker associated with individual differences in motor learning performance.
- These findings link cognitive strategies and neuroanatomy to motor learning efficiency.
