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Exploring neural variability, movement variability and motor learning in healthy adults and people with stroke
Erin M Lyons1, Mitchell R Goldsworthy2, Brenton Hordacre1
1Innovation, IMPlementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
Objective:
Investigate the association between neural variability, movement variability and motor learning in people with chronic stroke and healthy adults.
Methods:
Thirty participants (17 healthy, 13 stroke) underwent assessments involving transcranial magnetic stimulation and a novel pinch-grip task. Neural variability was approximated as trial-to-trial amplitude variability of motor evoked potentials recorded at the hand following transcranial magnetic stimulation to the motor cortex. Movement variability was assessed as trial-to-trial deviations when performing a pinch grip task. Motor learning was assessed on a pinch grip task to trace an unknown shape, with reward scores provided to performance.
Results:
Healthy adults performed better on the motor learning task (t(28) = -1.70, p = 0.05). Greater movement variability was associated with better motor learning in people with stroke (r = -0.68, p = 0.015), but not healthy adults. Neural variability was not found to predict movement variability or motor learning in healthy adults or people with stroke (all p > 0.05).
Conclusion:
Increased movement variability supports better motor learning in people with chronic stroke, possibly due to increased exploration of successful movement solutions.
Significance:
Movement variability appears worthy of investigation to improve motor learning and recovery from stroke.
