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The effects of acute physical and cognitive exercises on sequential motor skill learning: An exploratory study
Guillaume Digonet1,2, Thomas Lapole2,3, Gabrielle Pouilloux1
1Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1), Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité, Villeurbanne, France.
Plos One
|July 11, 2025
Summary
Pre-learning physical or cognitive exercises did not enhance sequential motor learning. Sprint interval, cognitive, or combined exercises before motor skill acquisition did not significantly impact performance during learning or retention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Pre-learning physical or cognitive exercises are explored for optimizing motor skill acquisition and consolidation.
- Their specific effects on explicit sequential motor learning (SML) are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of acute sprint interval exercise, cognitive exercise, or a combination of both, performed before explicit SML, on motor performance.
- To compare these effects against a control group performing a neutral task.
Main Methods:
- Sixty participants were randomly assigned to four groups: sprint interval exercise, cognitive exercise, combined exercise, or a neutral control task.
- Psychophysiological responses (NASA-TLX, blood lactate) and motor performance during acquisition and at 24-hour and 1-week follow-ups were assessed.
Main Results:
- Physical exercise increased lactate and perceived physical exertion; cognitive exercise increased perceived mental demand.
- All groups showed motor performance improvements during acquisition and consolidation.
- No significant differences in motor performance were observed between the exercise groups and the control group.
Conclusions:
- Acute physical, cognitive, or combined exercise prior to explicit sequential motor learning does not significantly enhance motor skill acquisition or consolidation.
- The absence of significant effects warrants cautious interpretation, suggesting potential nuances not captured by this study.
