On sensorimotor function and the relationship between proprioception and motor learning
نویسندگان
چکیده
Research continues to explore the mechanisms that mediate successful motor control. Behaviourally-relevant modulation of muscle commands is dependent on sensory signals. Proprioception – the sense of body position – is one signal likely to be crucial for motor learning. The present thesis explores the relationship between human proprioception and motor learning. First we investigated changes to sensory function during the adaptation of arm movements to novel forces. Subjects adapted movements in the presence of directional loads over the course of learning. Psychophysical estimates of perceived hand position showed that motor learning resulted in sensed hand position becoming biased in the direction of the experienced load. This biasing of perception occurred for four different perturbation directions and remained even after washout movements. Therefore, motor learning can result in systematic changes to proprioceptive function. In a second experiment we investigated proprioceptive changes after subjects learned highly accurate movements to targets. Subjects demonstrated improved acuity of the hand’s position following this type of motor learning. Interestingly, improved acuity did not generalize to the entire workspace but was instead restricted to local positions within the region of the workspace where motor learning occurred. These results provide evidence that altered sensory function from motor learning may also include sensory acuity improvements. Subsequently the duration of acuity improvements was assessed. Improved acuity of hand position was observed immediately after motor learning and 24h later, but was not reliably different from baseline at 1h or 4h. Persistent sensory change may thus be similar to retention of motor learning and may involve a sleep-dependent
منابع مشابه
Positive Effects of Post-ischemic Forced Treadmill Training on Sensorimotor and Learning Outcomes Following Transient Global Cerebral Ischemia
ABSTRACT Background and objectives: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term acquired disability. It is of great importance to seek ways for improving motor, sensory, and cognitive function after stroke and brain injury. In this regard, therapeutic exercise is the most commonly used method of rehabilitation that can significantly reduce the severity of functional ...
متن کاملThe effects of sensorimotor training on proprioception and anticipatory postural adjustment of some trunk Muscle of subject with non-specific chronic low back pain
Aims and background: People with low back pain represent impaired anticipatory postural adjustments.The aim of this study was to investigate The effects of sensorimotor training on proprioception and anticipatory postural adjustment of the some trunk muscle of subject with non-specific chronic low back pain. Materials and methods: The present study was a quasi - experimental study with a prete...
متن کاملPlastic changes in hand proprioception following force-field motor learning.
Motor neurophysiologists are placing greater emphasis on sensory feedback processing than ever before. In line with this shift, a recent article by Ostry and colleagues provided timely new evidence that force-field motor learning influences not only motor output, but also proprioceptive sense. In this Neuro Forum, the merits and limitations of Ostry and colleagues are explored in the context of...
متن کاملPredictive Value of Somatosensation for Manual Dexterity and Upper Limb Motor Function in Stroke Survivors
Objectives: One of the most disabling impairments following stroke is upper limb impairment. Despite the important role of somatosensory function in motor control and high prevalence of somatosensory deficits in stroke survivors, little attention has been paid to its effect on UE motor function in chronic stroke survivors. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore the correlation between differ...
متن کاملVisuomotor adaptation and proprioceptive recalibration.
Motor learning, in particular motor adaptation, is driven by information from multiple senses. For example, when arm control is faulty, vision, touch, and proprioception can all report on the arm's movements and help guide the adjustments necessary for correcting motor error. In recent years we have learned a lot about how the brain integrates information from multiple senses for the purpose of...
متن کامل