Theta but not beta power is positively associated with better explicit motor task learning
Joris van der Cruijsen,
Mana Manoochehri,
Zeb D. Jonker,
Eleni-Rosalina Andrinopoulou,
Maarten A. Frens,
Gerard M. Ribbers,
Alfred C. Schouten,
Ruud W. Selles
Affiliations
Joris van der Cruijsen
Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, 3015 GD Rotterdam, Netherlands; Corresponding author.
Mana Manoochehri
Delft University of Technology, Department of Biomechanical Engineering, 2628 DS Delft, Netherlands
Zeb D. Jonker
Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, 3015 GD Rotterdam, Netherlands; Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Neuroscience, 3015 GD Rotterdam, Netherlands; Rijndam Rehabilitation Center, 3015 LJ Rotterdam, Netherlands
Eleni-Rosalina Andrinopoulou
Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Biostatistics, 3015 GD Rotterdam, Netherlands
Maarten A. Frens
Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Neuroscience, 3015 GD Rotterdam, Netherlands
Gerard M. Ribbers
Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, 3015 GD Rotterdam, Netherlands; Rijndam Rehabilitation Center, 3015 LJ Rotterdam, Netherlands
Alfred C. Schouten
Delft University of Technology, Department of Biomechanical Engineering, 2628 DS Delft, Netherlands; University of Twente, Department of Biomechanical Engineering, 7522 NB Enschede, Netherlands
Ruud W. Selles
Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, 3015 GD Rotterdam, Netherlands; Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery, 3015 GD Rotterdam, Netherlands
Neurophysiologic correlates of motor learning that can be monitored during neurorehabilitation interventions can facilitate the development of more effective learning methods. Previous studies have focused on the role of the beta band (14–30 Hz) because of its clear response during motor activity. However, it is difficult to discriminate between beta activity related to learning a movement and performing the movement. In this study, we analysed differences in the electroencephalography (EEG) power spectra of complex and simple explicit sequential motor tasks in healthy young subjects. The complex motor task (CMT) allowed EEG measurement related to motor learning. In contrast, the simple motor task (SMT) made it possible to control for EEG activity associated with performing the movement without significant motor learning. Source reconstruction of the EEG revealed task-related activity from 5 clusters covering both primary motor cortices (M1) and 3 clusters localised to different parts of the cingulate cortex (CC). We found no association between M1 beta power and learning, but the CMT produced stronger bilateral beta suppression compared to the SMT. However, there was a positive association between contralateral M1 theta (5–8 Hz) and alpha (8–12 Hz) power and motor learning, and theta and alpha power in the posterior mid-CC and posterior CC were positively associated with greater motor learning. These findings suggest that the theta and alpha bands are more related to motor learning than the beta band, which might merely relate to the level of perceived difficulty during learning.
