Feedback, Motor Sequence Learning, and Brain Connectivity

University of South Carolina

Status: Completed

Conditions: Adult

Treatments: Behavioral: Motor Sequence Task

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04971486

Pro00097070

Details and patient eligibility

About

Feedback delivered during motor practice can help promote motor skill learning, enhance confidence, and alter brain connectivity. However, the optimal way to provide feedback to promote learning, confidence and brain connectivity is unknown. This project will study how the feedback that is provided during practice of a movement skill can help people learn and build confidence and whether these correspond to changes in brain function. The investigators will measure motor skill performance, confidence, and resting state brain connectivity before and after a session of motor practice.

Full description

Positive social comparative feedback, which indicate to the learner that they are performing above average, is one way to enhance a learner's expectancies about future performance. Expectancies include the learners' perceived competence about their ability to perform the task, expectations about task outcome (success or failure), and predictions of extrinsic reward or positive experiences related to performance. Positive feedback during motor practice enhances expectancies, which is hypothesized to be rewarding to the learner, leading to better skill performance and learning. Reward is a powerful shaper of behavior. However, while social comparative feedback supports motor skill learning, it is unclear whether positive social comparative feedback induces a response in the dopamine reward network. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the effects of social comparative feedback during motor practice on the functional connectivity of the reward neural network. The study aims to recruit 40 participants who will be randomized into 1 of 2 feedback groups (performance feedback or performance plus positive feedback). Participants will practice a motor sequence task on a single day and then return for retention performance testing about 24 hours later. Measures of brain function and brain structure will be collected before and after practice on day 1. Changes in performance (response time to complete a sequence) and self-efficacy will be measured from baseline to 24 hours later at retention. Changes in brain functional connectivity over practice on day 1 will be assessed in the reward network and the motor network.

Enrollment: 33 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18 to 40 years
• Right-hand dominant

Exclusion criteria

• Medical diagnosis or medication that affects dopamine (e.g. dopamine reuptake inhibitors)
• Musculoskeletal issues that limit upper extremity movement
• Contraindications for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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33 participants in 2 patient groups

Performance Feedback

Experimental group

Description:

Practice of a joystick based motor sequence task. Participants receive feedback on their response time to complete the trials in the practice block.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Motor Sequence Task

Performance plus Positive Feedback

Experimental group

Description:

Practice of a joystick based motor sequence task. Participants receive feedback on their response time to complete the trials in the practice block plus positive social comparative feedback.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Motor Sequence Task