Off-line learning of motor skill memory: A double dissociation of goal and movement

Cohen, D. A., Pascual-Leone, A., Press, D. Z. and Robertson, E.M. (2005) Off-line learning of motor skill memory: A double dissociation of goal and movement. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 102(50), pp. 18237-18241. (doi: 10.1073/pnas.0506072102) (PMID:16330773) (PMCID:PMC1312380)

Abstract

Acquiring a new skill requires learning multiple aspects of a task simultaneously. For example, learning a piano sonata requires learning the musical notes and being able to implement this goal by learning the appropriate sequence of finger movements. After practice, skill continues to develop off-line during a period of consolidation. Here we show that different aspects of a procedural memory are processed separately during consolidation: Only the movement sequence is enhanced over the day; whereas only the goal is enhanced over a night of sleep. This double dissociation suggests that distinct systems, enhancing different aspects of a procedural memory, support improvements during consolidation. Consolidation is not a single process; instead, there are multiple routes to off-line learning, and the engagement of these distinct mechanisms is determined by when consolidation takes place.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Robertson, Professor Edwin
• Authors: Cohen, D. A., Pascual-Leone, A., Press, D. Z., and Robertson, E.M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
• ISSN: 0027-8424
• ISSN (Online): 1091-6490
• Published Online: 13 December 2005