Abstract

Motor skill acquisition utilizes a wide array of neural structures; however, few articles evaluate how the relative contributions of these structures shift over the course of learning. Recent evidence from rodents and songbirds suggests there is a transfer from cortical to subcortical structures following intense, repetitive training. Evidence from humans indicate that the reticulospinal system is modulated over the course of skill acquisition and may be a subcortical facilitator of learning. The objective of this study was to evaluate how reticulospinal contributions are modulated by task expertise. Reticulospinal contributions were assessed using StartReact (SR). We hypothesized that expert typists would show SR during an individuated, keystroke task but SR would be absent in novices. Expert (75.2 ± 9.8 WPM) and novice typists (41.6 ± 8.2 WPM) were evaluated during an individuated, keystroke movements. In experts, SR was present but was absent in novices. Together, these results suggest that experts use reticulospinal contributions more for movement than novices indicating that the reticular formation becomes increasingly important for movement execution in highly trained, skilled tasks even those that require individuated movement of the fingers.

摘要

运动技能的习得利用了各种各样的神经结构。但是，很少有文章评估这些结构的相对贡献在学习过程中是如何变化的。啮齿动物和鸣鸟的最新证据表明，经过严格，反复的训练，皮层结构将从皮层转移到皮层下。来自人类的证据表明，网状棘突系统在获得技能的过程中受到调节，可能是皮质下学习的促进者。这项研究的目的是评估任务专门知识如何调节网状脊髓的贡献。使用StartReact（SR）评估网状脊髓的贡献。我们假设专业打字员会在个性化的击键任务中显示SR，但新手不会看到SR。专家（75.2±9.8 WPM）和新手打字员（41.6±8）2 WPM）是在单独的击键动作中进行评估的。在专家中，SR存在，但在新手中不存在。总之，这些结果表明，专家们比新手更多地使用网状脊椎运动来进行运动，这表明网状结构对于训练有素，熟练的任务，甚至要求手指单独运动的任务，在运动执行中变得越来越重要。